My Visual Diary...

This piece of work was a collaboration work with my son, Russell. Here is a short write up on the work describing the idea and concept behind. The work aims to illustrate the importance of stereochemistry using the chemical Thalidomide as an example. Thalidomide is an oral medication first prescribed in West Germany in 1957 for insomnia, morning sickness and anxiety. A few years later, it was discovered to have caused a significant amount of birth defects in infants when consumed during pregnancy, affecting approximately 10,000 babies, of which 40% did not survive. Subsequent research showed that Thalidomide exists in two forms (isomers) instead of just one, where they differed in their three-dimensional orientations.   This concept is known today as Stereoisomerism, where two forms of the same molecule (enantiomers) appear as mirror images of each other, but are non-superimposable. Enantiomers exist as racemic mixtures, where each form is present in equal amounts in a mixture. An anal

How do I describe my feeling for those final moments I spent with my father in hospice? The constant feeling of doubts and unknown what was going to happen. The many sleepless nights and moments of waiting, lots of reflection, thinking, feeling his struggles and pain. Fear of loosing him yet, knowing that letting him go is the best for him. I was grieving even before he was gone. The last two weeks in the hospice was probably the most precious moment I had spent with my father. I remembered the last time we were alone with minimal or no conversation was when he drove me to school everyday. That was between 1989 to 1991. We were feeling comfortable in quiet moments, simply enjoying each other presence. There was no need for conversation. That was the exact word he said to me about ten days before he passed away. He apologized for not being able to engage in a conversation with me, yet he appreciated the quiet times alone with me. He said he liked it, that I was there with him was more t

Pregnancy is both a tiring and rewarding journey. I drew this mother at 34 weeks pregnant and she had a tough pregnancy experience. When she saw this final piece, she commented on how I had accurately detailed her state of energy at that point. She was both physically and mentally exhausted from the pregnancy as show from her expression and posture. At the same time, she revelled in the gift of her baby and she wanted to connect with her baby with one hand across her belly to let him know that despite all the challenges, he’s safe, wanted and loved.

I love to look through my old works and use them to re-create for another purpose.  The original was for my daughter's 21st birthday. Just a few months back, I re-used it and painted it digitally for a different meaning.  This piece is for you, my dear sister. I named it 'Sisterhood'.  "You, me, us, three sisters, three journeys, one place to call home." You are never alone.

“A Garden of Hope” is a 2D animation short film that has no dialogue. It depicts a girl despite being bound in a wheelchair for life but still continues to have the hope that one day she will be able to walk again.  This short film was animated in 2009,  s creened  in Singapore Film Festival 2010 (Singapore Art Museum) and Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film 2010; and shortlisted for screening in  Very Short International Film Festival 2011 (Alliance Francaise and Esplanade Park).                                                                                    

Just one last piece of painting before the end of 2019. This piece was painted with a digital medium Procreate. I cannot deny painting using a digital medium is so much easier and faster. However as an art educator, I strongly encourage all beginners to begin their art training using only the traditional medium. 

Sharing some drawings I did when I was conducting my figure drawing classes.  These poses were usually 15 minutes each.  One of those things I wanted to do when I retired is to put together all my figure drawings and turn it into a book for publishing. 

I did an A4 painting for my Daughter's 21st Birthday. The last time I did something for her was many years ago when she needed some motivation for her PSLE exam. I drew some random motivational cards for encouragement. I usually slipped them inside her school bag to surprise her when woke up in the morning for school. My son gets them too.

These were some of the concept drawings for my new series "My Pet and I". My plan is to paint them digitally and perhaps print them, then give away as Christmas gift in 2020.