Art of a Vanishing Landscape

ART OPENING RECEPTION!!!!

The Pembroke Hill School and Paseo Academy communities are invited to an art opening featuring work by students and professional artists inspired by a trip to the Konza Prairie this summer.

Proceeds from art sales will benefit the Konza Environment Education Program.

Come join us at the Opening Reception:
Opening Reception
Friday, November 9th 5pm-9pm
Leopold Gallery (324 W.63rd st. in Brookside)

To view some images from the trip go to:
http://liveandcreate.blogspot.com/2007/09/flint-hills-trip-2007.html

Birthday party in Lawrence

From top left: Nathan and Tyler. Bottom left: Me and Stephanie.


What $%^!!!!!! LOL. So cute.


I love you!!!


Wii. It was fun. My first time.


Food!!!!!!

Last Saturday night, we went to a friend's birthday party at a beautiful home in Lawrence where Steph's fav dogs live. She wanted to see if i was truly allergic to them so part of my task was to play with them. Well my nose was running a bit but not as bad as when I am around cats when I have trouble breathing.

Our future of having pugs in our new house is questionable for now. LOL.

Great food that night. It was a good ole time.

Post Exhibition Minutes

The exhibition was indeed a SUCCESS. Just as I anticipated, it was breathtaking to me to see all that I have worked so so hard for, up on the wall all at once. I spent many hours with each of my paintings but for the most part I only get to look at them one at a time up on my easel so to see the final result as a whole was very rewarding.

Throughout the evening, I greeted clients and chatted with them about my work. I ask them about their interest in paintings trying to learn more about what drew them to my paintings. They were fascinated about the amount paint i use for each painting. They wondered how and what i used to manipulate the paint with. Finally they appreciated the color and compositions i chose for each subject matter.

There were many close friends at the show. Among them there were friends whom I haven't seen for so long that came and they definitely brighten the day and made my evening that much more special.

30 minutes before lights out, the gallery were filled with talented dancer friends and specially loved ones. We all went out to celebrate at Cheesecake factory and went dancing to finish off the night. The night was just perfect. It definitely memorable.

I am off to work again for my next exhibition. Until then, thank you all for being at the exhibition. I hope you had a good time that evening.

Pre Exhibition Preparations

Today is another big day. The day that I have been looking forward to for the last 3 months. Have you ever been so focused in accomplishing a goal that takes so much patience and work but in a short period of time? To be able to talk about it at the end knowing you have crossed the finish line is an experience so powerful and motivating, it makes you feel like you can do anything and be who you want to be.

(will blog about the experience above another time)

Every year, my exhibition signifies another big accomplishment not only to my career as an artist but also as an individual. This year has been the most challenging year in my career because I risked having a very short amount of time preparing for my exhibition to visit my family and friends back in Malaysia whom I haven't seen in 7 years.

As I prepare myself mentally for this evening, The only thing I want to focus on is to see my friends whom I love and to tell them how much I appreciate their support and also the public that appreciates art. They are very important to me as an artist because, audiences are part of my art making process.

Of course deep down in my heart, I can only think about all that has happened this year. Meeting the love of my life, the people that I have met, places that I have been to, being accepted at another gallery and having a blast teaching salsa.

I will be back early next week to report on this special evening with some pictures.

Thanks for reading.

Latest Painting

This painting is a glimpse of Melaka, a historical town in Malaysia on the coast of Straits of Melaka. Once a town where trading started over 60 years ago. Anyway, this is my last painting for the exhibition THIS FRIDAY!!!!!!

Artist Opening Reception
Leopold Gallery
324 W 63rd St (63rd & Brookside)
Kansas City, MO 64113
Friday, OCTOBER 19th, 6 - 9pm

Opening Reception

The wait has finally arrived!!!! Please join me at the Leopold Gallery on Oct. 19th for an opening reception of my artwork this year.

Workshop with Ana Tinajero

Ana and I after the workshop.


Here we are on Friday evening sitting around chatting over dinner before dancing.


Here is my Latin Rhythm Dance Family and Ana Tinajero during our workshop this weekend. We learned alot and we went through some vigorous body movement exercises, spinning technique and a turn pattern with some flava.

From Under

14X18in, oil on canvas. From Under Broadway. Allan Chow 2007

In this exhibition, you will see a series of bridges. Most of them are of the Broadway Bridge. Sometimes I take history for granted. I drive on the bridge to get to and from home to the city not realizing the fascinating stories and history that exist until today.


12 X 16in, oil on canvas. Broadway morning. Allan Chow 2007

Hope

This painting was inspired by my previous painting called "Faith" and from my recent trip to the Flint Hills. Stephanie my model was there at the trip as well. It was her first trip out there and this painting was a reminder to me of the fun she had when she was out there.

Teaching Salsa.

2005 Dance in the Park performance. Picture by Mike Strong.
Lesson by Allan Chow
Merriam Community Center ( I. B French Community center)
5701 Merriam Drive, Merriam KS 66203
Please Call 913.236.8989 for more information
Tuesdays 8.00 to 9.00 p.m.

TO SIGN UP, VISIT: FREE LESSON

Beginning Night Club Style Salsa 1: "NO Partner - NO Problem!"
The beginning level progressive program is designed to create a common language for the new and returning salsa dancer. This course is for complete beginners or students with understanding in other dance forms. Learn the Salsa basics starting with: the rhythm, fun turn patterns, break step variations, leading and following 'fun'-damentals. Ready to have a good time? Lets get started. TUESDAYS 8 PM.

Get Your Complimentary Gas Card
Complimentary $10 Gas Card in SEPTEMBER !!!!!!
*when you purchase a punchcard from us.

Teaching Salsa after being a student of this art for 5 1/2 years now is very rewarding. Its an experience that really humbles yourself and makes me happy to see the smiles on my students face walking out of class knowing they have had a great workout and can take what they have learned to the next Salsa Night in town.

When i see some students of mine who goes out salsa dancing, some of them will have the courage to ask someone to dance for the first time and others needed more encouragement from me. I lend a hand and tell them that they have to dance at least once and that they will thank me for it. I know what that feels like to go to a club after your first few weeks of salsa lessons and leaving not even dance once. I wasn't lucky enough to have a friend who helped encourage me when I started. But I am determined to help others especially my students to take that step and have a great time.

Come out feel the joy and fun of Salsa dancing yourself. I teach a Begginner's Lesson at the Merriam Community Center AKA I. B. French Community Center on 5701 Merriam Drive, Merriam KS 66203. Classes are on TUESDAYS from 8 to 9 PM. Try me for free the first time. VISIT: FREE LESSON

Bridges Converging

Well, here is the main image for the exhibition on Oct 12th. Its all done with a pallete knife. The knife came in handy especially when I needed to create sharp, thin and straight lines for the bridges. The dimensions for this version is 30 X 40 inches on canvas.


Here is the sketch which was only 12 X 16 inches in dimensions. I realized how complicated the bridges were when I saw it. All the metal overlapping and intricately held together gave me a sore eye. So i decided i need a practice before i pursued a bigger version of this painting.

Flint Hills' Trip 2007

Our adventure starts. We arrived in our own car at around 2.20pm after about 2 hrs of driving. At that point we were waiting for the bus to arrive that carried all the kids. This year we have over 40 students plus 20 instructors and organizers combined. It was exciting to see all of them arrive and together with the beautiful breezy and clear skies, I knew it was going to be a great day. Thankfully it wasn't hot and humid. This weekend was one of the best weekends this summer. We gathered and the kids were assigned to each instructors. I had about 4 students. Half from Paseo Academy and half from Pembroke Hill. Here we go.


After we gathered for water bottles, snacks and supplies, we drove to the site which was 3 minutes away from our original meeting ground. We were told to come back to the same spot by 5.30pm. Off we went.


Thats Richard on the left and Jose on the right walking to our first vantage point.


Here are some of my students sketching and collecting images to help them create final pieces for the exhibition in two months.


Steph took this picture of me.


We stopped here for our first sketch site. The best view was behind us.






After 20 minutes, we were off to climb this hill to get to the top of the hill to get a better view. It was a hike with shorts because of the tall grass that left my legs scratched up but the view was rewarding when we got to the top.


This is only one view when we got up to the hill.








Heres Steph having fun outdoors!


Heres the group that was with us on the hill working away.












Talented Richard Raney working with his student. An artist and teacher, this is something he does for a living. Only difference is, its outdoors this time.


My honey reading a book!


One of the students with an instructor working away


Saw myself!


Richard and I in the picture. We had a great time.


This is Max painting away.


Yampi, one of my students from Pembroke Hill. Hes from Bolivia, an exchange student having a blast. He didn't want to leave.


This year was filled with even more inspired students and instructors. The suspense builds as we parted and wishes everyone a great job and excited to see the students again back with their finished pieces at the Leopold Gallery this Fall. What a success!!!!!

We were tired from being in the sun. I was ready to drive home, have a glass of wine and just relax. The ride back was a blast having conversations with Jeremy Collins, one of the instructors/artist, Paul, Richard and Steph. The sunset behind us was incredible as we departed. We wished we could stay a bit longer but it was getting dark. Let me tell you, the warm light hitting the hills made the grass radiate and glow red orange all around.


Heres one of my interpretation of the land. I finished this last week in preparations for my solo exhibition next Month.