Blue and white : Kingfisher

Blue and white ginger jar

Studying symbols is interesting. It is a forgotten visual language that I want to share. Meanings of Symbols like the spoken language change over time and are influenced by different cultures and time.
In Chinese culture, the Kingfisher is a symbol of feminine beauty, wealth and social standing. In Ancient Greece, days of calm and peacefulness are called Halcyon (kingfisher) days. The arabesque influenced floral “sweet pea” scrolls symbolise a long life filled with growth.
I use symbols in my art as a way to communicate and explore the subject of my personal identity and hence a microcosm of all identities which I feel is made up of tiny fragments over time to make a whole. The way symbols in art work together to tell a story.

Blue and white : Kingfisher
Acrylic on paper
Size A4
Unframed
SOLD

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Blue and white ginger jar : Dragon meets dragonfly

Blue and white ginger jar

This piece is inspired when the Dragonfly came to my balcony and stayed overnight and only left after I started to paint again. Before her arrival, I was going through a bit of a mental block. I hadn’t been painting for 2 weeks and I didn’t know how to snap out of this feeling of despair. Sometimes, time out is needed. The stillness allows me to reflect and connect with the energy and nature around me in order to reboot and rebalance. 🙏

Blue and White : Dragon meets dragonfly
Acrylic on acid free paper
Size: A4. Unframed.
SOLD

Blue and white double happiness ginger jar

Blue and white double happiness ginger jar

I absolutely love blue and white Chinese ceramics and especially the ginger jars. They remind me of my childhood growing up in Penang. My family home was filled with Chinese antiques, a memory of my ancestors who came from China to build a better future in what was then Malaya. I love birds and seeing them gives me hope and I love their sense of freedom. I’ve paired these two together to bring joy, hope and happiness.

Blue and White : Double happiness with Sunbird
Acrylic on acid free paper
Size: A4. Unframed.
SOLD

Torch ginger with Blue and white ginger jar

Blue and white ginger jar

Hello September and happy full moon! I’m not sure how we made it here but I’m hoping it’s all uphill from here 🙏

Hope you like this one of the torch ginger flower and the blue and white ginger jar depicting a phoenix and peonies.

Blue and White : Torch ginger flower 
Acrylic on acid free paper
Size: A4. Unframed.
SOLD

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Durian flower with blue and white ginger jar

Blue and white ginger jar with crane and bat symbols

Blue and White : Red Durian flower with crane and bat
Acrylic on acid free paper
Size A4
RM 600 (USD 150)
(unframed)

Bat (fu 蝠)
The bat is a symbol of happiness and joy. The Chinese for bat (fu 蝠) sounds identical to the word for good fortune(fu 福) making bats a popular Chinese rebuses.
Crane (he 鹤)
The crane is a symbol of longevity because it lives a long life and its white feathers stand for old age.
It also represents high status as the crane is regarded as ‘a bird of the first rank’ in the imperial
hierarchy. Flying cranes symbolises a wish or hope to become an official in a higher position.

Source: British museum

Traditional Blue and white Chinese porcelaine jars were used to carry spices like ginger. In this painting, I have matched the fragrant Durian flower with this ginger jar because of the crane and bat motifs on the design. Bats are the main pollinators of the durian flower and the King of fruits is native to Malaysia.

Malaysian Independence day

Blue and White Chinoiserie jar with Hibiscus

Wishing all my Malaysian friends Selamat Hari Merdeka for tomorrow.
The hibiscus flower or Bunga Raya is our beautiful national flower.

“The word bunga in Malay means “flower”, while raya in Malay means “celebratory” or “grand”. The Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is literally known as the “celebratory flower” in Malay. The red of the petals symbolizes the courage, life, and rapid growth of the Malaysian, and the five petals represent the five Rukun Negara of Malaysia. ” source Wikipedia

The 5 Rukun Malaysia or principles in order to achieve unity, democracy, equality, cultural diversity, and progress are:
BELIEF IN GOD
LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY
SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION
RULE OF LAW
COURTESY AND MORALITY

Blue and White : Hibiscus
Acrylic on acid free paper
Size A4
SOLD

Healthcare heroes virtual exhibition on Google arts and culture

https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/prof-janice-tsui-tiffany-choong/nQGJeG7Cv6C2ZA

I am extremely proud to be part of this permanent online exhibition on Google arts and Culture made possible by award winning artist Tom Croft in partnership with Google arts and culture and Paintings in Hospitals.
The virtual exhibition is to put faces on the healthcare heroes who are risking their lives every single day, keeping us safe during this difficult time.
During lockdown, like many people, I felt extremely helpless and anxious. When I found out about this project I wanted to be part of it, but I hesitated for a long time because portraits is not what I do. I managed to get over myself eventually and painted a portrait of my friend Professor Janice Tsui. She is an amazing person and she inspires me with her dedication to her work.
Thank you for giving me permission to submit your portrait for this exhibition. 💕

Check out the virtual exhibition in the link below. My submission is under the section ‘Personality in PPE’

https://artsandculture.google.com/project/healthcare-heroes

Johnny Bravo

Johnny Bravo

Find your inner self…
Have a good weekend and stay safe my friends 🙏

Sketch of the day no 1413 in my moleskine sketchbook is of Johnny Bravo.

Watch my Real Time video of the drawing here and please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Thank you 🌹

Didi from Deter’s Labaratory

Didi from Deter’s Labaratory

It’s the weekend. Dance with me. 💕💃💕

Sketch of the day no 1412 in my moleskine sketchbook is of Didi from Deter’s Labaratory.

Watch my Real Time drawing on my YouTube channel