NG KOK HONG - My ArtTalk Journal

MY ARTTALK JOURNAL

I paint narrative scenes where figures unfold a story through posture, gaze, and symbolic placement, without relying on traditional perspective.

14 Jun 2025. With about five years of consistent painting, it now feels quite natural. The harder part is always the challenge of creating something that sparks what’s yet to come—something that keeps the journey of art interesting. This website is simply a place for me to shelve my work and collection, for leisure and self-joy.

19 Jun 2025. Pen works nicely done for the Ogoh Ogoh in the background. Next is to add shades in think acrylic paint. The paper was not the right one for painting. The blend of the acrylic paint with water didn't work well on this parer.

20 May 2025.Again, I’ll be combining ink and acrylic for this piece—trying to strike a balance so it doesn’t become too dull or monotonous. I enjoy working with both mediums, and blending the precision of ink with the richness of acrylic feels like the right approach for me.

6 Jun 2025. The crowd had to be gathered for the Melasti. I decided to sketch the background scene in pen—it was fun. No need to make it too perfect, just enough to capture the mood of a busy crowd.

Sun Wukong. Acrylic on wood plank. 64x89cm. 28 Sep 2024

Looking at the real painting is far better than seeing a photographed image. It's like encountering someone real but not quite. Art takes you far if you can perceive its depth; otherwise, it's just a painting. I choose my subjects carefully because time is precious. The painting must be meaningful and tell a story.

This painting was painted with only one small brush, 6 colours and clocked a total of 80 hours.

I can never get tired of looking at this painting, and creating it was just a part of me. It was worth every minute of my time to watch the character come alive bit by bit. Art and creativity are all about moving forward with fantasy, meant to make one feel good from its value, not its price. The initial part of the painting has to be good to get the expression right. Portrait is very challenging and if the eyes don't catch the viewers, then it was painted to collect dust. .

10. The Tiger Slayer

14 May 2025. I decided to complete the painting with two characters in pen, drawn at a smaller scale. No additional elements are needed—just the character sketches themselves in pen lines.

1 May 2025. Inspired by the story of Wu Song, the tiger slayer, I composed this piece of narrative art depicting a hero confronting a tiger. The tiger was sketched on a larger scale to amplify the impact of the scene.

2 May 2025. The eyes of the tiger have to be just right—they need to make it look fierce and commanding.

3 May 2025. The face of the tiger was done with rough brushwork and still needs refining. This first look in color allows me to make necessary corrections.

5 May 2025. It took me quite a while to study and mix the right colors for the tiger. I've done this many times before, but getting it right each time is essential.

10 May 2025. The art of Fan Zeng is a treasure, full of expressive power and tradition. Inspired by his style, I decided to add the horseman character Zhong Kui into this piece, blending myth, motion, and brushwork in one composition.

12 May 2025. The main characters are complete, and I'm less concerned with how the rest should be painted—for me, it's about capturing the energy, the force, that I want to see. I haven’t yet decided what to do with the remaining white space, but I trust it will come to me naturally in time.

9. The Seven Heroes (& Mei ChaoFeng)

21 Apr 2025 - The sketch came easily, but bringing it to life with paint will take time.

25 April 2025 - Plucking a scene from The Legend of the Condor Heroes novel by Jin Yong, I reimagined the encounter between the seven martial arts masters and a lone figure—renowned for her formidable skills and feared by many, Mei ChaoFeng.

28 Apr 2025 - Still working on this piece for about 2 hours a day. Cannot afford more.

29 Apr 2025 - Done. I quite like it though it is just a mixture of simple painting styles.

Thin art paper isn't suitable for acrylic paint, as it absorbs water too quickly, making it difficult to blend the colors.

29 April 2025. Much inspired by ancient art, Fan Zeng, and modern-day artists, this is a piece of mixed styles that I enjoyed painting. To bring out the scene with strong impact, I composed this work.

8. The Flutists

3 Apr 2025. The ancient art painting style is exquisite, and reproducing it with a modern twist can be profoundly interesting. Painting for self-interest is more than just a hobby—it’s more like **a dialogue across time, where discipline meets devotion, and every brushstroke becomes a meditation on beauty and legacy.

4 Apr 2025. Such beauty in art can only be understood by painting it. Art is not for everyone—its value lies in the work itself, where meaning unfolds stroke by stroke, not in the price.

1 Apr 2025. A combination of ancient Chinese art style and contemporary art, using elements of ancient art as a reference. It should be a challenging but exciting process. The first sketch came easily, but I need more ideas for a balanced composition.

7. The Strategists

24 Mar 2025. A bit of colour is enough. Tonal art may appear simple, but it is just as complex to create. Art is about the subject, the composition, and the final output—each piece is a journey, completed to inspire and evoke emotion.

19 Mar 2025. It’s a deeply engaging process to paint in monochrome, composing a piece that perfectly suits my taste. As Sima Yi once said, *“One must be a lifelong learner.”* This philosophy resonates with me as I continue to explore and refine my craft, finding joy in the simplicity and depth of monochromatic art.

11 Mar 2025. "The wise man prepares for the future, but lives in the present," says Sima Yi. This painting blends ancient art with contemporary portraiture styles, such a fusion is challenging but not impossible. Time is precious, let’s make it tick before it’s over.

6. The Eastern Charm of Red (The Antique Horse)

25 Feb 2025. More ancient horse art treasures in my paintings—why not? This series is all about self-excitement and the joy of creation. By bringing these timeless artifacts to life on the drawing board, I’m not just painting; I’m connecting with history, culture, and the beauty of a bygone era. If I can’t own the antiques themselves, I’ll make them my own through art.

26 Feb 2025. I didn’t notice the beauty of this detail until I started drawing it—the way her hands are placed is simply perfect. It’s a testament to the elegance and thoughtfulness of ancient art.

2 Mar 2025. The beauty of ancient Chinese art is beyond comprehension. As I work on reproducing these masterpieces, I’ve realized that the process is more than just a meditative practice—it has become an attachment to perfection. The fine details, precise proportions, and thoughtful compositions demand my full attention and respect. Each stroke feels like a step closer to understanding the depth and brilliance of this timeless art form.

8 Mar 2025. The Eastern Charm of Red (The Antique Horse): blending ink and acrylic to achieve a fusion of old and new. The characters are painted in two scales to create a striking visual impact, while the ancient masterpieces are composed with other elements to give the artwork a fresh perspective.

I particularly enjoy creating the flying bats in the style of ancient Chinese art. Their graceful forms and symbolic meaning add depth and joy to the piece. It’s incredibly fulfilling to learn through reading and painting, immersing myself in the rich traditions of the past while exploring new creative possibilities.

5. The Han Dynasty Antique Horse

19 Feb 2025. At my age, painting is simply a hobby—a personal sanctuary. When I first started, I was swept up by the norms of being a self-declared artist: showcasing my work in exhibitions, posting on art websites, and striving to sell and compete. Over time, I realized this pursuit of external validation left little room for the joy of creation.

I stepped away from the art circle and began painting for myself. Now, I focus on what I like, what I know, and what I feel is right. This shift has transformed painting into a meditative practice, a source of joy, and a luxury in my life. It’s no longer about pleasing others or meeting expectations; it’s about exploring my creativity and finding peace in the process.

Painting has become a way to connect with my inner self, to reflect on life, and to celebrate the beauty of art without pressure. At this stage, it’s not about being an artist in the eyes of the world—it’s about being true to myself and giving my talent a chance.

4. Peacefulness

30 Jan 2025. This CNY, without the usual firecracker noise, I enjoyed quality time with my family and, even more, delved into my research on past Chinese-era paintings. The beauty and depth of these old artworks resonate with me, inspiring my own artistic journey. Why wait when I can paint for my own collection and share them, embracing this timeless art as a path to personal enrichment and continuous learning?

"It would be no exaggeration to say that traditional Chinese painting is a high art that has the functions of both civilising the person and cultivating the mind." Sophia Suk-mun Law

25 Jan 2025. The old styles of ancient Chinese art suits what I wanted and sketching Song-era horsemen and Tang-era Guanyin, and combining them into a piece of adventure art, is an exciting challenge.

Sketching is not too difficult but painting is different. The painting composition, brush strokes and details must carry the value of the artwork.

Creating art for fun means allowing creative thoughts to flow freely, with no one to answer to other than what the painting wanted it to be, -with joy doing it. This is the light of art that shines.

To continue after CNY. Happy Chinese New Year. (Looking for my pungi, the snake charmer's pipe!)

3. The Monk.

2 Feb 2025. For this painting, the figure’s face must be rendered with precision and reverence, as it depicts Quan Yin, a divine being. This aspect is of utmost importance. The composition serves style and storytelling, but a painting like this transcends mere artistry—it stirs the mind and spirit.

The horses were painted in three styles from different era.

6 Feb 2025. Day by day, I push my brush each morning. If it feels good, I do more. As the painting takes shape, it brings peace of mind—or as they say, 安心境 (Ahn Sim Keng).

7 Feb 2025. It was truly fascinating to paint in the style of ancient Chinese art while delving into its history for deeper understanding. The horsemen were inspired by the styles of the Tang, Song, and Yuan eras. The painting evokes a sense of depth, balancing distance and closeness depending on how one views it. I created this piece for those with an eye for depth to see and appreciate the meaning within the Chinese ancient art.

22 Jan 2025. Peace. When the mind is clear, the water reflects nothing

18 Jan 2025. Peace. When the mind is clear, the water reflects nothing

2. Longevity.

24 Dec 2024. Today, with AI-generated art images making waves, what lies ahead for artists? Art has always been about passion and self-expression. Since 2020, I’ve immersed myself in painting—exploring, learning, and refining my skills. The most fulfilling part is painting for my own satisfaction, especially after years of creating for others.

For many, art feels like a lost cause—its direction blurred, vision uncertain, and returns often disappointing. It’s disheartening to see poorly painted pieces celebrated as masterpieces, fetching thousands for reasons that have little to do with genuine artistic talent.

AI-generated art has further dampened the spirit of many artists. But AI isn’t here to stop; it’s here to take over tasks that some artists have neglected or surrendered.

So, what should we do—challenge AI, partner with it, or bow to its rise? The answer lies in the artist’s spirit, something AI can never possess. AI is merely a tool, a generator from instructions. True artists must not only wield their brushes but also trust in their creativity and push their boundaries to keep advancing.

As for me, I paint for myself—that’s where the joy lies, after thinking. I welcome AI for inspiration and a challenge to my skill for as long as I can still hold the brush.

Merry Christmas.

(Note: I don't celebrate Christmas, a pagan practice since the old time. It is a commercial celebration today. Faith in God is a lifetime celebration.)