Les Fleurs Decorative Painting

The works of art

I must say that I am so lucky to have great students (actually they are more like friends to me) who are very motivated, committed and hardworking. Furthermore, they are cheerful, friendly and considerate.  So it really helps when 8 of them turned up for the class today, twice the normal maximum of 4 students. This is partly due to my unavailability tomorrow and the holiday season in the last few weeks. Each one had to make little sacrifices like giving up their favourite spot and be contented with one-eighth of my attention instead of a quarter. But they got on very well with the usual cheerie mood, fun and laughter. As usual, everyone made themselves at home and did a good job. In fact, all the students I have are wonderful painters. And as the English like to say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Their works are really good. They will definitely go a long way, and I am so proud of them. Here are some examples of their works of art.

More tips on decorative painting

There are more to decorative painting than just ringgit and sen. Certain prerequisites are even more important than cost but they cannot easily be translated into monetary value. I have coined a simple formula for the newcomers - 2Ds & 2Ps, based on the initials of the words Decorative Painting. What are 2Ds & 2Ps? They are the 4 main qualities that beginners should always bear in mind - Dedicated, Discplined, Practice and Patience. Even seasoned painters need to remind themselves of the 2Ds & 2Ps during painting projects or when painting big items such as walls, built-in closets and kitchen cabinets, partition screens, etc. There are of course other equally good qualities but I'd like to make it simple and memorable for the beginners. And for those living with their loved ones, they need to get their spouses, partners or families to understand the 2Ds & 2Ps as well because the same 4 qualities, with the exception of practice which can be taken in a different perspective, are required to maintain harmonious relationships. Another useful formula that I always keep in mind is TLC - Tender Loving Care approach to painting. Again, one needs to balance the TLC between decorative painting and one's own family relationships.

Tips on getting started

Newcomers to folk art and decorative painting, and those contemplating to learn, are often curious about the ringgit and sen of learning. Naturally, the cost of taking lessons is among the most popular questions asked. Other popular questions include the amount of time needed to become proficient, and whether one has to be gifted in order to paint beautifully. To the first-timers, the questions are pretty obvious, but unfortunately the answers are not so straightforward. So when someone asks me about the teacher's fee, I cannot give straight answers. Firstly, the fee is actually the smallest component of the total cost. Secondly, the fee and other costs depend very much on what the learners want to accomplish. And thirdly, the choice of teacher is very personal - teachers are different, not only in terms of ability and personal style, but also in a matter of teacher-learner chemistry. The fee should not be the main criteria.

The biggest component of the learning cost, and also the painting cost, is actually the tools, materials and supplies - brushes of different types, sizes and purposes, wet pallettes, the range and types of colours, unpainted base materials such as wood pieces and wood-based products, patterns, transfer papers, etc. Another significant component, and this one gets bigger and bigger as one gets better, is the reference materials and inspirational input such as imported publications, works by famous artists, and attending seminars and workshops by prominent artists. Therefore, to manage time and cost, it is important to know where to shop for the painting supplies. A dependable supplier should have most, if not all, of the things that you need at the most competitive prices, is reliable in terms of stock availability and turnaround, is one where the friendly and helpful staff make you feel at ease, and is one where the staff there remember you when you return. I think Craft Haven here is on the right track.