artwork 
 
 
photos 
 
 
store 
 
 
birds 
 
 
studio 

Introduction by Timothy Tye, November 1998 

It's now almost ten years since I first got to know about Choo Beng Teong and his lovely watercolours of local birds.  He is only one of two Penang artists I particularly admire (the other being Tan Choon Ghee, who paints the old quarters of George Town, and whose style is poles apart from Choo's.)  I had the opportunity to meet and interview  Tan several years back, when I was attached with the New Straits Times, but the opportunity to meet Choo escaped me all these years.    

I often wondered about his paintings.  How does he do it?  Does he consult books?  How accurate are the birds?  Are those actual birds?  Does he draw from imagination?  What is his technique?  For years I carried these unanswered questions.    

A few weeks ago, I happened to drop by at the Penang Botanic Gardens, and came by Choo's paintings again.  There were prints for sale of Choo's perennial subject -- birds.  But that day I was looking for something different, a botony, to be precise, a Choo watercolour of the Paphiopedilum (slipper orchid).  I couldn't find one, but in trying I came face to face with the artist instead!   

It's from this chance encounter that this website came about.  I was (and still am) working for a major computer corporation, and in my spare time, I build webpages, mostly for the StormTrooper Club, a web-based free-membership recreational group which I started.  One of the raisons d'etre of the StormTrooper Club is to promote all things related to Penang.  So the idea of creating the Official Homepage of Choo Beng Teong comes naturally.  I am pleased that Choo is equally enthusiastic to the idea.  Without his immense cooperation and collaboration, this website will not be possible.  Peppered around the site are quotes from Choo himself (in yellow).   

The purpose of this website is of course to showcase the art of Choo Beng Teong, to share it with you, dear web surfer, so that you will better appreciate our environment, and what treasures we have around us, here in Penang, Malaysia.  And I want to take you further and deeper.  Here you will find the answers to all my unanswered questions.   

The website consists of five departments. Just click on the bar under the header to enter each.  

artwork  
This is where you'll find a huge collection of his paintings.    

photos   
Choo is also a marvellous photographer (I only learned that now), and the photographs from his extensve travels can be enjoyed here.   

store   
If you want to buy a Choo Beng Teong print, or even an original, come in to see what's, well, in store.   

birds  
Here's your introduction to ornithology.  The artist shares with you here his broad knowledge of local birds and their habitat.  

studio  
Follow Choo step by step as he completes a painting.  You will get to know the tools he uses, the brushes, paint, even the paper, and you see a painting as it slowly builds up.  

Thank you for visiting this site.  I hope you will enjoy exploring it as much as I had building it for you.