Expressions on Canvas

faith.love.hope.

2009-11-23T16:33:00.001-08:00

When all else fades, the three things that must remain : faith.love.hope.

Travel Light

2009-11-21T15:29:00.000-08:00

When memories forged
Dims into dusk
When inked intents
Become unmasked
When secret intentions are laid bare
It was as though it was never there

The shadow lurks around
In facets of life
Fully unannounced

It is time to silence the sound
An eraser falls to the ground.

Farewell I say
Burying every unspoken word
Emptying promises unheard
Goodbye to what I once held dear
Goodbye I say
Both loud and clear

When dissapointment meets pain ; When chapters come to a sudden end ; When silence seems the only sound ; When moving on is the only option around. We need to choose fights worth fighting for and for causes worth living for. Life is a journey, too short and too tiring to lug unneeded baggage around. Hence, I have come to a conclusion - travel light.

New Promises

2009-06-01T19:56:00.000-07:00

I have not posted new paintings for a while - I have had an incredible time of refreshing with a bit of a change in scenery in the past month. It has been quite a journey thus far and I must say, it has been an amazing time of rediscovering dreams and exploring new territories.

It may be wintery in these regions for a good many weeks, but deep down I sense the dawning of a new promise. A new song is waiting to be written; a new song waiting to be sung. It is always beautiful when our senses are deeply awakened by the dawning of a new day- when the first ray of sunlight is displayed across the stark horizon. A new day is here. We start on a clean slate and start over.

I have of recent become hugely aware of how much potential lies in each person ; what limited time we are given to realise that, tap into it and to bring it to fruition. May we reach out and live up to what we have been created to do.

Squircle

2009-03-18T22:31:00.000-07:00

This particular piece is not on canvas (do excuse the lack of clearity on this piece) - but on a huge, long piece of canvas type material which needs to be framed up and I have issues going close enough to show the visual effects due to the size of it.

I am not exactly sure if anyone can relate to this, but have you ever felt like you just don't quite fit the mould?

I remember as a child, one of my favorite toys was a particular hollow shaped octagon-like plastic with different shaped holes on the different sides.There was a star shaped block, a square block, a circle, a rectangle, and the list continues which dictated the hole in which each shape was to go into.

Looking back, I have never really felt like I was a certain shape. In fact, if I were a shape, I would be a squircle - a cross between a square and a circle. And if that block truly existed, it would not have fitted into the circle or the square hole side of the octagon.

I have come to discover that we, in actual fact are not meant to fit the mould. Like unique thumbprints, we are each uniquely different;called to be who we have been wonderfully made to be. There is only one of us in this universe - there is no other person quite like the individuals that we each are. If we decide against living up to be who we are made to be, no one can replicate and relive our lives for us. More often than not, we seem to fancy the notion of coying what others are like. I deem that a waste, for variety is the spice of life. May we dare to be authentic; to be unafraid to be the distinctively different flavours that we each are.

Dreams

2009-03-15T09:15:00.000-07:00

This was one of those customised art pieces that I made to match the colours of my room at one point in time. Again, I was playing with mixed media and was pleasantly suprised at the effects of it. May we never stop experimenting and discovering new things that truly delight us.

Dreams are powerful things to have. Dreams are boundary-less. Dreams are infinitely uncontainable. May we be individuals who dare to risk and to dream. May we hold our dreams tight enough to bring it to fruition but loose enough to give it back to the Dream Giver when required to let go.

Who should know the mystery of
What the heart desires?
The unexplainable way
One is wired?

How many dreams
Can a heart contain?
Until it bursts
Or goes down the drain?

What is the measure of dreams far-fetched?
Who defines what is?

When is it acceptable
To refuse the status quo
To go against the constant flow?

How is it possible that dreams are deemed inconceivable?
Or thoughts considered intolerable?

Day by day by day
My heart sings
A different song
It beats
To a different rythm
Of one unheard

My soul aches
For the day
When passions are unleashed
To rain on parched hearts
And barren dreams

Then maybe
One day
Who should discover
Dreams know no end

Letting Go

2009-03-11T17:07:00.000-07:00

There are times in life when we need to simply let go. I remember clearly the time when I was on a flying fox; after what seemed like 60 seconds of eternity; with me swinging past unending rows of ancient trees at the height of two storeyed buildings and when I finally came to a halt, I thought the worse was over.

Little did I know that there was an important lesson I was about to learn - the lesson of letting go. I was faced with having to let go of the hangar-like gripper to be taken off my safety harness. It took me 20 seconds of contemplation (besides the fact that my arms were aching from supporting my entire body weight the whole time) and some elements of trust that the rope will be strong enough to hold me. It seemed like forever but when I finally did, only was I able to safely set my feet back on solid ground.

Sometimes life requires us to let go. Of things familiar; sometimes of things our hearts hold dear. When that time comes, we are required to lay it all down and trust that we will walk into our destinies.

I let go
I let it roam free
I let go
I throw out the key

Run far dear heart
Run fast
Run the race
If you need to stay a world apart

Move on
To new places ahead
Move on
Many dreams await

I let go
I let it roam free
I let go
Because you first loved me

Spaced Out Checkers

2009-03-10T22:45:00.000-07:00

I go through phases in my art with different themes, colour schemes and styles. Right now, I can feel myself being in a 'checkered phase' for a bit. When I think chess, I think strategy. Not that I am a chess player myself but I am slightly fascinated at the fact that there is so much foresight and forward thinking skills required - a good thing to possess I suppose. In saying that, I love spontaneity as well and I cannot imagine life without it!

And on a slight tangent, I often wonder with the many lives I have and still come across, I cannot help but to wonder what each of their remarkable stories must be like. We each have a story to tell. There is so much to learn from people who have gone before us and there is so much to accomplish yet.

Carpe Diem

2009-03-10T05:35:00.000-07:00

This is one of my personal favorites which no longer remains in my possesion today. I am starkly reminded to seize the day - to live in the now and to live it up ; to make the most of circumstances.

Regardless of how dark it may seem for a little while, a new day will dawn with new promises in store. Spring will always arrive no matter what a long, barrenly dark, or cold winter it has been.

My reasons to live life to the full : life is but a breath, it is short; plus we get to live it only once. There is every reason to choose life and to live and love fully.

Alabaster Jars

2009-03-10T02:22:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love is the significance of alabaster jars. It speaks to me of brokeness and humilty. Of coming just as I am; broken, imperfect, chipped and marked but yet be fully accepted. And to be seen in the eyes of what I could potentially become, not just the current state of what I am blows me away. In short - work in progress would suffice to descibe me.

But what I love is how regardless of all the above, a simple object can be a vessel made for noble purposes and so much more. There is more than meets the eye. In ancient times, these were used to hold extravagant perfume. Such seemingly ordinary ornaments but used for innate exquisiteness. Like how vases are formed ; they are moulded and shaped from the miry clay and put into the furnace to retain their shape and to be made whole.

We may be marked, scarred and broken, but out of these trials form true character - the unfading beauty of an indomitable spirit.

Living an Adventure

2009-03-09T06:18:00.000-07:00

This was one of those I did in the true theme of christmas tones - I was experimenting with a new technique and I loved the way it turned out. Life is far too short to be afraid to take risks, to do something never done before, to experiment, to explore and discover. To dream. I am sometimes overwhelmed by the enormity of a thousand possibilities in life and the many probable paths but yet at the same time, I love living life on the edge. There is such beauty and excitement of living in the now and in the midst of the huge unknown before me. This is what I call living an adventure.

Second Chance

2009-03-09T05:13:00.000-07:00

If we were to be given a second chance to live this life - how would we live it? Would it turn our worlds upside down as we stand in the midst of gratitude? Would it change our perspectives on life, would our priorities differ? What would matter most?

Would things be indifferent; or would there be new light shed, new revelations, new radical ways of living, new hopes, new dreams,new passions and new visions casted?

I can only seek to learn the art of doing life better; having been given a second chance.

Contemporarily Organic

2009-03-08T03:53:00.000-07:00

I decided to incorporate a bit of nature into this particular one. I am a huge fan of mixed media and I enjoy experimenting with new ideas especially since I love the great outdoors. I love it when I am inspired with fresh new ideas because it usually marks the beginning of a new season. Or that I have discovered a new revolutionary style uniquely me.

Layers

2009-03-08T03:33:00.000-07:00

This is my latest painting based on a contemporary theme. I love contemporary art because in it lies so much freedom of expression. And expressing myself is what I love to do. I have realised just how precious it is to have true, transparently honest friendships and relationships - when we are stripped bare of the many layers which are often there- and when what's left is all it essentially really is. I love it how with art, I cannot help but to just be - plain, blatant honesty of where I am at.

May we live our lives unafraid to be who we truly are, to learn to live our lives to be true to ourselves and to do the things we have been set out to accomplish.

Hope

2009-03-08T03:13:00.000-07:00

I am glad there is hope. I cannot imagine life without it. Many a times I fall short but I find myself afloat in a massive sea of mercy that remains indescribable.

Work in progress- that's what I am. And who I am clearly shows that. There is much to learn and much work to be done.

Pioneerete

2009-03-07T22:53:00.000-08:00

This is one of the first few paintings on canvas that I completed in art class- I spent most of my years painting on paper and the likes. This was one of the marked milestones in my journey and I have been absolutely hooked on canvases since.

We are sometimes called to be pioneers in certain paths and certain areas in life. Some may be called to embark on the road less travelled by- Fear and self doubt is almost certain but I have learnt that as I step out and up into unknown territorries and unfamiliar boundaries in beautiful time, the rewards are unfathomable.

What is it that you are called to? Perhaps it is time to step out.

Love is..........

2009-03-07T22:29:00.000-08:00

Love encompasses so many things. The term "love" is used so loosely in everyday life that sometimes I think the real meaning of love becomes diluted.

What exactly is love? The definition of love that I have inscribed on this canvas: "love is patient, love is kind..", and so much more-
Love is so many things beautiful.

Two Worlds Apart

2009-03-03T23:58:00.000-08:00

Ever had one of those days when what you knew to be truth was actually not quite it? Just for the shortest moment in time when your world seemed to have tipped of its axis.

I discovered an entire world I never knew existed.

And thus began my journey; my quest for life.

I breathe

And I grow

In a bubble

Unaware

I live

And I discover

A world

Not there

I question

And I wonder

How is it possible

There down under

Lies a world

Dying

That I just discovered

Stumbling, striving

Darkness and despair

I hear silence crying

Is anyone out there?

Wings

2009-02-28T22:01:00.000-08:00

This piece of art brings me back to the day when I so ardently desired for something bigger than life itself. It was almost difficult to even dream to see any glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel at one point in time, given the grey circumstances. But I look back with gratefulness and I am humbled by how life is so full of incredible milestones which set each season uniquely apart. Every season matters; to shape, mould, and build us to be bigger, better people. Life is so exciting, so intangibly real; a journey which brims with the intensity of dreams, hopes, desires and passions waiting to be unleashed in the many days to come.

What I wrote on this painting which depicted the melody of that particular season was this:

I want
Wings to fly
To foreign shores
To put names in the sea of faces
To live wild dreams
Unleashed to discover the beauty
Of a world unseen
Where only eagles fly
In the clear midnight sky

I want
The fear of the unknown
And the what ifs to cease
Mediocrity and security to vanish
For a life untarnished
Is a life unlived
To colour this unending blur of life
That is fading in the war of strife

I want an answer
The path to take
The decision only my heart
Can make
In the blink of an eye

I want
Wings to fly

Complicated Love

2009-02-28T21:18:00.000-08:00

I have of recent wondered about alot of things. Of how complicated life seems to become as we grow up. Gone are the days of having to just decide between a blue or pink dress, a red or yellow lolly or plucking a purple or white flower from mom's garden. Oh the dilemmas of decision making being a six year old!

I haven't quite yet figured it out- what has changed to arrive at the conclusion of that life seems a little more complicated than it used to be? Do little girls get more complicated the older they grow? Or does life in actual fact get more complicated the longer we walk this phase called life? And the notion of love - even the simplest of all love seemed complicated for me to comprehend at a certain point in time of my journey. This is how this piece of "Complicated Love" came about.

I hope I never stop noticing the innate beauty of the simple things in everyday life and to learn to keep it as uncomplicated as it can possibly be.

Humble Beginnings

2009-01-02T21:09:00.001-08:00

I never thought the day would ever arrive to start a blog of my own. I have learned time and time again that life is full of suprises. This is just one of the many. My passion for art has grown and blossomed in the many years and I sense that the time has come to share something that is such a huge part of my life with those around me. I have been greatly inspired and challenged over the years and my hope is that you will be too.

Like the many seasons for the many things in life, this is just one of those times to venture into the new. I believe that this is my season to start something new. Something fresh.There is much inspiration to seek in the daily mundaneness of life; much beauty in the little things that we often take forgranted - the fresh smell of rain, a pretty rose bud, a beautiful friendship. I am not exactly a whiz at technology ; hence the title of my first post- A humble beginning it is indeed.