Can you paint a feeling?

Posted on 11 April 2012 by admin

Many people tell me that they would like to paint… and they often feel inspired to paint a flower, a view and more naturalistic motives but that they don’t have the technique to do so. That’s why they give up before they start and never get around to paint!

So my question to you is: Why not paint the feeling of the flower, of the view or whatever it is that you want to portray? If you paint the feeling instead of the image of your motive there will be no judgment. How can there because nobody knows what your feelings look like… only you know what it feels like and therefore what it should look like.

This also means that ANYBODY can paint… you need no skill to enjoy creative expression!

I know that this sounds a bit abstract to some people… because often we don’t even know HOW to express our feelings with words so then how can we express it with painting? Well, my best advice is stop the thinking and let the subconscious take control when just painting by using colours and shapes and forms that appear in front of you as you paint. Then I am sure that you will get very close to the feeling you want to express.

If you need a little help then see if you can find a piece of music to listen to while you paint !

If you need more help, let me know so I can inform you when my new complete training programme with DVDs and a workbook is available. Here I will step-by-step guide you to set yourself free in creative terms with painting… and many of the principles I teach can be used in other parts of life too! Sign up for my mailing list and you will be one of the first to know!

And here’s an example of me painting my feelings:

: Here is the painting of my feelings of my upcoming birthday created to a freestyle rap by The Rapping Professor.; Together with The Rapping Professor www.rappingprofessor.com I decided to paint the feelings of my upcoming birthday and my planned birthday party while he did a freestyle rap. It was so much fun… and I personally think that my feelings came out nicely in the painting. Do you like the feelings I am displaying?

If you happen to like the painting it’s because you like the feelings of love, giving, seaside fun, togetherness, freedom and joy! There you have it… you can paint your feelings too!

I donated MYR4,200 to Yayasan Sunbeams Home!

Posted on 19 March 2012 by admin

I am still in awe after my last art exhibition “Colours of Life. A Celebration of Life, Art and Culture” at Hotel Equatorial. Having finalised the last details with the hotel, delivered sold paintings, picking up the rest etc,

I am happy to announce that including the sale of my paintings I have been able to donate MYR4,200 to our chosen charity Yayasan Sunbeams Home. This is also thanks to a great partnership with Hotel Equatorial Kuala Lumpur and fantastic collaboration with many great people such as Nila Palacios, Lena Lim, Dr. T Selva, Tan Chong Meng, Rajen the Magician and Elke Wollschon.

I went to Yayasan Sunbeams Home’ homeschooling centre on a Sunday in March together with social media expert Lena Lim and we met up with Pastor Victor, his wife, a teacher and some kids and it was a great pleasure to see all the work that they do for orphaned children.Yayasan Sunbeams Home cares and provides for orphaned, abused, neglected and abandoned children, and children from broken families, irrespective of their background or beliefs. I was in particular impressed with their home schooling programme and centre.

A large number of the children have had problems integrating in the public school and to follow the curriculum. Therefore the management of the orphanage decided to teach the children themselves, following a home schooling programme. This has given happier kids who are learning more and the donation from my art show is going toward shelves in the school.

The school employs 4 teachers and they need money each month to pay for them and to develop the school further so if you are looking for a charity to support, I think this is a very worthy cause.

Read more about Yayasan Sunbeams Home here: http://sunbeamshome.org/ and like them on Facebook too please: www.facebook.com/YayasanSunbeamsHome

I like the Yayasan Sunbeams Home concept so much that we have agreed that I will help teach the kids art and creativity and we are starting to prepare for this very soone. If you know who can support us with art materials and supplies, please let me know.

I have actually been asked many times whether I teach art and creativity to children… now I will start on this at Yayasan Sunbeams Home as my community project and maybe later, if the demand is there, do something for children from families for a fee. More on this when I feel ready.

Want to be a Star?

Posted on 19 March 2012 by admin

I will be video’ing my next workshop and I am urgently looking for a few more people to be in my training video. Are you one of my stars?

The video will be filmed in my studio in my house in Ampang this coming weekend Saturday and Sunday 24th and 25th March 2012 from 9 am to 5 pm.

The video and therefore the workshop will include subjects of discovery such as the connection between creativity, play and relaxation, the meaning of colours and how colours affect us. I will also touch on subjects such as materials, paints and colours and not least how to mix colours. The exercises are all relaxed and fun and will include a number of mind freeing assignments using colours and other materials. I will in particular focus on guiding you through exercises that will help you finding your creativity and I will reveal tricks that you can use in the future whether you are painting or not. Some of the things you learn might even become useful at the job! And don’t forget, you will go home with at least one if not not more masterpieces made by YOU!

You do not need to know about painting or art to participate but it’s no hindrance because what I teach is entirely different to any art class you could imagine! Just come with an open mind and be willing to go with the flow and have fun!

As I am video’ing this I will not charge you my usual fees, I will only ask you to cover the cost of lunch boths days and all material, a total of RM75. That is a steal because you will be helping me to make a super training video just by being you!

Give me a call immediately if you want to be part of this and help me out at the same time, please call on tel 016 301 8081 or my personal mobile if you have that number.

I donated MYR4,200 to Yayasan Sumbeams Home

Posted on 11 March 2012 by admin

The school employs 4 teachers and they need money each month to pay for them and to develop the school further so if you are looking for a charity to support, I think this is a very worthy cause.

Read more about Yayasan Sunbeams Home here: http://sunbeamshome.org/ and like them on Facebook too please: www.facebook.com/YayasanSunbeamsHome

Why colours are more important than we think

Posted on 11 March 2012 by admin

Colours is such a fascinating and rich subject, it’s all around us all or most of the time yet many of us never even think about colours let alone use them actively to our advantage in daily life.

As opposed to animals we, or most of us, see life in colour yet it is something we know almost nothing about. We know the names of a number of colours but when it comes to the more unusual ones, we have no clue. What is mauve for instance? Or ochre? What do they look like?

Colours have a cultural significance, they can have political associations, they can be linked with religion, the have age connotation… they have spiritual and health meanings as they signifies the energies of our aura or body’s energy field.

We seem to prefer certain colours for clothing but different colours for our surroundings. We often allow ourselves to follow the colour dictates of fashion even if it does not “feel right”. If everything else fails, we tend to surround ourselves with white and wear black or other so-called neutral colours. Why?

Because colours communicate even if we’re not aware of it… and often we’re afraid of standing out, showing our true colour in a mass of blackness or nothingness!

Our subconscious mind is however, quite capable of picking up colours and their meaning. .. and so is our body! The simple reason is that color has energy and therefore a vibration and a frequency like everything else in this Universe. Because colour is frequency it can be “translated” into other aspects that we might understand, into matters that is coherent with our bodies and mind.

The frequency of colours can be used to balance off imbalances in our bodies… because that is frequencies too. This way, colours can not only affect our moods but in subtle ways actually have health benefits.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, each organ in our body is linked with an element, a season, a colour as well as an organ, a taste, a mood, a sound, a time and much more. Looking at this, we get an insight into WHY colours are so important to our lives:

Do you want to learn more about how colours affect our lives?

Then come join me for the talk “Why Colours Are More Important Than We Think. The why’s and the what’s of the colours in our life” on one of these dates:

Tuesday 11 October at Eco-Oasis Organic in Bangsar
www.colours.eventbrite.com

Wednesday 19 October in Flo Lobby Lounge at Hotel Equatorial www.coloursequatorial.eventbrite.com

And I’m hosting a 2 day creative workshop end of October, it’s at Hotel Equatorial and it’s called “How Anyone Can Become Creative on Command” http://creativeoncommand.eventbrite.com

A memorable opening of Colours of Life exhibition

Posted on 20 February 2012 by admin

Well over 60 people including the media turned up for the opening of “Colours of Life. A Celebration of Life, Art and Culture” at Hotel Equatorial Kuala Lumpur on 5 January 2012.

The opening party was an unusual art vernisage with the painting “Blossom” coming to life! Fashion designer Nila Palacios had graciously offered to be body painted similar to the painting and dance the feeling and energies of the the painting while I recited my words about the painting to the tunes of Open Your Heart by Ruth Cunningham and Ana Hernandez.

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Thanks to partners and sponsors Hotel Equatorial Kuala Lumpur, Carlsberg Breweries, Albatros, Nila Palacios Latin Fashion, Vanitha Murthi, Mosholt Design.

The exhibition had a number of events associated… all in order to raise some money for Yayasan Sunbeams Home… a home for orphaned kids who need more colour in their lives!

The painting “Blossom” came to life to these words:

When a flower is in blossom it is beauty unfolding in front of our eyes, leaf by leaf unfolding. It is the same when a human being starts to blossom, slowly we will see how truly beautiful this person is.

To make ourselves blossom we first need to discover the seed or the purpose that we are here to plant, then we must sow it, water it, nurse it… grow it. Eventually we will blossom. And when we start to blossom we will straighten the back, push forward the chest, raise beyond the ground. We will bloom and become attractive.

What will make you blossom?

Artist to talk about her mission in life during exhibition

Posted on 3 January 2012 by admin

The Star newspaper is announcing my upcoming exhibition with this article published on 3 January 2012:

Artist to talk about her mission in life during exhibition

DANISH artist Charlotte Donvang is not your normal artist and her exhibition scheduled to be held at Hotel Equatorial Kuala Lumpur on Jan 5 is promising to be something entirely different too.

The exhibition, which is called “Colours of Life — A Celebration of Life, Art and Culture” not only displays her artwork but also covers a series of events portraying different angles of life, art and culture.

Donvang, who lives in Kuala Lumpur, has held exhibitions here several times but this is the first time she is holding a very public and daring exhibition.

“To me colour is energy and energy is life,” said Donvang.

Read the full story directly in The Star:
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/1/3/central/10179195&sec=central

Event programme during “Colours of Life”

Posted on 19 December 2011 by admin

This is the tentative programme of events during the period of my solo art exhibition at Hotel Equatorial Kuala Lumpur.

Colours of Life. A Celebration of Life, Art and Culture
from 5 January to 6 February 2012

Saturday 7 January 2012 at 7 pm, a colourful fashion show by Nila Palacios Latin Fashion.

Thursday 12, Friday 13 and Saturday 14th January 2012 at 6-8 pm, Guquin Chinese Instrument Performance, Chinese Tea Art, Stone Chop demo and Calligraphy demo.

Sunday 15 January 2012 at 3 pm, free Vasthu talk “Creating a home sweet home” by Vasthu Sastra author, international speaker, radio and television personality on metaphysics and ancient Indian wisdom Dr. T Selva.

Thursday 19 January 2012 at 6 pm, free talk “Why Colours Are More Important Than We Think” by the Artist and Flamboyantly Colourful Visionary Charlotte Donvang.

Friday 20 January 2012 at 6 pm, free talk and demonstration of Calligraphy by Mr Tan Chong Meng.

Saturday 21 January 2012 at 2 pm, free talk “Social Media for Social Good” by Social Media Expert Lena Lim.

Saturday 28 January 2012 at 2 pm, free talk “Social Media for Social Good” by Social Media Expert Lena Lim.

Sunday 29 January 2012 at 3 pm, free magic show and sand arts by Magician Rajen

Wednesday 1 February 2012 at 7 pm, free talk “Eat Your Colours Alive” by Nutritional Consultant and Raw Food Expert Elke Wollschon.

Thursday 2 February 2012 at 6 pm, free talk and interactive session “Playshop for Adults. How to relax through creative expression” by Artist and Flamboyantly Colourful Visionary Charlotte Donvang.

Friday 3 February 2012 at 7 pm, free talk “Eat Your Colours Alive” by Nutritional Consultant and Raw Food Expert Elke Wollschon.

Monday 6 February 2012 at 6 pm, Calligraphy demonstration by Mr. Tan Chong Meng.

Monday 6 February 2012 at 7 pm, Lion Dance.

To book your seat for one of these events or to enquire, please contact Hotel Equatorial by calling Azlina at 03 2160 5513 (direct line) or by e-mailing azlina@kul.equatorial.com

Next solo exhibition is opening on 5th January 2012

Posted on 19 December 2011 by admin

There is less than a week for Christmas at the moment of writing this. Normally my house here in Kuala Lumpur is neatly decorated with a Christmas tree and beautiful X-mas decs, some are homemade and some are fabulous designer decorations from Georg Jensen in Denmark. This year I have had no time at all… I have been preparing my up and coming solo exhibition.

It all started with a cancellation of what should have been my exhibition during the month of December at Hotel Equatorial Kuala Lumpur. My art show was going to be part of their Christmas tree lighting event for the VIP customers but for some reason or other, outside my control, it was cancelled. However, instead they offered me a bigger event dedicated to my art with a better location in the hotel. It was definitely an offer I could not refuse. It also meant that I have been working very hard ever since because now it’s a full on solo event with all that entails.

And typically me, what was an art exhibition has now developed into a mini festival with a lot of associated activities. The art exhibition is called “Colours of Life. A Celebration of Life, Art and Culture” and it will portray different aspects of life as well as my art.

To me colour is energy… and energy is life. With the title “Colours of Life” it quickly became obvious to me that as well as showing different aspects of life through my art I could do that through associated events too. Because it’s all about the energy… and now we will be displaying events with fabulous energies in them!

I believe that art should be available to all walks of life and not only hang in exclusive galleries. That is why I am so happy to work with Hotel Equatorial… a lot of people will walk past my art and receive a little of the colour energy that I am here to give. I believe that more people will be touched by my art in a hotel than in a gallery.

That’s how the idea of a mini festival came about. There are now more than 15 different happenings taking place during the period of my exhibition from 5 January to 6 February 2012. Check out the programme elsewhere on my web site.

An auspicious event

The whole event is quite auspicious to me and I’m sure it was all meant to be. Now listen to this:

At my first talk with the hotel I discovered that the event would be covering the Chinese New Year period. Of course I felt proud to be Danish and exhibiting over Chinese New Year in Kuala Lumpur of course but when I started to look into the Chinese New Year of the Water Dragon I discovered (unbeknown to me but surely not the Chinese) that the New Year energies starts already starts on 4^th of February. That’s when I will be putting up the paintings for the show!

Studying the Dragon further I discovered that the Dragon’s favorite colours is yellow. The latest four paintings that I had created for the exhibition was primarily… you guessed it… yellow!

In the Chinese horoscope I am a Tiger and looking more into the relationship between the Dragon and the Tiger I find… that they are very good friends!

So here we go: my next solo exhibition is called “Colours of Life. A Celebration of Life, Art and Culture” and it is taking place at the main lobby of Hotel Equatorial Kuala Lumpur from 5 January to 6 February 2012.

Check more details here: http://www.donvang.com/?p=346

MDBC Sustainability Awards 2011

Posted on 11 December 2011 by admin

I just had the great honour of having 4 of my paintings selected to be the first prizes in the MDBC Sustainability Awards 2011, awarded by Malaysian Dutch Business Council to prominent businesses in Malaysia.

The event took place at hotel Crowne Plaza Mutiara KL on 2 November 2011 with prominent guests participating including MDBC Patron and AirAsia Chairman Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, MDCB Patron and current Malaysian Minister of International Trade& Industry, Sri Mustapa Muhamed and H.E. Paul Bekkers, Netherlands Ambassador.

: The award winners with Charlotte centre stage (yes, I’m the colourful one) next to the Minister!; The painting “Freedom” given for Best Practices in Sustainability of a Malaysian Partner:

The painting “Freedom” was awarded to Biodome for Best Practices in Sustainability of a Malaysian Partner (nominated by Bell Group of Companies). I suggested this painting for this prize because the turquoise leaf in this painting is coming out of the blue, so to speak, it’s very alive and vibrant! The indigo, or midnight blue, is indicating internal communication while the turquoise in the leaf is indicating strength. Both colours are good for communication which is a must for business partners to succeed on any level, in any endeavor. Amongst partners, the best practices will only surface when both partners feel the freedom to communicate what is right.

The painting “Sustainability” was awarded for Corporate Sustainability for Environment:

The award for Best Corporate Sustainability for Environment was won by Basis Day and their prize painting was “Sustainability”. This painting was the obvious prize for this particular award because this painting instantly says environment, nature and green beliefs. Furthermore, green is also the colour of the heart chakra, the energy of our heart. When we’re talking environment it’s important to make it a habit to simply move the decisions as little as 30 cm… from the head to the heart! So the green is both for the environment and for the heart!

The painting “Symbiosis” was awarded for Best Corporate Sustainability in Human Ressources and was won by Guiness Anchor Berhad.

The painting “Symbiosis” was chosen as the Human Resources award because it is showing a threesome of leaves symbolising our relationships with others, just like in human resources. Each leaf is a symbol of a group and having more groups/leaves, it signifies the diversity we meet in different groups of people, in different departments of a company, in different divisions, in different parts of the world…. Yet all part of the same system. All in balance, living in symbiosis. The orange is also the colour of our sacral chakra, the energy that governs our relations and creative endeavors.

The painting “Purity” was awarded for Best Corporate Sustainability in Community Development.

The painting “Purity” was chosen to be the prize for Community Development because white instantly communicates purity and being good in community development demands a pure heart and pure thinking. Community development is all about giving and serving without any thoughts of self gain or financial return.
All the paintings are painted on 2011 and are mixed media on canvas including a little piece of Mother Nature.

The sizes are 51 x 51 cm. Contact me if you are interested in similar style paintings (I NEVER make copies!!!) or need something special for your corporate award ceremony.

For information about MDBC, please check their web site on http://www.mdbc.com.my

Charlotte Dønvang

A Colourful Voice on the Web