Natural beauty comes alive on canvas

What say you on the issue below?

THERE was something about colours and paintings that drew a very young Francis Chong into the world of art.

Chong, 35, began drawing and painting in his youth and is now a full- fledged artist.

He mastered each technique and precision on his own with only books and the Internet to guide him.

The self-taught artist from Seremban is a hardworking man who teaches art to young children in his studio apart from creating masterpieces.

Self-taught: Chong with his painting entitled `Cleansing’.

Chong recently unveiled his first solo exhibition entitled “Praise For Life” at the City Art Gallery in Ampwalk, Jalan Ampang,

More than 50 paintings based on village scenes and portraits are being showcased.

Each picture is vivid and the characters seem to be moving under the play of light.

“I grew up in a village where natural beauty can still be found in abundance and each of those memories are imprinted in my mind,” he said.

Chong enjoys painting trees in different shades and hues like “The Path” depicting a row of yellow trees.

He said the scenes that get his attention were the simplest moments in everyday life that many had forgotten or disregarded.

Nice: Chong’s piece entitled `To the Market’.

Many of his paintings like “Memory of childhood”, “Riverbank” and “Morning Market” depict people going about in their everyday lives, either fishing in the river, washing clothes by the riverside or shopping at the market place.

To enhance the scene in his paintings, he prefers using oil paint instead of water colour.

“I tried water colour once but I feel oil paint is much easier to capture the scene I like,” he added.

One particular painting which truly depicts the emotions of the subject is the “Dancing With the Waves”.

The power and strength of the blue waves captured his attention when he was driving along the rural part of Port Dickson.

On why the exhibition is entitled “Praise For Life” he said that many years ago, he was suffering from depression and painting led him to enjoy life once again.

He said the famous American realistic artist Andrew Wyeth inspired him to create lifelike images on canvas.

“I don’t know when and why I went into depression but I just did.

“Painting was and still is a therapy for me,” said the bachelor.

So real: An oil painting of a market scene.

Chong’s art exhibition held on Sept 27 was launched by Dr Foo Yong Kong, the President of Malaysian Contemporary Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Association.

Foo said Chong’s paintings were of good composition and he had captured each moment perfectly.

All his paintings are for sale and prices range from RM800 to RM8,500.

Chong’s artworks will be on display till Oct 11 at the City Art Gallery, Ground Floor, The Ampwalk, No 218, Jalan Ampang 50450 Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia.