Born in 1966, Choo Beng Teong (photo left) is a young
artist who is already well known for his paintings of wildlife especially bird. He
studied commercial art at Sain Academy of Art, Penang from 1985 to 1987 while at the same
time he completed a two year course on art, graphics and painting at University Sains
Malaysia, Penang. He is now a full-time artist and book illustrator. His
preferred medium of work is watercolour.
He held a successful one-man show at Galeria, an art gallery in
Penang in 1987. Three of his paintings are on permanent display at USM Art
Gallery. In 1988, he was commissioned by Equatorial Hotel Penang to do eleven
watercolours depicting various Malaysian wild birds for display at the hotel's function
rooms. His paintings are also on display at Novetel, Penang.
In June 1990, together with Teh Yew Kiang, he held an exhibition of
wildlife watercolour paintings at the Holiday Villa in Subang Jaya to mark the Malayan
Nature Society's World Conference on Biodiversity.
A perfectionist, his detailed work is the result of hours of
painstaking labour with a fine brush. Every feather is individually drawn and leaves
are shown with dewdrops and sometimes even a tiny ant crawling over. However, his
real masterpiece is the delicate pattern of tree bark. Truly, his paintings reflect
a deep understanding and love of nature.
Other than birds, he excels in drawing flowers, butterflies, plants,
and frogs. He had illustrated two books, "Frogs and Toads" and
"Malaysian Insects" for Siri Buku Alam Pak Cipan Series (Full colour children's
nature series) published by the Malayan Nature Society, 1989.
His works have been featured in various local newspapers as well as
Wings of Gold (MAS inflight magazine) June 1990.
He is a member of the Malaysian Nature Society and is an avid
photographer as well. He is also a member of Malaysian watercolour organisation
since 1992. In 1995, he was commissioned by the Pos Malaysia to design two stamps
featuring sea-turtles.
This is his third solo exhibition. His second solo with The
Art Gallery in 1992 was a sell-out success.
from the booklet "
The Bird Paintings of Choo Beng Teong "
Another wild bird artist from Penang.....
