2012

Its already almost 3 months into 2012.

So far it has been amazing!

January was a busy month at work, closing for year end. Then the crazy hectic CNY at mum & dad's.

February was the month that flew by and Lent has crept in so quickly. Not sure how but somehow I managed to go for a Prayer Retreat in that short month of Feb.

Will be week 2 of Lent next week.

It has been a wee bit of a struggle this Lent - physically, emotionally and spiritually. Perhaps I am just exageratting. I made a resolution to sleep early and wake up early for 720am morning Mass and Lauds. I really love going for mass in the morning and it definitely makes all the difference to the whole day. But waking up early and sleeping early has not been easy. I just hope my body gets used to it soon.

Many many things to look forward to this year - Mum's CER in March, Father John Quigley's Easter Art Workshops in April, our little trip to Madrid-Fatima-Lisbon end May, silent retreat in Chiangmai with Ef end June, art exhibition in July (that is if I can produce anything by June)...

I realised since coming to Singapore I have been led to Art in the most natural way. I truly believe its Divine Providence and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to learn and grow in Art. After my family, Art is one of the biggest blessing and gift in my life.

I was reading Murakami's What I think about when I talk about running.
And the below excerpt just hit me in the heart:
" I never had the ambition to become a novelist. I just had this strong desire to write a novel. No concrete image of what I wanted to write about, just the conviction that if I wrote it now I could come up with something that I'd find convincing."

I could feel every single word of it as I read it again and again and again.

To become an artist or painter has never been an ambition but I just have this strong desire to want to do Art and grow in Art. Most of the time I do not know what to paint but occasionally I get this strong promptings to paint. Like when I see something that touch my heart or some image that come to me when I pray or when I sleep...

4 years ago when I was in Lourdes with ZS, I remember this weird conversation we had. We were waiting for the procession to begin and I turned to ZS and said 'You know what I really really want to do?'

"I really really want to exhibit my art works."

At that moment in time, even I myself was suprised by those words. I wasn't painting very much at that time as well. But perhaps the desire to paint, to make art has always been in me even as a child. And this desire has outgrown me. Sometimes this desire scares me but I know I can ignore my heart.

Art has led me to so many inspirational people and for that I am ever so grateful.

And I thank God for this beautiful gift of Art.

One Month On..

Hello! A busy month has passed. I wonder if anyone comes here anymore. Please leave a comment if you are here so I know I am not just blogging to myself.

Have been contemplating whether to share my artworks on FB or here. Somehow in the end decided to put it up here. So here it is for all you lovelies who missed the exhibition.

Heartspace - Faith Hope Love Exhibition (Sept 2011)



Introduction
It is truly a blessing to be part of this year’s HeArtspace exhibition. Since last
year, I had a yearning to visit St. Mary of Angels. When I shared this longing
with friends, they would ask me why as the church is really far from where I
live. I never really knew why but I just had this strong unexplainable yearning
to go to St. Mary’s.

It was only during Lent this year that I realised the reason. Somehow, it felt
that God wanted me to experience His presence through HeArtspace. HeArtspace has made my Lenten experience this year very memorable. I have loved
art ever since I was a child. My childhood was one filled with colour pencils
and crayon sketches. In a way, I feel like “coming home” at Heartspace. I feel
like I found something that I had lost along the way as I grew up. I feel blessed that God invited me to experience this journey. Every week, I am amazed by God’s grace that is revealed in everyone’s artworks. I am ever so grateful to all the inspiring people I have encountered at HeArtspace. Everyone has been so generous
in sharing their hope, inspiring me with their faith, and encouraging me to love God more and more.



MY HEART

Acrylic on Canvas | 30cm x 22cm

This is my first painting at HeArtspace. Initially I did not know what I was
painting. After a while I realised I was painting my heart. The branches
represent the thorns and scars that hurt. Scars heal over time and become
blurred as we move on stronger. The white and dark red dots are fooprints
left by wonderful people who have come into my life. The white bird
represent the Holy Spirit that guides and guards my heart.

This work reaffirms to me that the Holy Spirit is living in us. We heal
through pain as we come to God in our brokenness.



ATTACHMENT

Acrylic on Canvas | 30cm x 22cm

“...to kiss the joy that flies and live in eternity’s sunrise.”

Attachment is really about my desire to Let Go and Let God. We are
attached to worldly things. Sometimes we torture ourselves by not being
able to let go as our lives become more and more intertwined with these
attachments. Only when we surrender and let go can we truly be free and
live in God’s light.



FAITH

Acrylic on Canvas | 19.5cm x 19.5cm

“Prayer is love in action and love is faith in action.”
- Sr. Wendy Beckett, Sister Wendy On Prayer

This piece was inspired by the image that came to me when I was
praying at HeArtspace. It was an image of a yellow light surrounded by
purple light.

This year’s Lent was the first time I truly experienced and felt the power
of the Lord’s Prayer. In my brokenness, I found comfort in saying the
Our Father (Matt 6:9-13). Coincidentally, I also chanced upon this
wonderful book on prayer by Sr. Wendy Beckett. She helped me realise
that prayer is God’s business. All we need to do is to want to pray and
God will do the rest. How wonderful is God!



HOPE

Acrylic on Canvas | 25cm x 25cm

This was painted during the Good Friday Lenten retreat. It depicts a
mountain which represents our journey - just like Jesus’ painful journey to
do God’s will. Can you see the purple cross? Sometimes in our troubles,
we can’t seem to feel God’s presence but we must know that He is always
there for us. We all have our own crosses to carry. It is these crosses in life
that bring us closer to God.

Life is a journey of hope and we must bear our crosses with Love.



LOVE

Acrylic on Canvas | 19.5cm x 19.5cm

“...one of the soldiers opened His side with a lance and immediately there
went out blood and water...” (Jn 19:34)

This verse inspired this piece. Jesus died on the cross for us because He
Loved us. The crosses that we have to bear in life may be painful but the
pain will eventually lead to new life and rebirth.

Another verse that really resonated with me when I was painting was “the
truth will set you free”(Jn 8:32). And the truth lies in knowing that the
Son of God died on the cross to redeem us.



FALLEN LEAF

Acrylic on Canvas | 25cm x 25cm

I was walking to the MRT station when I saw a fallen leaf from afar, free-
falling with the wind. How beautiful is the fallen leaf that lets the wind
blow it gently to wherever it brings.



TEARDROPS

Acrylic on Canvas | 25cm x 25 cm

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt 6:21)

This was painted during one of the parable sessions at HeArtspace. We
were reflecting on the parable of the Kingdom of Heaven. As I reflected
upon this parable, I realised that the Kingdom of Heaven is within us. It
is being in the “moment” with the people around us. Like a precious pearl
formed from teardrops, God has blessed me with so much. I am grateful
to God for the gift of tears. I am even more grateful to all the wonderful
people God has sent into my life. These are my treasures that I will cherish
forever.

Amen.

Thankful..

Its been a month since I last update.

I realised that its been almost 2 years since I moved back to Asia.

Its been an amazing journey. I realised that I really like Singapore inspite of the longer hours and more stressful work culture here.

What I really really love...
Its great being able to see my family more often. Seeing them more often also means there are will be more disagreements but at the same time there is also more forgiveness. Having been away from home for so long, I have learnt to be more understanding. Inspite of all our differences in opinions, we will always be one family.

The new friends I have made and the new community I am in. I am so grateful for the Heartspace community. Going there every Saturday to paint is truly a blessing. Everyone there has been so kind and generous in sharing their faith and encouraging me to love more and more. The choir on Sunday is also now a special part of my life.
I am also grateful for my colleagues. They keep me going when the going gets tough.

When I look back at the 2 years here, I realised I have done pretty well. I have not wasted my time here. And I am so grateful for the many experiences and friendships God has blessed me with.

I am also grateful for the many many things to look forward to. My schedule is always packed with stuff. All my weekends are packed till October. Next Saturday, will be preparing for the Art exhibition before heading out for Vi's hen nite. And on Sunday, there will be a choir retreat. And the following weekend will be the weekend of the Art exhibition. In the midst of the busyness of the exhibition, I will also be going to watch Swan Lake on ice!

Yes life is great and I am so thankful for all life's blessings...

Bersih

It's been a while since last update.
Have been busy with the usuals.

I have been quiet about the current hot topic.
The bersih revolution.
Reason being I feel I have no right to say anything.
Since I feel more of a global citizen these days.
Although Malaysia will always be home truly.

And will the new bersih revolution change anything?
Will have to wait for the next election to see?

Maybe my silence is also partly from the guilt of abandoning my country.
But hey we are leaving in a borderless world now.

So I am silently blogging sharing my thoughts on this matter.

I salute the brave ones who passionately believe in the cause.
The ordinary heroes.

For those overseas who are making a lot of noise.
My humble sentiments is.. Hypocrites.

And silent people living overseas.
Cowards.

Is it better to be a coward or a hypocrite?

Updates

It has been slowing down a bit at work but still pretty hectic.
And it's going to get busy again as we start closing for June.
Got a wee bit emo of being questioned by kind hearted taxi uncles:
'Why work so late?! Very important job is it?'

But other than being emo at work, life has been pretty good.
Just finished my fashion illustration course with Fel.
It had been challenging doing the evening classes.
The exhaustion after work gives little inspiration or motivation to draw.
So am quite proud to have completed it.

One journey ends and another begins..
Current project is with Heartspace's Faith Hope Love exhibition.
First time doing something like this.
Quite scared actually. Don't even know if I can create anything.
And everyone is so amazing!

Even though I am scared I am actually very very excited indeed.

To Live Is To Die

This has been an emo week.
Long hours at work.
Physically exhausted.
Felt kind of low for the first time in a long time.

But yesterday night lifted me out of my low.
And I want to thank Uncle B.

Thank you Uncle B.
I feel so blessed to be at your wake yesterday.
Even though I don't know you, I had glimpses of you from the many who were there.
And from your wonderful son who is a living testimony of your legacy.
I thank God for you. And I pray you are now resting in heavenly peace.
Smiling down from heaven watching over your family who are not mourning
but celebrating the beautiful life you have shared with them.
More importantly thank you for making me dying to live again. Amen.

The New Boy

I was welcomed into the future over the weekend.
My life is complete now.
Who needs a boyfriend when you have an iPhone!

It's brilliant! Its perfect for me who is always on the go.
I now can read,blog,surf,fb anywhere and everywhere.
It's BRILLIANT!!! Loving my iPhone.
How did I survived without it before?!

And it takes pretty photos too!
I haven't even started on the apps and games.
Haven't had time to discover more of them.
So stay tuned for more iPhone blabbering.