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All these, I really could not asked for more and for that, I am thankful, every day of my life. One of the most valuable lesson I have learned in life is to always look towards the positivity in everything, no matter how dreadful it may be. Here’s wishing each and everyone of you a Happy 2021!

This year, I decided to go easy. Take my time with my artworks and fully concentrate and indulge in the process of creating.

I have taken off several art competitions and exhibitions from my list except for Colored Pencil Society Of America .

It was not easy initially. Seeing my peers getting into shows and competitions that I’ve sat out, I felt that I was missing out a lot. But then, by the end of 2018, fifth year into my journey as a colour pencil artist, I realised that I need to take a step back and re-evaluate the directions to where I should be focusing instead.

You know how when we begin to do something which we are passionate about, we tend to want to try out anything, to test the water, so to say. For me, it was just about every opportunity I can get to have

What a pleasant end to the year 2017 to see my artworks published in both CP Treasures 5 and Strokes of Genius 9!

Strokes Of Genius 9 – Creative Discoveries

Strokes of Genius was one of my most anticipated publication since the beginning of my career. It was my dream to one day have my artwork published in this collection.

I knew it will be a tough call since it is an all media juried selection. When I received the news that my piece “Of Time Long Past” was amongst 140 selected international artworks. Needless to mention that I was over the moon. This could be an one-off lucky strike but at least one of my dream was fulfilled.

CP Treasures 5 – Colored Pencil Masterworks From Around The Globe by Ann Kullberg

Having my art work included amongst the 120 pieces out of 838 entries is a huge deal for me as a colour pencil

Nascence – emergence,  coming out into existence for the first time.

The title speaks volume since this is my first ever piece of abstract art with colour pencils.

I received a personal invitation via email from Vera Curnow.CPSA,  the founder the Colored Pencil Society of America (CPSA)  back in March this year. She challenged me to take a break from my usual art style and submit an abstract piece for the  CPSA bi-annual To The Point (TTP) magazine June 2017 issue. She is featuring abstract art works with colour pencils and hoped to have more abstract representation in order to step up and reinforce the concept that coloured pencil medium is versatile.

Initially,  I was quite doubtful of my ability because even though I do appreciates some abstract art but it has never crossed my mind to venture into that genre of art.  But nevertheless, I gave it a try anyway and will

https://drawpj.com/sharon-kow-coloured-pencil-artist/

Sharon Kow – Coloured Pencil Master Artist

When I received a message on Facebook from Cindy Wider, co-founder of  DrawPj.com Art Education about an interview for her ongoing project,  I was speechless…. took me quite a while to digest it.

She explained that she is gradually gathering artists from around the world for this collection and that the artists she personally choose for this special project are selected based upon her opinion and after watching them for (sometimes several years) online.

After reading her detailed explanations, I was still unsure. Not because of who she is, it was me. I have never once thought myself as a master of anything because I still have so much to learn.

The interview questions brought back fond and sad memories and it took me almost 2 weeks to complete. All the answers that I have given came straight out within me, there are some things that many of my personal friends

This is an interview I did with www.eksentrika.com recently. Eksentrika is a content website dedicated to showcase Malaysian talents, inspire more creatives and spur the growth of local arts.
They are a pretty new outfit, run by former journalists Ista and Sukhbir who strives to give exposure and recognitions to the unconventional artisans and maverick virtuosi for their contributions to art. Eksentrika also serves as a database of local creative talents and a conduit for these artists to reach out to potential clients. They believe Malaysia has a plethora of hidden creative gems and this eccentric duo are aspire to get them all noticed.

And to be featured in their website, is definitely a huge honour. To think that my art work is worthy of their attention.

To add icing on the cake, Faber-Castell Malaysia was generous enough to act as sponsor to my article! It was something that I did not expected at all.

To read more, go

Seems like a long time since my last blog and this is the first time that I am blogging from my website.
After the exhibition with Faber-Castell Malaysia in April this year, I have been cooped up at home working on paintings for the Langkawi Art Biennale ‘Exploration” 2016 (LAB 2016), which will take place from the 16th – 23rd November 2016 in Langkawi, Malaysia.

LAB 2016 will be a milestone for me and also coloured pencil art, locally, if everything goes well. This exhibition really pushes my boundaries as a colour pencil artist as I have to produce paintings at the size from 24 x 24 inches (60 x 60cm) to 36 x 36 inches (91 x 91 cm) huge. A very big feat when using solely dry medium. Tough, but it is a good try.

All the complete paintings for LAB 2016 can only be revealed during

WEATHERED  
8″x8″ hot-pressed, 300gm Lanaquarelle watercolour paper. Faber-Castell Polychromos, own photo reference.

Now, the story of behind the hand…

This drawing of the hand was done specially for the DRAW Portraits in Colored Pencil. I received an email from Ann Kullberg back in August 2015 asking me whether I am interested to be one of the contributing artist for the book. I was taken aback because I am not known as a portrait artist. I have done a couple of hand portraits of my late father and my mother. And that was the specific subject I was asked to contribute. Needless to say, I was over the moon that my hands portrait were noticed and there are people who thought it was not bad.

In my opinion, hands, after the eyes, are one of the most difficult subject to tackle in any portrait drawing/painting. Especially wrinkled and weathered hands, it tells a lot of

It has been quite a hectic couple of months since I got home from my trip to the United States, attending the Colored Pencil Society of America (CPSA) convention in Atlanta,GA. I have not been posting any work on social medias but it did not mean that I am not working.

Immediately after I got home, I received the news that I am one of the 12 selected local artists for the Faber-Castell Malaysia Inaugural Art Exhibition which will be held sometime in March 2016 in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. Faber-Castell Malaysia took the initiative to organise this art exhibition not only to amplify its brand image amongst art enthusiasts but also to highlight the pool of local artists that exist locally and also to provide local Malaysian artists a public platform to showcase their works. They aim to ultimately make this exhibition a highly anticipated annual event.

This

Looking back…

All 3 volumes of CP Treasures by Ann Kullberg

I have decided to get all three copies of the CP Treasures by Ann Kullberg during their recent sale. Well, it does cost quite a bit looking at the current Malaysian currency compared to USD but this is something I must have to remind me of how far I have come in my colour pencil art journey.

About two and a half years ago, when I came across the cover of the first volume, that hand caressing the water surfaces (by  Adolfo Fernandez Rodriguez from Spain), I was in awed. At that time, I can only afford to browsed and see some snippet of the published work on social media.

After the second volume was published, I told myself that I must try my luck and submit my art in the next publishing, without having much confidence but by my ‘thick skiness’, I