PHOTOS

Singapore Watercolour 2004

From L to R: Ng Kwee King, Nancy Chan, Loy Chye Chuan, Lisa Lee and Marvin Chew

Dinner - 17th Asia International Watercolour 2005

Front Row (L to R): Sharon Teo and daughter, Chew Piak San, Chia Kok Tiong, Marvin Chew;

Back Row (L to R): Lye Yao Fatt, Tia Kee Woon, Andrew Yeo, Alan Louis and Seah Kang Chui

Singapore Chinese Cultural Festival Grand Art Exhibition 2006

Marvin and his lovely wife, Adeline

AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS     2003              Merit Award-Project Search, Discover South East Painting Competition, Singapore   2004 - 2009   Participated in Annual Exhibitions of Singapore Watercolour Society, Singapore   2005              Juried into the 28th International Exhibition of Watercolor Art Society-Houston (WAS-H), USA   2005              17th Asia International Watercolour 2005, Singapore   2006              Singapore Chinese Cultural Festival Grand Art Exhibition 2006, Singapore   2006              Penang - Singapore Watercolour Exhibition 2006, Pinang Gallery, Penang, Malaysia   2007              Sarawak Cultural Arts & Craft Festival 2007, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia   2008              Telok Kurau Studios Annual Exhibition - Commemorating A Decade, Singapore   2008              Singapore Chinese Cultural Festival Grand Art Exhibition 2008, Singapore   2008              Folk Art Forum Exhibition 2008 in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia   2008              Telok Kurau Studios Annual Exhibition - Mountains As Non-Mountain 2008, Singapore   2009              Singapore Art Show 2009 - Black Earth Art Museum, Singapore

ABOUT THE ARTIST

I enjoyed drawing and painting since young.  I was overjoyed when I won the third prize of my primary school's art competition at the age of seven.  I went on to win several children art contests, using oil pastel as my preferred medium.  During my teenage years, I started to paint in watercolour after being introduced to the medium by my secondary school art teacher and I immediately fell in love with the fluidity and transparency of watercolour.

Neglected

However, I had always considered painting as a hobby, an activity that I enjoyed doing but not something that I would pursue as a career, perhaps partly due to the infamous "Starving Artist" tag.  "You can't earn a living being an artist" is what people often drilled into me.  So being practical, I chose to learn Business Studies in college and then Accountancy in University of Otago, New Zealand.  I graduated in 1997 and started work in Singapore the following year.  For the next three years, I studied for my professional accounting exam and became a member of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA) in 2001.  Painting and art were neglected.  It was just something I used to enjoy as a child.

Rediscovery

It took a renovation job of my own apartment in 2002 to bring myself closer to art again.  I was painting the wall one day and the feeling of dipping brush into paints and applying them on the wall was so inspiring that I tell myself I must pick up art again.  Soon after the renovation was completed, I bought myself some watercolour paints, brushes and papers. I have to start all over again, reading up articles on painting, surfing the internet for watercolour techniques, etc. 

I also attended a watercolour painting class conducted by a respectable local artist Loy Chye Chuan.  I rediscovered the joy and thrills of watercolour painting. My painting skill improved tremendously under his guidance. For the next two years, I painted relentlessly, perhaps to make up for those years when I lost touch with art.  Thankfully, my effort was paid off when I was accepted as a member of Singapore Watercolour Society in 2004.

Never Ending Journey

I paint in my own studio at home now with the occasional plein-aire sessions during weekends.  Arts and painting are now part of my life.  Being able to create something beautiful out of a blank sheet of paper or canvas is a gift which I'm more than willing to share with my friends, fans and collectors. 

Watercolour will always be my preferred medium but I also like to explore and work in other mediums such as acrylic, oil and pastel.  

Every piece of artwork is a process of learning and another step forward to become a more accomplished artist.  This is a never-ending journey which I'm willing to undertake and pursue for as long as I live.

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