Singapore River Boat Quay I
22" x 15"
Watercolour on Paper
Singapore River Boat Quay II (Collected)
22" x 15"
Watercolour on Paper
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2003 Merit Award-Project Search, Discover South East Painting Competition, Singapore2004 - 2008 Participated in Annual Exhibition of Singapore Watercolour Society, Singapore
2005 Juried into the 28th International Exhibition of Watercolor Art Society-Houston (WAS-H), USA
2005 Participated in the 17th Asia International Watercolour 2005, Singapore
2006 Participated in the Singapore Chinese Cultural Festival Grand Art Exhibition 2006, Singapore
2006 Penang - Singapore Watercolour Exhibition 2006, Pinang Gallery, Penang, Malaysia
2007 Participated in Sarawak Cultural Arts & Craft Festival 2007, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
2008 Participated in Telok Kurau Studios - Commemorating A Decade Exhibition, Singapore
2008 Participated in the Singapore Chinese Cultural Festival Grand Art Exhibition 2008, Singapore
2008 Particpated in Folk Art Forum 2008, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
ABOUT THE ARTIST
I enjoyed drawing and painting since young. I was overjoyed when I won the third prize of my primary school's art competition at the age of seven. I went on to win several children art contests, using oil pastel as my preferred medium. During my teenage years, I started to paint in watercolour after being introduced to the medium by my secondary school art teacher and I immediately fell in love with the fluidity and transparency of watercolour.
Neglected
However, I had always considered painting as a hobby, an activity that I enjoyed doing but not something that I would pursue as a career, perhaps partly due to the infamous "Starving Artist" tag. "You can't earn a living being an artist" is what people often drilled into me. So being practical, I chose to learn Business Studies in college and then Accountancy in University of Otago, New Zealand. I graduated in 1997 and started work in Singapore the following year. For the next three years, I studied for my professional accounting exam and became a member of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA) in 2001. Painting and art were neglected. It was just something I used to enjoy as a child.
Rediscovery
It took a renovation job of my own apartment in 2002 to bring myself closer to art again. I was painting the wall one day and the feeling of dipping brush into paints and applying them on the wall was so inspiring that I tell myself I must pick up art again. Soon after the renovation was completed, I bought myself some watercolour paints, brushes and papers. I have to start all over again, reading up articles on painting, surfing the internet for watercolour techniques, etc.
I also attended a watercolour painting class conducted by a respectable local artist Loy Chye Chuan. I rediscovered the joy and thrills of watercolour painting. My painting skill improved tremendously under his guidance. For the next two years, I painted relentlessly, perhaps to make up for those years when I lost touch with art. Thankfully, my effort was paid off when I was accepted as a member of Singapore Watercolour Society in 2004.
Never Ending Journey
I paint in my own studio at home now with the occasional plein-aire sessions during weekends. Arts and painting are now part of my life. Being able to create something beautiful out of a blank sheet of paper or canvas is a gift which I'm more than willing to share with my friends, fans and collectors.
Watercolour will always be my preferred medium
but I also like to explore and work in other mediums such as acrylic, oil and pastel.
Every piece of artwork is a process of learning and another step forward to become a more accomplished artist. This is a never-ending journey which I'm willing to undertake and pursue for as long as I live.
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