so i’ve moved from lines to curves.
the lady’s very much prettier than my portrayal. she appears in a qatar airways ad and caught my eye :p so i thought i’d give drawing faces a try. she looks a lot more asian than in the ad, and my impression doesn’t do her justice. haha. and the next sketch – no prizes for guessing (:
#1 God has been ever faithful, and I know He always will be, but He’s been giving me many reminders recently.
#2 a great week has gone by, i’ve done almost all the things i had wanted to do – play guitar, record a song, watch a few good movies (the shawshank redemption is nothing short of fantastic, one of the best movies i’ve watched so far) read at the library, draw in my newly acquired sketchbook, run to keep from growing fatter 
, swim for fun at SAFRA mt faber. the only thing i havent done yet want to do is cycle. ECP to Pasir Ris Park anyone? i thank God for the weekend, but the sian feeling does not elude me at this time of a sunday night, especially so close to 2200hours ): thankful for the wednesday break though.
#3 i haven’t caught F1, not even on tv. i’m on the side of the fence which thinks watching cars zip by while making loud sounds aint worth my time, mainly because i’ve got better things to do. of which i’ve done most (: however i wouldnt rule out watching F1 sometime. possibly next year when i’m on duty, haha.
#4 have a very blessed birthday colleen (:
took two hours. haha. but it was quite fun.
i started out a little unfamiliar with my tool of choice, a staedtler 2B pencil. i worked from top to bottom. if you take a closer look you’ll see the quality of the strokes going through some degradation near the bottom. lines also become heavier, i’m not sure if its because i’ve started to tire from drawing, or its the pencil getting blunt. haha. i dont think i’ll ever work with a pen, although i bought one for my arsenal. i dont really like the idea of not being able to erase accidental/break in attention span errors. perhaps its the hidden perfectionist streak in me. ha.
/faces, strides, bright lights
of wandering, searching, pursuing
a place of leavings, and comings.
/emotions override
of which, mixed, devoid
are mostly sadness, and happiness.
/love is in the air
of friendship, kinship, relationships
a sense of security, and joy.
/trolleys, brollies, luggage
of passengers, pilots, stewardesses
beginnings, transitions and ends.
/the ambient atmosphere
timeless, transcendent.
I’m not alone, I wish I was
‘Cause then I’d know I was down because
I couldn’t find a friend around
To love me like they do right now
They do right now
I’m dizzy from the shopping mall
I searched for joy but I bought it all
It doesn’t help the hunger pains
And a thirst I’d have to drown first to ever satiate
Something’s missing
And I don’t know how to fix it
Something’s missing
And I don’t know what it is
No I don’t know what it is
At all
When Autumn comes, it doesn’t ask
It just walks in where it left you last
You never know when it starts
Until there’s fog inside the glass around your summer heart
Something’s missing
And I don’t know how to fix it
Something’s missing
And I don’t know what it is, no I don’t know what it is
At all
I can’t be sure that this state of mind
Is not of my own design
I wish there was an over-the-counter test for loneliness
For loneliness like this
Something’s missing
And I don’t know how to fix it
Something’s missing
And I don’t know what it is
No I don’t know what it is
Something’s different
And I don’t know what it is
No I don’t know what it is
Friends – check
Money – check
Well-slept – check
Opposite sex – check
Guitar – check
Microphone – check
Messages waiting on me when I come home – check
How come everything I think I need
Always comes with batteries?
What do you think it means?
How come everything I think I need…
i’m sure numerous other bass players and hardcore fans of legends Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten who attended the insane concert tonight would have much to blog about as well, but i would be doing myself a disfavour if i didn’t do a post mortem myself.
it was crazy. as aptly expressed by each of the three as well, crazy man number 1, 2 and 3 respectively.
they brought out the versatility of the instrument, peppered it with resonant riffs and licks and oozed musical style. each player was distinct and unique in their own right. Marcus Miller’s trademark steady, ’spanky’ slap tone that packed a rhythmic punch. Victor Wooten’s consistent doublethumbing technique, felicitous use of harmonics and solid all round tone, slap not forgotten, was a stunner. (ok i’m slightly biased on this point) i prefer the Fodera tone over the Fender and Alembic. Stanley Clarke’s slap tone is definitive by itself, lush jazz melodies, counterpointed with its supporting harmonies supplemented the music. the confluence of musical genius was witnessed, entrenched in the bassics (:P) of technique, enriched by the creativity of the individual musicians. i sat amazed, and slightly stupefied.
as a musician/bassist, of course i was trying my best to figure out what they were doing but early into the concert i just gave up. i was too noob man. lol. so being the novice that i am, i chose to sit back, relax, and let myself be engaged by the workings of the three basses. the drummer definitely deserves a standing ovation as well. he never missed a beat, complex combinations of rhythms were thumping throughout, and he was almost perfectly in sync with the three, giving all round sturdy grounding and providing the pulse. i laud the keyboardist’s rendering of the solo, and the way he made the synths fade, blur, and blend into the soundscape, underpinning the ongoing artistry on the basses.
i loved the acoustic set when Stanley Clarke picked up the double bass. he pulled a stunt and gave the audience a pleasant scare when he started strumming it like a badass guitarist, that i will not forget. Marcus Miller’s talent on the saxes leaves much to be desired as well. his deft fingers produced great tone which was overarching everything else, and sat nicely on the band setting, and i was taken aback when he blew on the low note which made the walls of the esplanade theatre reverberate significantly, even i could feel the vibrations. that brings me to talk about the mad setup of the stage. amps were huge, 04xCabs, and the sound that came through just boomed. i thought the mix was fine, what else do you expect when you put 3 basses together? the acoustic pickup was fantastic though, i could hear the sound that Stanley Clarke’s fingers makes when he does the vibrato, created when his fingers rub against the fingerboard, a brushing sound. perhaps that was due to it being a little overamplified, but heck. loved that set. Victor Wooten’s dexterity and skill shone during his solo. quoting a friend, he said something along the lines of how one can see the technical range of things you can do with the bass, demonstrated in a single song of Wooten’s. that is echoingly true, if you’d been there, you know.
it never failed to amaze, was a crowd pleaser (apparently noticeable in the atmosphere in between the end of the last song and the beginning of the encore), the audience showed unwavering enthusiasm, some even grooving to the beat and clapping along excitedly. kudos goes to the organisers of the mosaic festival for bringing these three legends down so that this audience in our little red dot can have the privilege of enjoying good music, without having to resort to watching Youtube videos. (:
adrien brody’s really good man. respect.
got a spark of inspiration to play the piano again. i realised i forgot 95% of what i learnt. gah. what a waste. i should pick up some of it back within this one plus year. music is such a powerful vehicle of emotion. its nice to be in the driver’s seat sometimes. catch the pianist. great movie.
its one of those sundays when i really really dont feel like booking in, but who does anyway.
sigh. think its time for a run.
recently boredom has caught up with me. no amount of books could hamper it from apprehending me with its actuality. the pursuit of knowledge has slowed, and i do need some effort on my part to overcome drowsiness after a few pages. its not that i’m disinterested, its merely an attack of boredomitis. once that barrier’s past, i get engaged pretty easily, perusing with utmost concentration.
i’ve also gotten hooked on monopoly, even though i’m already starting to get bored of it, in less than a week. i miss people. i have a strange jealousy of those privileged kids (my peers) who get to start studying. strange but true. i want to experience the stress, the mugging, the readings. i dont want to feel like i’m wasting my life (even though i am, or at least i’m pretty convinced i’m currently wasting most of it anyway). i’m done with my UK app, praying hard to get a place. effectively i hope i’ll keep track academically, or at least as best as i can in camp. what a predicament.
lets hope the coming days’ll be an improvement.
on a lighter note, i found DVD bargain heaven, thanks to Sherman. Jurong Point Music Junction is having a renovation sale, 20% off on top of all discounted items. i want to go there again.
weekends always seem so short, don’t you think?
applications! the word in itself can inject a dose of worry-itis immediately
thank God the most part is done. its the personal statement and the referee’s statement that are left to complete. i’ve only just realized how expensive applying overseas can be, from the price of mail to administrative fees for pre-requisite tests and the works.
went to justin’s and had a good meal today. its actually the main reason for this post. posting foodie pictures! ha. i stir fried the onions to caramelised perfection, with the juicy flavour of the shiitake mushrooms oozing around the edges. courtesy of justin and his wonderful well stocked kitchen. see, if i take up photography, food photography’s gonna top the list as my first area of venture in the world of photography, firstly because its a lot more convenient to take food because the only trouble is to cook, which is more fun than trouble for me (: otherwise you’d have to go out for, say, nature photography or architectural photography (which are actually other areas i have interest in. love scenic shots and cool buildings) but first i guess i’d have to save up for a decent amateurish hobbyish SLR. talk is cheap. haha.
pictures! (justin took some too, it’ll probably surface somewhere in facebook)
the patties, after its preparation process
a patty in the fry. if you look close enough you’ll see the sprinkles of pepper and coriander on the surface.
when its almost done and ready to be served/eaten. love how messy the mushrooms look.
feeling hungry yet?
i managed to make the burger look like one. so there. it was great stuff. haha.
look! @.@ stars in the milky way! (actually its really blueberries in homemade yoghurt, once again courtesy of justin)
love the last picture. enjoy!
