My Artistic Journey ④

Amidst Bustling Bliss
Oil｜2001

Observation and Feeling

As my artistic journey continued,

I gradually realized

that what truly attracted me

was not merely the scenery itself,

but the life it contained.

I began exploring different places,

carefully observing the people,

places,

and everyday moments around me.

Whether it was the lively city,

old streets,

marketplaces,

or quiet fishing villages,

each offered its own inspiration

and a different way of seeing life.

An old street,

a marketplace,

a small shop,

or people passing by on a street corner—

any of these could become the beginning of a painting.

These seemingly ordinary scenes

carry the culture,

daily life,

and the spirit of a particular time and place.

I gradually came to understand

that art does not exist apart from life.

Rather,

it grows naturally from life itself.

The more we observe,

and the more deeply we feel,

the more warmth our creations can carry.

Looking back,

after beginning my exploration of Figurative Expressionism in 1998,

I continued painting streetscapes,

fishing villages,

and other subjects inspired by everyday life.

These works not only recorded my observations of people and their surroundings,

but also helped me realize

that what truly moves us

is often not the extraordinary,

but the quiet authenticity found in ordinary moments.

Although I gradually moved away from these subjects,

the observations and experiences from that period

became an important foundation

for the personal series that I developed later.

Perhaps every artist

must first learn to observe life

before discovering

his or her own artistic language.

 

My Artistic Journey ③

Rhythm Of The Night
Oil｜1998

Through the continuous process of painting,

I gradually discovered that painting is not merely a technical exercise.

It is more like a form of expression—

a language connected to one’s inner feelings.

Sometimes,

a change of color,

or the rhythm of a line,

can evoke different emotions.

The painting is no longer simply a representation of objects,

but begins to carry a certain feeling.

It was during this stage

that I began to ask myself:

What truly belongs to my own painting?

Painting is not just about depicting what we see,

but about expressing inner emotions

through color, line, and the rhythm within the composition.

Through continuous experimentation and creation,

I slowly realized

that every artist is searching

for his or her own way of expression.

And this search,

in many ways,

is similar to life itself.

Many things in life do not have fixed answers.

Like the creative process,

we often discover our direction

through exploration and experience.

Perhaps art is not about finding a definite answer,

but about gradually moving closer

to our true selves

through the ongoing journey of creating and living.

Looking back,

Rhythm Of The Night

marked the beginning of my exploration into Figurative Expressionism.

It was also an important step

towards discovering my own artistic language.

My Artistic Journey ②

Dream Chaser
Oil｜1995

Life Goes On
Oil｜1999

In the early stages of learning painting, most of my works were realistic studies.

My practice focused on observing objects carefully and trying to render forms,

light and shadow as accurately as possible.

This training in realism taught me how to observe and also laid an important foundation

for my painting.

However, as time went on, I gradually realized that my interest in painting was not only

about making things look accurate.

I began to wonder whether painting could express something more — a certain feeling.

Later, my work slowly moved from realism toward a more figurative approach.

The subject was still present, but the form became more flexible and expressive.

Over time, semi-abstract elements naturally entered my paintings.

Color, line and rhythm began to play a more important role in my expression.

Looking back, this transformation was never a deliberate plan.

It simply developed gradually through the continuous process of creating.

 

My Artistic Journey ①

Me as a Child

As a child, I loved drawing.

With paper and pencil, I could easily lose myself in my own little world.

Sometimes even the walls of our house became my drawing space.

To me, those walls were like a big sheet of paper where imagination could flow freely.

At that time, however, I never imagined that I would one day become an artist.

During my lower secondary school years, we had art classes at school.

I enjoyed those classes and my results in art were usually quite good.

Later, in Form Four and Form Five, I entered the science stream.

After graduating from secondary school, I continued to Form Six and completed two years of STPM, also studying science.

However, during that time I gradually realized that subjects related to numbers were not really what interested me.

In those days, many parents hoped their children would enter university and follow a stable path in life.

After completing STPM, I began to think seriously about my future.

Eventually, I chose to enter an art academy to study advertising design.

Life Force
Early Pencil Drawing | 1993

It was during that period that my interest in painting deepened.

Later, I also learned fine art from an established artist, practicing and observing under his guidance.

Through this process of learning and exploration, art slowly became part of my life.

Looking back now, life can be quite fascinating. 

Many things were never planned, yet they gradually led me onto the path of art.