#marini ramlan

[ninimarini]

Live painting at Urbanscapes

Halo halo! This is late but I thought I'd post a separate entry to a live painting session I did for Levi's® and Tongue in Chic (TIC http://www.tonguechic.com) last November. Check out Levi's Dress With Intent page http://goforth.levi.com.my/dwi/profile-nini-ramlan.php

The brief was to do whatever I wanted. How fun! The painting measured 8 feet  by 13ft. I think I can't remember! Well it was fairly big let's just say.

So I decided I wanted to do some kind of a "tree of life" for the piece.

I call it the 'BOOM TREE'. The black and greys at the bottom represent conform. But nature will tell you what you need to do with your life and she will always push you to answer your calling (represented here with the "arrow leaves"). It will reach a point where find it in yourself to go forth and just do it! Explode into a burst of color and life! #artforlife. Do your art and you will go BOOM! 

My painting with people session would start at around 3pm so  I decided to come in around 11am to get the outline done. (That's my sister with her amazing guns) Ummmm, I nearly passed out from the heat as it was literally high noon when I was doing it! I took breaks in between as it was just too glaring but after a couple of hours, I was happy I managed to transfer the drawing freehand! 

Ahh the picture looks great but the heat and sun was a killer! Loads of people came over to help paint including the girls whom I had met in the last Levi's painting session last Aug, 2011. Here's the post incase you missed it http://ninimarini.tumblr.com/post/9333458829/art-for-life-go-forth

I love this shot. Volunteers hard at work painting. Next time I will need more ladders. 

Another friend I had made in the last Levi's painting session. Dayang! Much love to you lady. Thank you for the photos and for filling out the buckets of water!

It was a pretty interesting doing this project with Levi's this time round as there was another painter involved. Next to my piece (on the left) is another done by artist James Ly. (Its not finished here by the way). His approach was way fun as he got people to kick balls dipped in paint onto this canvas. 

8 hours and the painting was completed. Big shout to all who came to help or even to say hi. Thank you (Urbanscapes via All Is Amazing for this photo)

Thank you to the special ladies (above - Amira, Nabila, Dayang, Rab, Naimmah and Nurfariza) I met most of you at the first painting event and now new friends with the second project! Much love to you all. (Thanks for this photo!)

It was such a fun and beautiful day. Lots of great Malaysian energy. Love love love.  (Thank you Meetlov for this collage!)

The next day my Levi's Go Forth buddy and talented photographer Mr. VPYP posted up this picture of the painting in the daytime. 'BOOM' indeed! (Thank you VPYP - #JADI)

Well then there you go. A great way to finish the year I thought and I am looking forward to doing something interesting towards the end of this year you too! Keep on keeping on :)  (Picture courtesy of Urbanscapes)

Thanks Levi's for always supporting the things I love!

#artforlife.

Nini

[ninimarini]

2012

What?!!!! We're alive? LOL

Okay so I've been BUSY (understatement). Haven't had time to blog but I thought I'd so a quick recap to update myself on the things I've done this year and to tell myself. Hell yeah lady. 

1. Creative projects went VERY well this year. Formalised my #ARTFORLIFE campaign with art classes for a youth activity centre as well and by conducting a couple of art sessions with different groups of kids this year. I wanted to understand how to teach kids and I think I've found my own way to teach art and I look forward to doing more of these next year. I want  to help people embrace their "art" and make it apart of their life in some way or the other.

Art sessions with some cool KL kids :) 

Art sessions with different kids just to test my art teacher skills. So far, so good :) 

2. I'm also so THANKFUL that I was able to continue my creative collaborations with various brands this year. I always like doing these short term projects as its good art practice for me. First up, designer phone covers for POPMYBERRY. So much fun! Thank you for asking me to! Thank you to NIKON Asia-Pacific for giving me an opportunity to share what inspires me as an artist. The pictures I took have truly become inspiration for my art work now.Thanks NIKE for inviting me to paint the Cortez and finally LEVI'S Malaysia for inviting me (for the second time round!) to share their GO FORTH ideas with the world and for making another live painting session possible again!  Collaborate to grow!

Levi's Go Forth shoot. Check this link out for more http://goforth.levi.com.my/dwi/profile-nini-ramlan.php 

Check the video out too :  (Link : http://vimeo.com/53943146)

Levi's® Go Forth: Kuah Jenhan, Froya, myBurgerLab, Nini Ramlan, Vincent Paul Yong from The Spacemen on Vimeo.

3. As an 'artist' I think I've made amazing headway in terms of development due to some key events. It started with my very own exhibition early in the year where I also did a live painting there. I was also invited to paint in Singapore at the Asian Civilizations Museum where it was all about pattern in textile....PERFECT inspiration! So a special shout to Anna Belle Francis for helping make that happen for me! Love you for life sister.

My art has given me so much this year I am so grateful for this gift. Through art I've also been able to contribute to society in my own way. This year I was invited to help come up with some art pieces with some refugee kids in Malaysia to help raise funds for the Fugee School. I also celebrated World Refugee Day with the good people at UNCHR where we did a community painting session. So many good things from something I have loved all my life. #ARTFORLIFE

I can't wait to finish these properly. I only had 2 days to work on them so I'm getting someone to send them up from Singapore for me to finish...

Community painting for UNCHCR World Refugee Day in Kuala Lumpur

  Above: A special day painting with the media. 

I keep on saying collaborate to grow....and its true, I feel that I'm on an art journey myself and these experiences will with my "content" for my art and to build towards an eventually second exhibition. WINK.

4. I am BLESSED that people get what I'm trying to do and its definitely a plus to get to talk about my projects formally. I got my first international feature with a digital magazine called The Maior, I got to show my love for Batik by being in a photo campaign for one of my favourite Malaysian batik designers called Rubaq. I also gave some talks this year about 'doing what you love' and #artforlife which completely floored me! Blessed to be able to share!

5. If I had to name one NEW thing that came about for me this year, it would be TEACHING. I do love it. Maybe its because I had a lecturer for a mother, I don't know but teaching is definitely a thing I intend to continue. I teach at work by way of training, I joined a pilot project to teach orphans how to present ideas and I teach art. I definitely feel strongly about education and this year was a good start to get that ball going!

6. My professional career (in content development in media and tv production) has equally been satisfying this year. I've had a hand in some interesting projects which has really made work exciting for me and I'm keen to see how they pan out. The BIGGEST thing I did this year was to pursue whatever projects that interested me even if it wasn't asked of me at work. This has resulted to me being able to help create "creative workshops and sharing sessions" for 8TV, Live painting sessions at TV3. Its been AMAZING lemme just say and I look forward to building new portfolios next year. BOOM. 

This year's music award show concept has gone arty! :)  Oh helloooo #artforlife

My art merged with my work in a BIG WAY this year and it was made clear when I was asked to host a community painting session for the company! So I created Primeworks Studios' Infinite Flow to bring in the chi in our office space....Mmmmmm. Gotta thank the boss for asking me to do it for him. Thanks Izham! Really had fun going to work to PAINT. I enjoyed getting to know some people at work who paint too. Deep connection achieved.  Love love love.

What a SOLID year this year has been. I'm pretty happy with how things turned out. I hope you don't think this is a bragging post as its really not. Its my post to myself to remind me to keep on keeping on. I am thankful for my life.

Here's to a solid 2013. I look forward to you with and open heart!

Wishing you all love and inspiration always.

Lots of love,

NINI

#artforlife

[ninimarini]

Painting with the Fugee School kids

Friend Deborah Henry has set-up this wonderful education hub for refugee kids in Malaysia called Fugee School. Cool right? Education is power. So when she asked me if I could I help her create some art with her kids for her fundraiser auction, I was more than willing. If my art can help....than so be it! #ARTFORLIFE

We did 3 paintings one Sunday afternoon. That's pretty fast considering the kids were only exposed to watercolors before this. I painted in the outline of the designs to start (I made them very simple) and they then were free to paint them in whatever color or pattern they wanted.

The kids worked in groups to paint in the designs

The boys decided to paint the 'Yellow hibiscus' design. They had no issues painting a feminin subject.

That's Deborah doing her bit for the 'Tree of hope'. I basically did a quick painting of a tree and told the girls to paint in patterns in the background. 

They were really proud of their paintings at the end of the session. This one's called 'Colors of Somalia'. Its based on the colors from pieces of Somali fabric.

I later then added a few things to finish up the painting for the auction. I retained all their colors and patterns and simply enhanced it by darkening the lines and filled "bits".

From left: 'Colors of Somalia' painted by Mohamed, Maymuna, Abdala & Fatima.

'The Tree of Hope' painted by Maryam, Yasmine and Amal (Amal did most of the pattern design work)

'Yellow Hibiscus' painted by Hassan and Muctar

Beautiful Deborah giving her opening speech at the 'Send me to school' auction held last Wednesday evening. (Thanks Joseph Teoh for the photo I have stolen LOL)

I'm explaining to the crowd the ideas behind the patterns designed by the kids. The auction went well, all paintings were sold in the end!

Thanks Deborah for inviting me and THANK you to the kids who volunteered to paint. Here's to a new life for you all.

Love, Nini

[ninimarini]

Painting sneakers for kicks and giggles - geddit?!! LOL

2012 is fast becoming a year full of creative collaborations. Was invited by Nike to paint on their Cortez sneakers recently in celebration of its 40th Anniversary (Nike Cortez 40/40 KL). I'll let blogger @amischaheera (very cool chica lemme just say!) tell you about it here ! It's also my first official painting gig in my new studio (post about that will come once all is together in the Nini's Art Studio department). Anyhoo, amidst unpacking & setting up the studio AND my day job, I had to work on these sneakers, not that I'm complaining as I was curious to see what my painting would look like on shoes. The brief was fun anyways "Just do whatever you feel like", which made it easier for me to find some time to get it done! I did it in 3 sessions in total. Below are some pics I took while painting.

Above: The initial sketch. Orchids was my subject. Just because I felt like painting some flowers (big surprise! LOL)

Session 1: The black and white Cortez turned white as soon as it was delivered to me. Painted (acrylics) the base white to help me visualize my design. It was at this point I thought "Dammit, this is not going to be easyyyyy" as the surface was not flat like my canvas! I also discovered that sneaker aritsts usually prep the surface before painting by rubing some alcohol over the sneakers. This helps paints to stick better and last longer. Good thing this is for display only!

session 2: Introducing gold & yellow into the palette. Layers are required to bring out the gold.

Session 3: All four sides are different.......painted in the lines, more layering, some dripping and straw blowing! Messaged this to a sneaker head who said "Dope, but you gotta make the swoosh pop, its important to the Cortez design". Notedddd.

Later that night/morning, painted in the white swoosh but made it transparent.

:

Packed up for Nike!

Once again THANK YOU to Nike Malaysia and the team at MilkPR for inviting me for this wonderful profect. Happy to be a part of this global celebration!

Love,

Nini

#ARTFORLIFE

[ninimarini]

Primeworks Studios' 'Infinite Flow'

Last month I had the honor of creating a mural for my company, Primeworks Studios. My CEO, Ahmad Izham Omar, who after finding out I actually paint recently, asked if I would do a mural for the office as part of a community exercise and to add more color to the office. I said yes with no hesitation.You don't even know how excited I was about this particular "commission". I dare say, not many people get the chance to paint at work (especially when its not an art set-up). It was momentous to see my art mergewith my day job in a big way.....CRAZY how things work out.

The brief was color - JUST MY THING! So I came up with Primeworks Studio's 'Infinite Flow'. Its basically our logo twisted into a figure 8 (infinity) - vibrant and continuos. It took us 2 days to do. The first day involved everyone painting and the second day was mostly of me doing up the outline.

Again, I can't tell you enough how blessed I feel to do this piece. I think our company stepped it up two-fold in the talent appreciation department. I also discovered some painting soul mates in the process. Loveeee. Nice one Primeworks & thanks to everyone who walked by to shout words of love and paint a patch or two. :)

Art unites, art creates good vibes, art inspires. #ARTFORLIFE

Much love, Nini

[ninimarini]

Sharing a little bit of my happy time. #artforlife

Painted 'She Rises' (7x5ft, acrylics)  a couple of weekends ago. Inspired by the Firebird & The Phoenix Rising from the ashes stories.

My hope was that everyone who came to watch me paint that weekend would enjoy warm vibes and to those who came later to see her, would feel her "rising" and be liberated.

[ninimarini]

From doodles to phones covers. My #artforlife journey continues

Everyone who knows me will support this fact: "Nini loves her berry". So when  Popmyberry (Malaysian company dealing in blackberry accessories & servicing) invited me to collaborate with them to come up with a few designs for their new "sticker" service I said, "Hells yeah!!"

I really didn't have a "concept" for the covers. One random night, I just sat myself down with some music and started "doodling" with my Indian Inks. 

I then sent them to my new friends at Popmyberry who in turn very kindly printed some samples out specially for my live painting cum solo exhibition yesterday.

These are the samples! The quality is pretty ON! It will go on sale this March so do follow @popmyberry on twitter for updates! (From left: Firebird, Peacock, Fishnet, Shells, Fleurs & Aeoki)

Aeoki above was a real favourite. Both samples were sold along with some other designs.

Soooo, anyway this is a quick post to update you. My #artforlife journey continues. I stand firm. Do what you love. Share. Collaborate and be happy doing it. 

Lots of love,

Nini

[ninimarini]

DIPPED featured in LiTV

LiTV, Asia's Lifestyle tv channel featured us last year (2010) via a couple of vignettes. I really like how they've put it together. Thanks Li! It airs regionally in Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. Check them out at  (www.litvchannel.com)

dipped is a collaboration between two friends developed under the Thirtyfour label.

You can read more about dipped here or check out Thirtyfour (Look for 'dipped')

You can also find us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/thirtyfour.net