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It started with a 15-year-old girl who dared to dream. A dream so out of reach that it was nearly impossible to turn into reality. 

My interest in art had no place in my life. I come from a traditionally successful family and graduated from Tunku Kurshiah College in pure science, ‘THE girls’ school’ as some had previously told me. I now pursue my education in Economics at my dream university. Those come with overwhelmingly high expectations to create something out of my life. All that privilege should be channelled to achieving milestones, right? However, the direction and pathway as to how the milestone should take form is subjective. From the very beginning, my passion for art was criticised from all sides. 

“Just forget about it.” “It’s hard to sell artwork, no one wants to buy them.” “It looks nice, but is it sale-worthy though?”

Should I? Should I just store it away and regard it as a brief interest that like others, shall pass?

No. I don’t think so. The more resistance I got, the more determined I became to make something out of this passion. This interest exists for a reason and I am eager to solve the puzzle. It was easy to block out the criticisms when I was in the midst of creating a masterpiece. Every little brush stroke and every “What should I make next?” question that came to me while staring at a blank paper was the drive that kept me going. It was even easier to disregard those voices when I slowly saw my skills improve day by day.

I received my first order from a Kelantanese high school junior in 2020. At the time, it never struck me that people were interested in buying art from a person who simply does it out of passion. That first order was the catalyst for monetizing this hobby. I started researching the market price of different types of artwork in Malaysia, nationwide postage, and the type of art that people would love to have. Slowly but surely, I am again surprised by the overwhelming support given by friends and family who requested commissions, especially after I ventured into the world of acrylic paint pouring. With passion and patience, I had to garner various skills such as communicating with customers who ranged from all age groups, marketing on social media, calculating cost and profits, and experimenting with multiple paint mediums and techniques. Honestly, this journey has been a humbling and rewarding one, from balancing academics and commission deadlines to excelling in examinations and receiving positive customer feedback. 

Truth be told, having supportive parents and friends played a crucial role in pushing forward. They are my biggest critics but also my biggest fans. I was encouraged to be financially independent from 2020, by earning my own pocket money through art and repaying loans borrowed for the costs of art supplies. With every new art order, I sought advice from my parents and had them drive me through Taman Melawati’s traffic jam to reach the art shop where I bought canvases, Marie’s acrylic paints and Reeve’s pouring mediums. They had also generously let me conquer the dining table as my art studio to blowtorch canvases and dry freshly poured paintings overnight. The tiniest flaws in every piece would be noticed and nothing held them back from sharing their thoughts. Over the years, it went from “The painting is not realistic enough.” to “Wow! They’re so beautiful.” I came to realise that their guidance and knowledge were my motivation to continuously do art as my part-time job while being a full-time student.

Back then it was February 2018. It is currently June 2024. 6 whole years. 

6 years of daydreaming and daring to envision an art gallery with her name on it.

6 years of imagining her masterpieces being distributed and showcased in households across her motherland.

6 years of painting and creating, and letting her creative side run free.

6 years of constant faith, a powerful force that drove her through the darkest hours of the night & the brightest sun rays of the day.

Who would have thought that a science student who decided to pick up a basic flat brush and rip out a blank paper while sitting cross-legged on her dorm room floor would revel in unimaginable opportunities? It’s realistic to disregard the situation as a common one, one that comes to you at random times of the day. But it’s bold to expect anything beyond that. From receiving my first artist paintbrush set on my birthday in 2019, to fulfilling a huge commission of acrylic paint pouring on a 100cm-by-100cm canvas in 2020, to selling over a hundred art across all regions in Malaysia, and to launching my first art exhibition in my dream university, life has not been the same. In the best possible way, it has transformed since that first small decision made on a mundane Saturday evening. With every piece that I decide to paint, I always choose to create something that I deeply resonate with. From the intricate motives of Malaysian Batik to the delicious selection of Malaysian delicacies to the colourful watercolour flowers that I used to marvel at in my grandmother’s garden, I ensure to leave a piece of me in each masterpiece.

It is true that dreams come and go, that not all can be transformed into reality, and that stereotypical disapproval may stand in the way. However, it is truer to embrace that the paintbrush is within the artist’s hand, and the final picture is what the artist believes to be real. Faith, when paired with action and patience, will always outshine all hurdles in the way. 

“A kite needs to be positioned against the wind for it to fly.”

Do something different and go against the norm, and watch how genuineness will open the doors of endless opportunities.