Lotus - 046sk

Medium: Water Color on cold press paper

Size        : 25.5cm x 32cm

Status: SOLD

Lotus is the national flower of Vietnam, the country that I am currently nesting in. The beautiful and graceful flower is always a women's favorite. Besides beauty, it has the medicinal value such as astringent, emollient and dieretic. It was believed can help in the treatment of diarrhea, and tissue inflammation. The seed also consumes as a snack and ingredients in most of Asia's desserts. 

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"From Toulouse to Paris" series-045sk

Size   : 30.5cm  x 25.4cm

Medium : Oil Paint on canvas

Status : Not for Sale

This painting was inspired by my journey from Toulouse to Paris via the TGV train. It passed through a very scenic view that made me wanted to record it in my paintings. It was about 4 hours journey from Toulouse to Paris. I was impressed with the view of its countryside that fulfilled with vineyard, wheat farm, corn farm, the modern windmill, barn, farmhouse,  as well as the authentic gothic architecture of their farmhouse, chateau, and churches.  I managed to spend one memorable night in Paris, the city of love. This painting is one of the series that will be compiled under the  "From Toulouse to Paris" series. 

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Potted Flower - 044sk

Size   : 30.5 cm x  25.4cm
Medium : Oil Paint
Status : SOLD

This painting was requested by a friend who sent me the photo of this potted flowers. This is my first flower painting in a pot.

Yoga - 0043sk

Medium : Oil Paint on canvas

Size        : 29cm x 39cm

Status     : SOLD

Some thought it was a ballet movement, but actually, it was a YOGA pose called "Lord of the dance" pose. According to Wikipedia, "It is a standing, balancing, back-bending asana in modern yoga exercise. It is derived from a pose in the classical Indian dance form Bharatnatyam, which is depicted in temple statues in Nataraja". 

One controversial yoga icon is BIKRAM who inspiringly built his empire with his yoga expertise by open up yoga centers that virally introduced yoga in the US. For some people, yoga is religious practice, but to many, practices it is a meditation practice without a religious purpose. It is actually a healthy practice that combines physical, mental and spiritual practices. 

For me, I just inspired by the pose that depicts the gentle movement by which I can relate it to my previous artwork called "ALUN". 

"Daun" Series - Daun # 4 - 0042sk

Medium : Water Color on cold press paper

Size        : 25.5cm x 32cm

Status     : SOLD

This painting was inspired by a potted plant, a gift from a friend who was leaving Vietnam to Jakarta. This potted plant has long lives. Hardly dies. I can leave unwatered for many weeks, yet it still can get lives back fresh after I water it. 

Friendship is like a plant, it will get fresh and vibrant when we always get together and mellow when we hardly met. But, it gets freshen again when we met or in contact again. Friendship will die when we never keep an effort to keep in touch or in contact, just like this potted it will die if we never gives water to it.

Keep it alive and let it live to liven our lives.

Seorang Tua di Tepi Tasik - 0041sk

Medium : Pencil 2B

Size        : 25.5cm x 32cm

This photo was inspired by an old lady I met at Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi. Selling traditional toys for survival has made me realized that I should be thankful for what I have. Very old lady (  I suspect she is in mid of the 80's), yet she still has the capability and courage to earn for life. 

I used a 2B pencil on a sketch paper book. I did not use scales to get the perspective right. I let my finger played by the guide of my view. 

The following is the retrieval from my manuscript entitled " The Sketch of Life in Saigon"

This is a portrait of a typical look of old locals trading in Vietnam. They normally wear a straw hat that became a Vietnamese iconic headgear. Many of them are selling self -accessories like hand fans, sunglasses, purse, belt, etc. which most of imitation branded products of Gucci, Prada, LV.  Some of them are selling copied books, postcards, and crafts like customized greeting cards and paper toys. That’s why maybe we hardly see beggars in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi as most locals will do anything as simple as polishing shoes to earn some petty for their daily needs. That’s one thing I respect the Vietnamese people. They work hard to earn and not simply begging.

 

This old lady, for example, I met her along the Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi when I traveled to Hanoi in 2018. She was selling crafted toys on the pedestrian path. She may be in her late 80’s from the wrinkles appeared of her face. She was calmed and quietly demonstrating the toys. Her eyes showed the hard life she had, yet she seems appreciating of what she was having. She did not communicate in any other foreign language except her mother tongue language, yet she was eager to communicate with me in order to sell her toys. I just admired her spirit to survive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hoan Kiem Lake,

 

The green lake that witnessed the legend

The legendary of the Restored Sword to the Golden Turtle God

The mourn of the King to the lost sword

The sword that brings glory to the Kingdom

 

Hoan Kiem Lake,

 

The center of attraction

The center that gathers all folks and families

The center of tradition and modernization

The center of the past and current

 

Hoan Kiem Lake,

 

Restored the history and legend

Rebirth the glory of the Kingdom

Revive the nation pride

Reform what had destroyed

Revitalize the living and bloom

A Basket of Fruits - 0040sk

Medium : Water Color on cold press paper

Size        : 25.5cm x 32cm

Status     : Unavailable

This watercolor painting was inspired by a basket of fruits in my kitchen. I took the photo and uploaded it in my Instagram. I received comments about this posting and one that inspired me to keep it in a form of painting was a comment from my beloved relatives. My late cousin to my husband, who passed away in sleep. In her comment, she expecting me to paint it. After she passed away, only I did this painting and gave this painting to the ex- Malaysia Consulate General's wife in Ho Chi Minh as a farewell gift. She was happy receiving it as she was the first person who commented on this painting, after I uploaded it in my Instagram. 

Daun Series printed on T-shirt - Artwork t-shirt by ArtWorkby.SK

Recently, I am trying something new with my artwork. I printed it on a t-shirt. It turned out interesting to me but I think I need to find better quality material for comfortable wearing. I think it is better to get it printed on 100% cotton from Bangladesh. As before, I've printed a t-shirt on 100% cotton from Bangladesh and it was so comfortable. But, here in Saigon, I haven't found that kind of material as yet. If I found good material, it can be my next project, of printing my artwork on the t-shirt and sell it under my brand name. Anyone, who interested in this t-shirt can send me an email at suhaila.kasim@gmail.com.

"Corat Coret" water color

"Corat Coret" is a broken Malay word that brings a meaning of a kind of scribbling. But scribling does not bring the exact meaning for this word. "Corat Coret" in this my little page is to give a pecception of "just paint what I had in mind" and let my finger play the stroke of the brush. 

When I am bored I will take my brush and just throw strokes on papers. But this time I determined to keep all my "corat coret" in a book. So, I bought this little book when I visited Hanoi. I kinda like the paper in this book. According to the sales girl where I bought this book, the paper was made traditionally from the bark. This book can easily be found in a souvenir shop called "HANOIA" souvenir shop. This one little book, I bought from one of their outlet at the prison museum in Hanoi. 

Nature always mesmerizes me with its beautiful living, the flower, the leaves, the smells. This little book will keep all my "coret coret" of my unplanned watercolor strokes.  

Sneak Peak of my current project

I am currently working on this artwork. It is requested by my long lost friend. We met again on Instagram and Facebook. That's one thing I like about Facebook and Instagram, as it reunited the lost and the missing. This is only 20% from completing. I hope I can finish it soon. This has been 3 weeks since I began the painting work. Cross fingers hope it will turn out well.

Alun - 0039sk

Medium : oil paint
Size :
Status : SOLD

Alun was inspired by the soft movement that always played in my mind. I always fascinated by the beauty of leaves, the mellow of the sounds, and the movement of the waves in the sea. I love the colors of nature. This piece was a combination of those elements that always played in my mind. This piece was uploaded in a carousel and within a few hours uploaded, I managed to get a buyer. Thanks to the buyer who bought this piece

Alun ombak menghempas pantai,
Alun suara merdu suara,
Anak kecil duduknya santai,
Menanti pulangsi bapa ria.

Tulip -0038sk

Medium : oil paint
Size
Status : SOLD


Tulip merah, kuning dan putih,
Segar tumbuh hidup melata,
Biar hidup penuh jerih,
Tapi maruah tetap dijaga.

"Bunga" Series - 0037sk

Medium : Oil paint

Size        : 29cm x 39cm

"Bunga" is inspired by a flower that I bought from the supermarket near my house. It was the first potted plant that I ever bought since I came to Ho Chi Minh. I was inspired by its vibrant orange color that compliments my living room.

Dalam pasu ada bunga,

Dalam bunga ada indahnya,

Dalam rasa ada bangga,

Bangga menjadi rakyatnya,

Daun Series : Friendship Leaves -0036sk

Medium : Oil Paint on canvas

Size        : 29cm x 39cm

"Daun" series is inspired by a potted plant gift from my friend who moved to Jakarta after 4 years we've befriended in Ho Chi Minh City. I love the lush of green leaves that looks so refreshing. I love to see its green leaves when it receives a moonlight. The vibrant colors of the leaves when it receives the moonlight enhanced the interior of my living room.

The moonlight is a natural source that works brilliantly with the environment. It does complement the dark night with its beauty shines. A night without a moonlight is a missing piece. There goes the same with living. Soil without a plant is a waste, a plant without leaves, dying, lives without love is miserable. Let's cherish our life with what we have and loves to do.