This painting was departed from a photo that I took in Malaysia. I changed its colours all together but I still keptp the basic lines of the structure of the landscape. I like the colours. Hope you like this unusual painting too.
Landscape. 2001. Acrylic on canvas. 18 x 14 inches. By Jimmy Quek Prabhakara. All Rights Reserved.
Here is my new painting. I am happy to sign off this painting this morning. I took two weeks to complete it. The monk on the left is Ven Piyananada, you could see his photo at my earlier post. I painted this painting to commenorate him. We used to see him in the last 7 years while he was in Singapore. He has returned to Sri Lanka, however I heard that he will be coming to Singapore for Vesak day celebration this year. May all be well and happy.
Going for Kathina Celebration. 2008. Acrylic on canvas. 32 x 24 inches. Collection: Siew Hooi. All Rights Reserved.
I found this book in a pile of books. This book is titled "Contemporary Singapore Art". It is an art catalogue of an art exhibition held in HongKong in 1992. The artists were all from Singapore. They were Chia Hearn Chek, Ching Hing Kang, Choo Ai Loon Angeline, Choo Keng Kwang, Chua Mia Tee, Fern Min Eng, Goh Beng Kwan, Goh Siew Guan, Ho Ho Ying, Koh Sia Yong, Lee Boon Ngan, Lee Boon Wang, Leo Hee Tong, Lim Leong Seng, Alan Long, Low Puay Hua, Loy Chye Chuan, Ong Kim Seng Peh Eng Seng, Prabhakara Jimmy Quek, Tan Chee Teck, Tan Choo Kai, Tan Leong Kheng, Tan Seng Heng, Thang Kiang How and Wong Soon Kam. I discovered the painting that I exhibited in this exhibition was "Metamorphosing Phenomena". Last year I came to know that this painting was collected by an art lover in Hong Kong. I remembered the painting was sold in Singapore, but I did not know how it was finally landed in Hong Kong. I hope it is still in Hong Kong.
This is another book. The Singapore Society Artists' Directory, 1949-2004. You could see two of my paintings featured in the book (right page). The Singapore Art Society was registered in October 1949 with the objectives to foster the practice and appreciation of art and to raise the quality of art in Singapore to promote the exchange of art between Singapore and other countries and to create learning and exhibition opportunities for artists. Membership was oper to any art lover, regardless of race or creed. In this artists's directory, it featured 330 artworks in full colour by 165 members including a directory listing of 511 members. I enjoyed looking at all the artworks featured in the directory, though I didn't meet many of the artists so far.
Today is the first day of my second year with My Opera. I likt to post 2 paintings of wave to mark this special day. These are new paintings that I painted early this year. I am happy with the effect of the paintings. I hope you will enjoy them.
Last year this day (31 March 2007), I posted three paintings of wave at my first post.
Wave 2008. Acrylic on canvas. 40 x 30 inches. By Jimmy Quek Prabhakara.
Wave 2008. Acrylic on canvas. 18 x 12 inches. By Jimmy Quek Prabhakara.
This painting has been with me for sometimes. I took it out from my store as there was an inquiry about this painting. I placed an existing old frame over the painting so to see how it will look like with a frame. The inspiration of this painting came from my visiting to the Cradle Mountain, Tasmania. It was very cold at that time. Do you like this painting?
Cradle Mountain, Tasmania. Acrylic on canvas. 102 x 76 cm. By Jimmy Quek Prabhakara.
I painted this painting. Acrylic on canvas. A Buddhist monk of Theravada tradition walking on a quiet path meditatively with his sitting cloth folded and placed on his shoulder.
Color print of this painting is produced with careful control of colours. Printed image size is 8 x 8 inches on A4 size special surface treatment paper of 200 to 250 g/m2. Selling at S$12 with free postage in Singapore and with a flat charge of S$5 for handling and shipping internationally.
Share with you a video that I made this afternoon. I used some of my paintings images to work out this video presentation. Hope you enjoy these paintings. These paintings were painted in year 2005 to 2007. Some of them are sold.
This is my painting "Beginning to Rejoice", one of the two big paintings commissioned by Raffles City. The paintings are installed near the entrance to the ballroom at the Raffles City Convention Centre of Swissotel The Stamford, Singapore, Southeast Asia's Tallest deluxe Hotel. There are two large ballrooms, the Raffles Ballroom and the Stamford Ballroom with seating capacity of 3000 and 1000 respectively. Swissotel The Stamford is in Raffles City, it is about a 20-minute drive from the Singapore Changi Airport. It is conveniently located in the heart of Singapore.
It is recorded that Raffles City is also the home of one of the island republic's largest and most important collections of modern art. In their first complete catalogu to 'showcase' the major works in their collection, the colour images of art works by the following artists are featured in their book "Art In The City, The Raffles City Collection". They are: Alexander Calder, Rima Farah, Kevin Jackson, Kieron Thomas Farrow, Ithipol Thangchalok, Helyne Jennings, Ellsworth Kelly, Leung Kui-Ting, Liu Haisu, Donn Moulton, Kenneth Noland, Toko Shinoda, Sunaryo, Thavorn Ko-Udomvit, Zao Wou-Ki, Chen Kezhan, Chen Wen Hsi, Goh Beng Kwan, Lin Hsin Hsin, lu Guo Xiang, Ng Yak Whee, Jimmy Ong, Anthony Poon, Prabhakara Jimmy Quek, Tan Swie Hian, Tay Chee Toh, Teo Eng Seng, Simon Wong and Thomas Yeo.
This is a close up view of the painting titled True Master. Painted in 1996. Acrylic on canvas, 62 x 62 cm. The engraving effect on the surface are verses "The wise have mastered body, word and mind. They are the true master. Let go of anger, let go of pride, when you are bound by nothing, you go beyond sorrow. Beware of the anger of the body, the mouth and the mind, master the body, your words and your thoughts." I like these sayings of the Wise. I also like the simple and white wash effect of the painting.
My wife bought a board game Monopoly as present for my son. Last night they played the game. I was surprised to see that there were a new electronic Banker Unit and Bank Cards that replaced the traditional money in the game. Players did not need to handle paper money at all, all amount of transactions were performed by the electronic Banker Unit with the Bank Cards, no counting was needed.
The game Monopoly reminded me of a series of Game Board paintings that I began painted in 1994. In that series of paintings, I started with simple gameboard design at the beginning. Then, I painted Snake and Ladders. Later, I also included words in my paintings and started the Wisdom Series. Finally I worked out painting of gameboards with personal meanings.
Checker Board. 1994. Acrylic on canvas, 97 x 97 cm. Chessboard: Missing Square. 1994. Acrylic on canvas, 102 x 102 cm. Wisdom: There is no fire.... 1996. Acrylic on canvas, 122 x 122 cm. Wisdom: We are what.... 1996. Acrylic on canvas, 122 x 122 cm. True Master. 1996. Acrylic on canvas, 62 x 62 cm. Game of Satipatthana. 1997. Acrylic on canvas, 100 x 120 cm. Game Board. 1998. Acrylic on canvas, 76 x 76 cm. Snakes and Ladders (Endless Game). 1999. Acrylic on canvas. 61 x 46 cm.
I have been working on new paintings for the last two weeks. I am happy with the results, here is one of them to share it with you. The sides of the paintings are painted, but I use an existing frame to temporary frame it for display on my wall. White Sand Beach, 2007. Acrylic on canvas. 62 x 62 cm. By Jimmy Quek Prabhakara.
I am happy to see this photo at Che Kiat's blog. It was taken at the rubber plantation around Santisukharama Meditation Centre in Malaysia. Many of my paintings in trees series painting photos were departed from ideas and living experiences from the rubber tree plantation, in which there was a meditation centre that we went for retreat last time. I remembered once we went there for a retreat during Chinese New Year. Only two of us living there. It was a wonderful experience.
Sky lanterns also known as Kongming Lantern in China. Made of rice paper with a bamboo frame and has a small candle which when lighted created heats that cause the lantern to rise into the air. In Thailand, people use Sky Lantern for celebration and other special occassions. I love the simple form of the sky lanterns and its beautiful light effect that rise and float in the sky at night. In thialand, there is Yi Peng Lantern Festival every year.
Sky Lanterns. Acrylic on canvas. 24 x 18 inches. By Jimmy Quek Prabhakara
Every year I print some Christmas and New Year Cards for customers and friends. This year, I have printed this design with an acrylic painting of winter scencery that I completed recently. The inside message of the card is:
Best Wishes for Peace and Joy this Holiday Season and a New Year of Health, Happiness and Prosperity
Card Size: 148 x 149 mm. Printed on 250 g/m2 Special surface treatment paper. Complete with white envelope.
I started working on these painting on 3 January 2006. I spent more time working on the first one. I completed these two paintings before the Chinese New Year February 2006.
Golden Showers and Mountains 1. 2006. Acrylic on canvas. 18 x 18 inches. By Jimmy Quek Prabhakara. Golden Showers and Mountains 2. 2006. Acrylic on canvas. 18 x 18 inches. By Jimmy Quek Prabhakara.
I painted this painting in year 1997. The idea came from reading Buddhist texts, but I didn't react to it at once. It lurked in the back of my mind until I read the poem by Thich Nhat Hanh about a brother coming home from an adventurous journey and kneeling in tears at the family altar, vowing never to venture out again. Thich wanted the brother to break out of his shell and assume a life devoid of all selfish desires. I still did not try to paint this until one day when I felt that I was ready to do it.
Smile and Tears. 1997. Acrylic on canvas. 153 x 128 cm. By Jimmy Quek Prabhakara.
"A mystical picture full of Buddhist symbols, such as the lotus and the flaming mountain. It has obvious links with his earlier paintings about change and impermanence but is intended to capture and evoke a mood of contemplation." - Constance Sheares. 1997.
Rubber Plantation. Pencil and watercolour on paper. 37.5 x 27.5 cm. By Jimmy Quek Prabhakara.
Rubber trees and Santisukharama. Pencil and watercolour on paper. 37.5 x 27.5 cm. By Jimmy Quek Prabhakara.
Santisukharama. Pencil and watercolour on paper. 37.5 x 27.5 cm. By Jimmy Quek Prabhakara.
Santisukharama is a meditation centre in Kota Tinggi Johor, Malaysia. Last time Ven. Sujiva was there and he had guided many yogis who went there for meditation retreat.
I have just completed this painting. Inspired by the flowers of Golder Showers tree or Cassia Fistula tree and the urbanscape of Tampines Central.
I am happy to see blooming of the Golden Showers trees. There are many Golden Showers trees near my place. Its flowers are light yellow hanging in groups, I think that they are very beautiful, I feel joy and delight when looking at them. There are suggestive glimpse of Tampines MRT station and Tampines Mall images in the painting as well.
Title: Blossoms at Tampines Central. Year: 2007. Medium: Acrylic on canvas. Size:24 x 24 inches. Artist: Jimmy Quek Prabhakara. Not framed. Sides painted. Ready for hanging.
I found this book in a pile of books. This book is titled "Contemporary Singapore Art". It is an art catalogue of an art exhibition held in HongKong in 1992. The artists were all from Singapore. They were Chia Hearn Chek, Ching Hing Kang, Choo Ai Loon Angeline, Choo Keng Kwang, Chua Mia Tee, Fern Min Eng, Goh Beng Kwan, Goh Siew Guan, Ho Ho Ying, Koh Sia Yong, Lee Boon Ngan, Lee Boon Wang, Leo Hee Tong, Lim Leong Seng, Alan Long, Low Puay Hua, Loy Chye Chuan, Ong Kim Seng Peh Eng Seng, Prabhakara Jimmy Quek, Tan Chee Teck, Tan Choo Kai, Tan Leong Kheng, Tan Seng Heng, Thang Kiang How and Wong Soon Kam. 
I discovered the painting that I exhibited in this exhibition was "Metamorphosing Phenomena". Last year I came to know that this painting was collected by an art lover in Hong Kong. I remembered the painting was sold in Singapore, but I did not know how it was finally landed in Hong Kong. I hope it is still in Hong Kong.
The Singapore Art Society was registered in October 1949 with the objectives to foster the practice and appreciation of art and to raise the quality of art in Singapore to promote the exchange of art between Singapore and other countries and to create learning and exhibition opportunities for artists. Membership was oper to any art lover, regardless of race or creed. In this artists's directory, it featured 330 artworks in full colour by 165 members including a directory listing of 511 members. I enjoyed looking at all the artworks featured in the directory, though I didn't meet many of the artists so far.
Title: White Sand Beach. 2008. 
Golden Peak. Acrylic on canvas. 16 x 30 inches.
I painted this painting. Acrylic on canvas. A Buddhist monk of Theravada tradition walking on a quiet path meditatively with his sitting cloth folded and placed on his shoulder. 
Painting: Untitled, 2000.
Sketch - Autumn Trees. 
Checker Board. 1994. Acrylic on canvas, 97 x 97 cm.
Chessboard: Missing Square. 1994. Acrylic on canvas, 102 x 102 cm.
Wisdom: There is no fire.... 1996. Acrylic on canvas, 122 x 122 cm.
Wisdom: We are what.... 1996. Acrylic on canvas, 122 x 122 cm.
True Master. 1996. Acrylic on canvas, 62 x 62 cm.
Game of Satipatthana. 1997. Acrylic on canvas, 100 x 120 cm.
Game Board. 1998. Acrylic on canvas, 76 x 76 cm.
Snakes and Ladders (Endless Game). 1999. Acrylic on canvas. 61 x 46 cm.
Stupa and Prayer Flags, 2007. Acrylic on canvas. 35 x 25 cm. By Jimmy Quek Prabhakara.
I am happy to see this photo at Che Kiat's blog. It was taken at the rubber plantation around Santisukharama Meditation Centre in Malaysia. Many of my paintings in trees series painting photos were departed from ideas and living experiences from the rubber tree plantation, in which there was a meditation centre that we went for retreat last time. I remembered once we went there for a retreat during Chinese New Year. Only two of us living there. It was a wonderful experience.
Sky Lanterns.
Every year I print some Christmas and New Year Cards for customers and friends. This year, I have printed this design with an acrylic painting of winter scencery that I completed recently. The inside message of the card is:
Golden Showers and Mountains 1. 2006. Acrylic on canvas. 18 x 18 inches. By Jimmy Quek Prabhakara.
Golden Showers and Mountains 2. 2006. Acrylic on canvas. 18 x 18 inches. By Jimmy Quek Prabhakara.
April 2008June 2008
