To officially mark the start of the Chinese New Year, SM City North EDSA honored The Chan Lim Family of Artists through a commemorative event — an afternoon of exquisite Chinese culture celebration last Sunday, January 15.

I was one of the bloggers who got invited to the event and was surprised that they would be conducting a Chinese Brush Painting workshop for the guests. I’m a first-timer so I couldn’t help but feel both excited and nervous when I saw the painting supplies they have prepared for us.

The Chan Lim Family of Artists

The event began with the introduction of The Chan Lim Family, one of the few remaining notable Chinese brush painting artists in the country. The year 2017 celebrates Chan Lim’s 80th birth year, a successful milestone in Chinese culture.

Chan Lim, the family patriarch, is a master of oil and watercolor painting. Most of his art is on canvas, but he has also enjoyed working on porcelain plates, Asian lanterns, and fans, fusing Western techniques and Eastern art.

The Chan Lim siblings Alex, Felix, Rolex, and Jolex are all engineers by profession but they’re also passionate about art. They conduct art classes, workshops, seminars, and painting demos in the family studio located in Pasig City. They’ve also joined local and international art exhibits and have successfully nurtured the artistic talents of the third generation. Their paintings can be found in private collections here and abroad.

The Workshop

Before we try painting our own ‘masterpieces’, Mr. Alex invited us to watch his on-the-spot painting demonstration. I was in awe because he finished a beautiful landscape painting in just 8 minutes.

One of the mentors suggested that we, beginners, try painting the 4 popular subjects in Chinese brush painting: bamboo, plum blossom, grass orchid, and chrysanthemum. I was hesitant to start right away because I had no idea what to paint or how to start, so I just copied two from the sample illustrations that we were given.

From time to time the mentors would go around and teach us a few basic brush strokes and techniques. They would also comment on our work, making me feel more tensed hahaha. But they were really helpful, especially when Mr. Chan Lim himself personally assisted me how to properly hold the Chinese paintbrush – 2 [fingers] in, 2 [fingers] out, hold the brush vertically, then rotate/move the wrist. 🙂

So my paintings were copies of the grass orchid and the plum blossom, then the other one a yellow flower that’s more like a drawing instead of a painting. I used to paint when I was a teen, mostly to destress, so I finger-paint on canvas.

My dad still keeps my paintings. 🙂 This experience made me want to include painting as one of my past times again, but of course, I have to manage my time more properly because I have too many hobbies to count.

The event’s other highlights were the traditional Chinese dance presentations, the Dragon dance, heartfelt messages of the Chan Lim family members to their ‘Angkong’, and the delicious Chinese food for the guests. Mr. Robin Padilla was also there to grace the event. It was indeed a joyous afternoon to remember.

The Chan Lim Exhibit

After my enriching painting experience, I checked out the exhibit the Chan Lim Family of Artists and Students prepared. More than 300 artworks are done in porcelain plates, scrolls, and oil paintings.

My favorite pieces are painted by none other than the talented Mr. Chan Lim himself. Such a marvelous display of colors!

Here are some of my other picks. I wish I could paint something close to these great artworks in the near future. 🙂

The exhibit is participated by 43 talented artists and will be held from January 15 to February 12 at The Block Atrium of SM City North EDSA. I invite you all to visit this one-of-a-kind art exhibit and take part in celebrating a prosperous year ahead. Kung Hei Fat Choi!

This is a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Published: 2017-01-24 14:43:40