Story behind the painting (Part 7) - Egyptian Souvenier

Egyptian souvenier
Oil on board, 35 cm x 30 cm. 1992.

In 1992, I started an art tuition school in Bintulu.  To help me run the art instruction there, I had a local artist named Lawrence Song on board.  He had just been back from Netherlands after studying a year on painting in oils following the Dutch style.  I learnt some of his Dutch techniques from him and the above painting is done in my studio in the tuition school.

The main subject in the painting is the circular brass souvenier which was a gift given to  my wife by her second eldest sister.  She had returned from a visit to Egypt and brought the souvenier to Bintulu. The tiny porcelain objects in front are added to give better composition and balance to the study.  The cloth used as the background is from the office curtains.

This oil painting is now in the good hands of my brother-in-law who stays in Kuala Lumpur.

Painting of 'Egyptian souvenier' in progress, May'92. Bintulu.

Lawrence Song is seen at right giving instruction to one of the art students at the art tuition school , 
He is seen at extreme right in blue shirt.