P92026: 15 April 2026  What Makes It Art? 

15 Apr. He is back. Thinking. Wondering what we choose to call art. Maybe the answer isn't on the wall, but in us.

What Makes It Art?

17 Apr. It is not about being unexplainable. It is about knowing why it stands. As this work progresses, it reveals more than the image itself. Being wise in art is not about kindness. It is awareness. To see what others miss. To know what makes it stand apart. Not everything presented is art. And not everyone sees the difference. Follow this piece as it unfolds. The meaning is not hidden, only waiting to be seen.

18 Apr. The 3 wise monks in white as they are not Buddhists. 

19 Apr. The 4 'void' viewers.

P72026: 11 April 2026 

11 Apr. Another figurative portrait in progress, and this time stepping away from rigid, mechanical poses into something more alive. The presence of the tiger transforms the composition, not just as a subject, but as a quiet, powerful companion. I am exploring a looser, more modern brush approach, letting energy and gesture speak louder than fine detail. It feels more instinctive, more honest, where strength and stillness exist side by side, and the story emerges through contrast rather than just precision. 

12 Apr. My latest figurative portrait feels more alive. The tiger carries a strong presence, yet the human figure stands with equal quiet weight, creating a balance that feels true to my sense of art. There is strength and stillness, instinct and reflection, sharing the same space.

I have been on this path for some time now. This “art-ploration” keeps everything moving, never a dull moment when I begin to think about what and how to paint. Art classes, courses, exhibitions were never part of my journey. For me, art is for self well-being, and for others to enjoy at an affordable price. It is not a competition.

P062026: 6 April 2026 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Serow

6 Apr. Continuing with the next tiger scene, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Serow. The real challenge here is not the tiger, but the jungle itself.

I chose a black gray background to bring the focus onto the main presence, the tiger. It may look simpler, but it is far more difficult than painting the tiger. Creating depth, atmosphere, and tension within that darkness takes more control than detail alone.

9 Apr. From my historical novel, The Hearts of One, I composed this piece with restrained tones. I reduced the jungle into a more open space, light against silence, presence against absence.

This work departs from narrative detail to serve balance and composition as art, where contrast and negative space hold the tension, and the hidden becomes the true subject. Doma, the jungle guardian, aims at an unseen prey, unaware that a tiger mirrors his hunt.

It is interesting to place the serow, the goat, away from the target, yet still present for all to see.

Well, this is art my art that needs no explaination.

P052026: 6 Mar 2026 The Buffaloes. Doma

7Mar. 14 characters. Maybe 1 more?

8March. Decided to add another flying fox. It is a story now.  The man and his tiger are looking far to the flying foxes but the water buffaloes are more interested to look at you. But the question is what are you looking at ?

Next is to continue on the portrait commission work for the next few days. The buffaloes and his gang have to wait. 

26March. Started with the tiger. 

2April. Most of the characters done, except the 2 bats. 3 different style of brushwork.

3April. Natural background, bright with depths. Added the misty foreground but in a bright day.... ! Art is all free of ideas.

Doma, the guardian, crouches beside a tiger, both fixed on an unseen prey. Around them, elephants, buffalo, birds, and bats form a living tapestry, their presence echoing balance and tension. Drawn from my historical novel, The Hearts of One, the scene captures a primal world, instinct, survival, and silent understanding within Malaya’s wild heart.  

2025 - The Two Masterpieces -Inspired by the work of Gustave Doré

A imaginative painting where theatre, royalty, everyday life and nature come together in one scene. Inspired by the dramatic storytelling of Gustave Doré, the work mixes imagination with moments of ordinary life. It brings different characters and worlds into one canvas and invites viewers to explore their own meaning in the story. 

A painter attempts a masterpiece inspired by Gustave Doré while monkeys and clowns enthusiastically applaud a banana taped to the wall. 

P042026: 21 Feb 2026 - The Cock Fight

Ink and brush painting next.

22Feb. With pen, the work is much easier than with brush. The tricky part is shading. 

24Feb. The fighting cocks were painted in colours. The whole composition still looks empty. 

26Feb. The elephant in the background with flying Chinese bats. 

Not just a cockfight, a story of coexistence and contrast.This piece blends realism and imagination to show how humans, animals, and culture intersect. 

P032026: 9 Feb 2026 - Old Gold Black Moor

This is my 3rd piece for this year. Going to be another art marathon year like what I did in 2024. Why not? 

11Feb. All for the sake of her looks, whether a blackmoor or a fashionable one, appearance is still the currency. The choice of colour and posture of the woman is contrasting but matching. The look of the face must be "fishy" too.

12Feb. I enjoy painting this Blackmoor goldfish. It says so much about its shape, colour and fine details. It is going to challenging but interesting.

13Feb. The scales, most time consuming but worth the time. 

14Feb. Decided to leave the background clean. Done. 

P022026: 2 Feb 2026 - The Year of the Horse 2026

I like to compose a crowded scene which is quite an interesting part of the painting process. It always look good when done but the tough part is when trying to paint it. This piece is quite a challenge. 

4Feb2026. A red horse and a golden yellow sculpture.

6Feb2026. The dragon encountering the golden sculptural horse and the red horse.

7Feb2026. A red, spirited horse and a golden, sculptural horse confront a lion dance figure, with a human presence positioned between them. The composition is charged with movement, colour, and festive tension, echoing the energy of celebration and transition. Bold reds and golden yellows in the background heighten the sense of momentum, making the work feel both ceremonial and alive. Let us welcome the horse this Chinese New Year 2026. 

P012026: 31 Jan 2026 - Arowana Gold

This is my first painting of 2026.

The Arowana is an ancient fish, plated in gold colour by nature, slender in body and unmatched in its scales. It is not just a collector’s fish of high value, but a cultural symbol of strength, status, belief, and quiet power across Asia.

Painting the Arowana is like painting a portrait. Up close, its scales reveal discipline and structure rather than shine. Its gaze is calm, confident, and aware. This work is not meant to decorate, but to present presence, a reminder that power does not need to announce itself to be real.

Fish are deeply rooted in our lives: as hobby, livelihood, industry, and food. Among them, the Arowana stands apart. This painting reflects that distinction, strength without aggression, value without excess, confidence without noise.