Artist Statement

As a five year-old child, I recall watching my sister paint with oils, and then my grandfather Lee Kah Yeow — a renowned artist in Southeast Asia — paint with black ink and wash on rice paper. The images of their paintings captivated me, from the bright hues illustrating scenes of village life to the bold sweeping brush strokes that brought to life visuals of lotuses, peonies, and pine trees. Since then, I find myself looking at the world through a different lens. Throughout my childhood and adolescent years, I received instruction from various prominent artists in Malaysia. 

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My work is influenced by my desire to commit onto paper — using watercolor, acrylic, and pastels —  expressions of people from all over the world and beautiful objects representing different cultures. I find serenity and timelessness in drawing and painting; it helps to balance my otherwise less creative life as a social scientist. I continue to find time to hone my artistic skills by participating in courses offered by instructors at VisArts in Rockville, Maryland, and The Art League in Northern Virginia, which have included Mark Collins, Robert Liberace, and Priscilla Treacy.

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I have exhibited my work at the Universities of Shady Grove at an event organized by Leadership Montgomery, at the Rockville Mayor and Council’s office, at the Connie Morella Library in Bethesda, and at the Black Rock Center for the Arts in Germantown. I also exhibited a series of orchid paintings in Malaysia as part of a fundraiser for a local health association.