Bat Ecology

Hi,
Be amazed at the 'Going Batty' activity that took place on Nov 3 and Nov 10, 2018 at the Penang Botanic Gardens. This activity was conducted by our RIE Award reciepient, Ms. Nur Izzati Abdullah, the post graduate Researcher in Animal Zoology. Her speciality is Bats.

We had 14 participants attend the talk on Nov 10th at the Botanika Outreach, with some of them comprising her team of USM student research interns. She begun with a presentation on Bat Morphology and Classification of the two main types of bats in Malaysia. These were Fruit eating and Insect eating bats. Malaysia has 10% of the world bat species, which number 1300 species.A quarter of these are listed as ICUN vulnerable. Approximately, 14 species can been found at The Botanic Gardens.

She further explained that bat roosting sites may be in Natural structures (Caves, under trees, bamboo groves) or in Man-Made structures ( under eaves, in attics or bridges) They normally roost in groups that can number 100-150 per cluster. Bats usually have different types of roosting areas for sleeping, foraging, and also maternity roosts.

                 Can you spot the Bats roosting under the palm leaves???

How bats feed;
For Frugivorous bats, they feed on nectar and ripe fruit and are important in seed dispersal and pollination. They are crucial in spreading seeds for certain species of plants like the Petai. Also, they aid in Durian tree pollination. Fruit bats have large eyes and long snouts.
For Insectivorous bats, they feed on insects and bugs. They help  reduce the insect pest population like mosquitoes and winged termites. Insect eating bats have large ears and a ugly snub snouts. The large ears are used for echo-location of insects in flight using ultra-sound.

Insect eating bats with large ears, note the pouch used to 'scoop' up insects in flight.

A Bat trapping we will go!!!
In order to do research on bats, Ms. Izzati and her team, has to set up traps along the bat fly-ways in the Gardens. We joined her to see how this was done. There are 2 different kind of traps to catch bats:

A 'Harp trap' is used to catch Insectivorous bats, which comprises of a rectangular frame, with transparent nylon strings arranged in staggered vertical rows. The echo-locating insectivorous bats cannot sense the strings and fly into the barrier and drop into a collection bag below.

                                           Setting up the Harp Net

                              The completed assembly... the happy helpers...

                            The collector bag to retain the trapped bats

To catch Frugivorous bats the usual 'Mist net' is set between poles. A mist net is very much like a fishing net, but with small mesh size.These are set up near fruit trees that the bats feed on. In our case near a grove of Banana trees.

                                  Example of a Mist Net

These traps are normally set up at Dusk, around 6~7pm and specimens collected till 10pm the same night.

The researcher's collect the specimens caught; and each bat is weighed, sexed, measured, and any stool sample collected or pollen dusted off, for identification purposes. For echo-locating insectivorous bats, a "bat detector" is used to measure their call frequency. They are photographed and also compared with a Bat ID chart to classify them. Once all this is done, they will be released back into the wild.

At 10pm a wary team wrapped up and disassembled all the traps before retiring for the day.

Getting Batty at the Gardens

November 2018 Activity: "Getting Batty at the Gardens"

Come Join the Fun, as part of the post Halloween Spirit, to learn about Bats and their Ecology, at the Penang Botanic Gardens. We plan to have this activity for the public on Sat Nov 3rd and for FOPBGS Members on Sat Nov 10th, 2018. This will be a full day and night activity from 3.00pm to 10.00pm at Night. Our RIE graduate researcher, Ms. Nur Izzati Abdullah will be giving the lectures and tours.

Please see the appended program below, for further details:

Time	Activity	Notes
3.00-4.00PM	Part A) Getting Batty Talk in information on Bats ecology, species diversity and behavior	Activity A = 10-15pax 10th Nov: Talk by Nur Izzati
4.00-6.00PM	Part B (i) Setting up the traps Demonstration on bats trapping methods and hands on experience for assembling the traps. Please wear appropriate shoes (and rain coat). Headlamp will be provided.	Activity B = 5 pax 10th Nov: Botanical Garden trail
7.00-10.00PM	Part B (ii) Bats observation and trap checking. Members accompany the researchers to experience the real bat research in the field (bats foraging activity, species identification & sample collection). Please wear appropriate shoes (and rain coat). Headlamp will be provided.	Activity B = 5 pax 10th Nov: Botanical Garden trail
	Part C) Night tour of Gardens Members will be taken on a night tour of the Gardens to see what can be seen of the nocturnal flora and fauna. Bring torches and bug spray. This is for those who do not want to go into the forest and be bitten by leeches and all sorts of critters.	Activity C = 10-15 pax 10th Nov: Botanical Garden

As places are limited, please register via email, by sending your Name and number of pax. to:

botanika.penang@gmail.com (preferred method)

                                Subject: Getting Batty - Registering

or 
call the office  04-2279915 (10.00am to 5.00pm, Wed thru Sat) for further details.

REGISTRATION CLOSES BY NOV 1st, 2018.

Thank you and see you there.....

Kacip Fatimah

Kacip fatimah or Labisia pumila in Latin, is a herb mostly associated with women's health issues in traditional Malay herbalogy. It's a small woody plant that is quite leafy and flowers with tiny off-white or pinkish blossoms, which grows in clusters. The leaves are hairy on the undersides and can be used to propagate the plant. It also has rhizomes and seeds which can be used for the same purpose.

Its Malay name means "Fatimah's betel nut cutters." Traditionally, it is used to induce labour in pregnant women, as well as for the treatment of venereal disease and of all things, flatulence! A study in Singapore also showed that its extracts also improved mental well-being and cardiovascular health in pre- and post-menopausal women 

Although it is available as a sweetened canned drink in Malaysia now, it was traditionally drunk as a tea. First mentioned for its properties 400 years ago, it has actually been in use in Malay herbalogy far longer than that. Its other names include bunga belangkas and tadah matahari. Nowadays, however, Kacip fatimah is being researched for use in pharmacological cosmetic products. 

But be warned. Kacip fatimah's herbal properties are so powerful that pregnant, lactating or menstruating women are advised to take it with extreme caution. While a controlled dose helps to induce labour, it is said that a large dose of its extract could cause the foetus to abort!

Pegaga

The beautiful Pegaga or Asian Pennywort enjoys the graceful Latin name of Centella asiatica. It is a creeping plant that loves wet, swampy conditions and has round edible leaves. Also called gotu kola in Tamil, it is actually a perennial herb. The Pegaga is native to many parts of Asia and North Australia.

Did you know that there are many myths and legends associated with this delicate plant due to its many herbal benefits? 

In China, it is said that the Tai-chi master, Li Ching-yun, lived to more than 200 years of age because he consumed a daily dose of herbs whic included Pegaga while in India, King Aruna was said to have kept his 50 wives and concubines happy with his superhuman stamina which he attributed to regular consumption of the herb?

Apart from having Vitamins B1,B2, B3, and B6 calcium, magnesium, sodium, manganese and zinc, it also has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties. 

In Asia,  it is mainly consumed as a tea though in Penang, it is sweetened with sugar and taken as a cold, refreshing drink. Research has shown that it is good for many conditions like swelling, joint pain as well as anxiety and fatigue but it is mostly known to Penang Chinese for its ability to improve the memory.

But really, the Asian pennywort is also good for other things like senility, strokes, nervous disorders and some types of nervous disorders. Herbalists also use it for high blood pressure and urinary tract infections. It has antibiotic properties, too, but regular consumption of Pegaga without medical advice is not recommended. It's powerful properties can lead to liver damage as well as skin and cancerous growths.

Leeks, Chives and Garlic

Did you know that these plants used in Malaysian cookery are also members of the same flowering family as onions? Here are some interesting facts about some of our most common culinary lilies.

Leek

Usually cut into short pieces and stir-fried with tofu or towkua and prawns, our local leek is actually a little slimmer and less fibrous than the ones found in European markets. Both are members of the Allium family and the French have elevated leek dishes to an art from soups to stews, au gratin and stuffed as well as braised leeks while in the former Czech Republic, they are not cut but served whole, bulbs and all.

This common vegetable actually contains essential sulphuric oils as well as the enzyme, alliin.

Chives

We usually think of chives as garnishes (during Chinese festival prayers or with Chicken Rice) or when actually cooked, as a mild flavouring complement. But even though we seldom see their pale purple flowers in full bloom (because we eat them before they can open), Chives have a lot of Vitamin B and C, as well as carotene, essential oils and trace minerals like potassium, phosphorus and iron. 

Chives are said to be good for digestion as well as reducing high blood pressure, too.

Garlic

Some varieties of garlic actually have flowers that bloom in small bunches. The wild varieties are usually more pungent but also have a higher content of essential oils. In some parts of the world, the leaves are also used in cookery.  But even though garlic is mainly used to complement meat, fish and vegetable dishes, it has a lot of herbal properties.

Garlic has allitin, which combats bacteria when transformed by enzymes into allicin. And it also has Vitamins B and C as well as sulphur.

Have you ever seen flowering onions and other Alliums before?

Secrets of the Soya Bean

In Malaysia, when we think of the soya bean, we instantly think of soya bean milk, tauhwa and tofu, in that order. But the soya bean is actually the main ingredient in more things than just those three. The soya bean we consume in all its processed forms is actually a hybrid and not a recent one, either. 

The Chinese and Japanese developed it many hundreds of years ago, probably because they found it so useful. Did you know that soya beans are made into cooking oil, sauces, pastes, and condiments? They are also ground into flour and made into fine white noodles called “tau chiam” which are usually served in clear soup made with either fis, prok or chicken.

We usually eat only the dried beans, but the young pods are also quite delicious when stirfired with prawns or sliced meat. In some parts of the world, however, soya beans are considered to be food for cattle only, however.

The wonderful properties of the humble bean are many. Each bean contains up to as much as 60 percent proteins and 20% oil. In fact, its protein and fat content are so high that just 300g of soya beans give you the caloric value of 27 eggs!

 That’s why soya beans and soya bean products feature so heavily in Asian vegetarian cuisine. The cytelin in it is also said to have a healing effect on arterioscleriosis. And if you have ever wondered what a soya bean plant looks like, here is a picture of some young soya bean plants.

And for more information, here are some YouTube videos about soya beans. Just click on the links -

Soyabean Household products

How To Make Your Own Tofu

Making Tofu Delicious!

The Black-faced General

A humble plant with a grand, if somewhat curious name, the Black-faced General or Strobilanthes crispus (L.) is somewhat nondescript in appearance and often regarded as a bit of a weed though it is actually a woody shrub. It is also called Pecah beling in Malaysia and Keji beling in Indonesia. The fact that the General is a very robust plant, generally easy though slow to grow, probably gave rise to the misconception. 

The General's name probably comes from its dark green leaves and the very dark tea which you can get by infusing its leaves. Misconceptions aside, however, it is a very useful plant with many powerful herbal properties. Pregnant women are advised to exercise caution when using it!

In Chinese medicine, it is regarded as an anti-cancer wonder. It is also used as a diuretic and a laxative. It has been scientifically researched and hailed for its antioxidant as well as antimicrobial properties. Clinical studies have also found that it has phenolic compounds which are helpful when treating kidney stones and diseases as well as fibroids. In Indonesia, they even use it to treat snake bites.

The Black-faced General seldom produces flowers, but when they do bloom, the sweet yellow blooms are trumpet-shaped. The buds have leafy green sheathes while the flowers can reach up to 2cm in diameter in full bloom.

The herb is generally consumed as a tea, either by itself or with a bit of Siraitia grosvenorii or  Lo han guo in Chinese (also called monk fruit because its round smooth fruits look like monks' shaven heads) or dried red dates as natural sweeteners. Its leaves can also be blended into a smoothie. Used in combination with other local herbs like Sabah Snake Grass or Clinacanthus nutans (Belalai gajah in Malay) and Frog fruit or Turkey tangle (Phyla nodiflora), it is regarded as a herbal tea for the prevention of breast and uterine cancer by the Chinese.

A Beauty Seldom Seen

The vegetable hummingbird (Sesbania grandiflora) or agati (in India) is called pokok turi merah in Malay and it grows from Malaysia to North Australia as well as various parts in between the two countries. It's beautiful flowers resemble tiny hummingbirds or bright parrots' beaks (hence its other name - parrots beak flower). 

Although its flowers, leaves and fruit (which grows in long thin pods) are edible, it is seldom seen in Malaysia nowadays, especially in urban areas. In the villages and Malaysian countryside, its flowers are still eaten, sometimes raw, as a vegetable, and in Sri Lanka, its leaves are added to a white curry because it is believed to be a cure for cankers. 

There are two varieties of pokok turi - a scarlet one and a white one. Both have beautiful, vibrantly coloured flowers. And its wood is used in India as well as Sri Lanka as a substitute for bamboo for making furniture because it is strong and quite flexible.

The flowers are rich in iron and have a fragrance and flavour reminiscent of mushrooms, though only the petals are eaten. The centre part of the flower does have a very bitter taste. The seeds can also be fermented into tempeh (a kind of fermented bean fritter) while the seedpods are eaten like long beans. The young leaf fronds have a very high Vitamin C content, while the flowers are rich in Vitamin B.

  

The dried leaves can also be made into a tea, said to have antibiotic and anti-tumour properties. Just 20g of sesbania grandiflora provides 14.6 mg of Vitamin C, 0.17 mg of iron, Vitamin B and a host of  other trace minerals and amino acids. It lowers blood pressure and keeps your arteries flexible. So it is quite an important dietary supplement in the poorer areas of South East Asia. Perhaps it is time to make this lovely plant more accessible and more easily available in the big cities!

The King Salad

A great favourite of authentic Malaysian traditional salads, the Ulam raja or King Salad plant is actually planted for its pretty pink, white or purple flowers in various other parts of the world. The flower is better know by its Latin name "Cosmos" which is derived from its scientific name Cosmos caudatus. Here in Malaysia, we don't eat the flowers but we do devour the young leaves with great gusto either simply dipped in various spicy sauces and condiments or else stirfried with prawns and other ingredients.

 

When it is eaten raw with chilli paste or other condiments and sauces, it is referred to as "ulam" which can mean salad or even herbal mix for beauty or medicinal purposes.

But it is most popular by itself, its fresh scent being reminiscent of mango leaves and the crunchy texture of its young leaves being much appreciated with plain white rice. In Indonesia, it is also eaten with cooked grated coconut or a spicy peanut sauce.

One reason for its popularity is the simple fact that for all its powerful herbal properties, unlike many other similarly effective herbs, it can be eaten with no side effects. 

So what do we eat it for (other than the delicious taste)?

1. It helps with control of diabetes. After eight weeks of regular consumption, it lowers blood insulin levels significantly.

2. It helps people with cholesterol problems by increasing good cholesterol and lowering bad cholesterol. 

3. It reduces blood pressure.

4. It reduces bone loss.

5. It has antibacterial and anti-fungal effects.

6. It is a strong antioxidant and it reduced inflammation.

So, eating ulam raja with your daily rice is actually a great idea. And if you fancy a bit of variety with it, here are a couple of ideas from Malaysian food bloggers.

Kak Jee's Food Blog 

(click the link for recipe)

Ulam Raja Stir-fried with Ikan Bilis.

A simple but mildly spicy and very deliciously fresh-tasting dish that pairs well with the dried anchovies which give it its mouthwatering umami flavour.

Dapur Tanpa Sempadan 

(click the link for recipe)

Ulam Raja with Grated Coconut

A tempting treat made with grated coconut, dried prawns and galangal or resurrection lily. It goes really great with freshly cooked white rice and can be used as a vegetarian dish if you leave out the dried prawns.

Tiger's Ears in Your Garden!

This beautiful plant is known as "tiger's ears" in Thailand where it is eaten with a meat salad but locally, we call it Bangun bangun. The rest of the English-speaking world either calls it Indian borage, Spanish thyme, Mexican mint or Cuban oregano. It's no surprise that these names are all related to various other fragrant cooking herbs because the bangun bangun does have a strong smell not unlike that of oregano.

There are two types of bangun bangun - a jade green one and a variegated one with white around it's leaf edges but culinary uses aside, Plectranthus amboinicus as it is named scientifically, also has a lot of other wonderful medicinal properties. So many, that it is used almost exclusively for that purpose in Malaysia. 

You can chew on its leaves or make a tea from them to relieve colds, a sore throat, or a stuffy nose because it acts as a powerful expectorant, to eliminate mucus and phlegm from your respiratory tract. It also promotes sweating and helps to reduce fever. It's cold-fighting effect is due to the fact that it actually has a high found ascorbic acid or Vitamin C content. 

The high ascorbic content also means that it stimulated urination and helps to keep your kidneys healthy. But our bangun bangun also has other benefits. 

It is also said to relieve stress, reduce arthritis and osteoporosis, and provide relief from irritable bowel syndrome. Mothers have used it to relieve bug bites, itchiness and stings because Indian borage also has anti-inflammatory properties and helps reduce itchiness and swelling.  

Plectranthus amboinicus has a lot of Vitamin A, as well, and it is sometimes used to improve vision, reduce stress in the eyes and prevent macular degenaration. It's a natural msquito repellant, too!

When it does flower, it has small, pretty blue flowers but of course, with such powerful chemicals in its leaves and stem, it has to be treated with a bit of caution. Pregnant and lactating women should avoid contact with it, as should people with sensitive skin.  

So if you're going to cook beef, lamb or game meat with it, do be careful!

Longevity Spinach

The curiously-named Sambung nyawa ("Life-continuing" in Malay) or Longevity spinach is another common Malaysian plant often mistaken for a weed by the untrained eye. It has humble yellow flowers and looks quite unimpressive. However, its lanceolate leaves are actually not only edible (quite  delicious when young and tender) but also extremely useful as a natural herbal cure for a number of ailments.

Cooked in soup with prawns or meat village or kampung cuisine, there are actually three types of longevity spinach. The simple green one, a variety with variegated leaves called Sambung nyawa batik and a third variety with red, pink or purplish leaves called Sambung nyawa merah. 

It's scientific name, Gynura procumbens, doesn't give much of a clue to the fact that it has antimicrobial and antiinflammatory properties in addition to it's ability to help with hypertension. There are reports that it also has anti-carcinogenic properties. 

It can be eaten raw and it is said that if you chew on 6-12 leaves every day, it will help tremendously with balancing your blood insulin levels. You also lower your risk of cancer because Gynura procumbens also contains asparaginase, an enzyme that lowers acrylamides - a cancer causing substance - in your body.

Sambung nyawa has recently become popular among American gardeners because of its many herbal properties and also because it is very easy to grow. It can grow in shade or sunlight (as long as the roots don't dry out) though semi-shaded areas allow it to thrive best. 

Bitterly wonderful Hempedu Bumi

The Hempedu bumi (picture) or Bitterweed in English is a terribly bitter herb whose many curative properties make it a desirable plant to have around the house. It's Malay name means "bile of the earth" and some people even know it as the "king of bitters". 

It's scientific name is Andrographis panicukala and it is a herbaceous shrub that grows upright. Because it thrives so easily in so many different locales, from the roadside to the seaside, it is often considered a weed by local gardeners. People who know about its wonderful properties like a to keep a pot or two in the garden where it can be safely left to itself, needing only water and trimming to prevent overgrowth.

Hempedu is quite easy to recognise, with its glossy green leaves and 4-sided furrowed stems. It's flowers are small, white and dotted with purple spots. It has fruits, too. They are small, hairy and look like pills but are brown when mature.

Although the whole plant can be eaten raw, it is the hempedu's leaves which are its most wonderful part.  

The bitterweed's leaves are best harvested harvested about two months before the plant starts flowering. That is when its active constituents are most concentrated. Scientists have found that it can not only act as an antioxidant but it also protects your liver from a number of toxins. Though most well-known locally as a cure for sore throats, traditional medicine men have even used it to relieve fever, as a cure for poisoning and an antidote for snake bite!

When its juices are extracted and concentrated, it is even more powerful. In fact, hempedu extract is even available in capsule form nowadays.

Beautiful but deadly!

If you're a frequent trekker in the Gardens and hilly areas of Penang, you might have come across this beautiful snake. It's called Ular Kapak Daun or literally "Axe Leaf Snake" in Malay but its English name is the Malayan Pit Viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma). Do try to leave it alone if you spot it because it's a most lethal beauty.

The Ular Kapak Daun doesn't grow very big. It's usually no more than a metre in length but it's beautiful camouflage and bad temper make it a beauty best regarded from a distance. About 2% of people bitten by it die. Surviviors have been known to lose their arms or legs because they could not reach a source of anti-venom in time.

In the short but most interesting article below, by Ajla Rafidah Baharom and Kaviarasu Munian (edited by Lee Su Ee) from www.mybis.gov.my the authors explain about the snake's habits, venom, hunting habits and abilities. 

To read the full article, please click the link below.

Click here to read the full article about Malayan Pit Vipers.

Dragonfly or Damselfly?

You must have encountered these bejewelled insects either in your own garden or at the Botanical Gardens in Penang. They look nearly the same but they are actually two different species of insects. 

Both damselflies and dragonflies come in wonderful colurs that can range from metallic black with glimmers of rainbow flashes to a red as brilliant as fresh blood. 

But did you know that apart from being as beautiful as flying gems, both dragonflies as well as damselflies play an important role in keeping the population of nuisance species like mosquitoes and flies down? Baby dragonflies and damselflies are called nymphs but look nothing like water fairies. 

In fact, they look more like dragons and they also behave like dragons. Nymphs, which live in the water, catch and eat tadpoles and the larvae of nuisance species. The adult insects catch their prey on the fly, so to speak, biting off the head with their mouths! 

Here is an interesting article from Malaysia Biodiversity Information about how to tell whether you are looking at a Dragonfly or a Damselfly.

Dragonfly or Damselfly?

For more interesting articles like this, please visit the Malaysia Biodiversity Information website by clicking on the link below.

Malaysia Biodiversity Information

Barringtonia racemosa (L.) Spreng.

An interesting article for our members by Sarah Nabila Binti Rosli (Main Author), Ruth Kiew (Editor) & Lee Su See (Editor) in 

Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS)

https://www.mybis.gov.my/

Barringtonia racemosa is a common shrub to medium-sized tree commonly known as putat ayam or putat kampung. The genus name, Barringtonia, commemorates Daines Barrington, who was a nobleman, lawyer, and also a naturalist who wrote a book on English trees (Nicholson, 1991). The epithet, racemosa, refers to the unbranched and continuous inflorescences. This genus is also distinguished by the absence of stipules and by its large berry fruit. Another characteristic of this genus is the arrangement of the leaves, which are whorled or clustered at the end of the branches.

It is distributed from Africa through the Pacific islands including the Solomons, Fiji and Samoa, Asia including India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, China, Malesia, to Australia. It is widely distributed in the Philipppines, Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. It favours open areas with high humidity, for example, along river banks, or coastal areas. This species is the most widespread genus of Barringtonia and is considered of Least Concern (LC), conservation-wise (Prance, 2012).

The Lecythidaceae family is known for the large size of its flowers with a large number of stamens. Barringtonia is recognized by having attractive and long inflorescences, which can reach up to 100 cm and give the plant a most unique appearance. The flowers are white to pale pinkish and strongly scented. They bloom at night but survive for only one night. Bats are important pollinators for this species.

Most parts of the tree contain saponins which are naturally occurring plant glycosides that are poisonous. The seed is usually used medicinally for various ailments and diseases since it contains the highest concentration of glycosides. The extract of all parts of the plant may be used as an insecticide. In the Philippines, the fruit is used to poison wild pigs (Burkill, 1966). However, the young leaves are not poisonous, and the local Kelantanese eat it as a vegetable or ulam. In the past, the tannin yielded from the bark was used as a natural red dye to colour leather goods (Burkill, 1930).

References

1. Burkill I.H. & Haniff M. (1930). Malay Village Medicine. The Gardens' Bulletin, Straits Settlements6: pp. 201
2. Burkill I.H., Birtwistle W., Foxworthy F.W., Scrivenor J.B. & Watson J.G.. (1966). A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula (A-H) (2nd ed.). Ministry of Agriculture and cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
3. Nicholson G. (1991). Encyclopaedia of Plants. New Delhi: Anmol Publications, India. pp. 159.
4. Prance G.T. (2012). Lecythidaceae. In Kiew R., Chung R.C.K., Saw L.G. & Soepadmo E. (eds.) Flora of Peninsular Malaysia, Series II: Seed Plants (pp. 203). Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM).

Published on 17 May 2018. Updated by Mr. Abdul Razak Mohd Nor Rasid & Ms. Ajla Rafidah Baharom

We've got some fun activities planned for this year's coming school holidays! Check out our Holidays Activity Planner below and join us with your family!

Chinese New Year 2018

Wishing all our friends, volunteers and members a Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Year 2018. May the new year bring you joy, good luck and great health.

Please be informed that our office will be closed from Thursday 15 February to 17 February 2018 for the festival.

Painting T-shirts and Bags 27 Jan 2018

More members turned up for a painting session at our Outreach premises on Saturday. Two types of painting technique were tried out by the members.

A small cotton twill bag was painted with a blue lotus, using Western watercolour techniques and our usual T-shirt dyes. The lotus was quickly and lightly sketched on with a 2B pencil before the colours were added and then blended with water. The blue, rather than the usual red or pink lotus, was chosen as the bag was painted at the request of a non-member. The picture shows the first stages of the painting on the bag, before the colours were blended.

Two other members tried their hand at the Chinese one-stroke freehand brush technique to paint simple plum blossoms for the coming festival. The ladies practised on bits of newspaper and scrap cloth first before starting on their T-shirts.It's important for beginners to learn to loosen their arms and shoulders first by working of disposable media so that there is less tension when they commit the dye to cloth. 

When we teach children, the emphasis is always on the fact that there is no such thing as a wrong stroke or a mistake. We always try to encourage children to see their strokes as opportunities to interprete creatively so that there is no pressure for them to "draw" or "colour correctly". 

When painting directly on to T-shirts with indelible dyes, it's important that the student feels confident to paint confidently so that he or she can work freely. Some people call this freehand technique the spirit or "chi" of the brush and an experienced painter can tell how loose and relaxed the painter was with just one glance at how the picture was formed.