Becoming a Full-Time Artist

When I was 17, I dropped out of high school and started working in hospitality and tourism. Feeling like a failure made me choose minimum wage jobs because I didn’t believe I deserved something better.

I couldn’t keep a job for longer than 3 months because of regular panic attacks. There was a constant whisper in my head that said “what are you doing with your life??” The work was unfulfilling and I felt really selfish to admit it.

After a huge mental breakdown at my last job, I knew I had to change something.

It was a scary thought but I wanted to start my own business that was at my own pace, fit my personality and gave me purpose.

After a period of hopelessness, I decided then get a part-time job again and focus on improving my watercolour hobby and sell my artwork in my spare time.

I had no prior experience and felt overwhelmed most of time. By taking it day by day, I slowly found my painting style and learned the necessary skills to run a small business.

I quit my day job in 2023 and became a full-time artist.

Being a full-time artist is so much more than just a job for me. It’s a healing experience I want to bring to the world because I know what hopelessness feels like.

I hope each painting brings you warmth, energy and joy!

“It’s my life’s purpose to create artwork that inspires you to take care of your well-being and connect with your authentic self”

Art Inspiration

I was born in The Netherlands, grew up in New Zealand for 7 years and my parents are Chinese. So from a young age, I was curious about travelling and new experiences.

So when I was 21, my dream was to travel the world… but eventually figured out that it was a plan to run away from my pain and trauma.

I ended up going on a self-discovery and healing journey instead.

Travelling alone has taught me how spending time in solitude is one of the most important things for self-healing.

This means doing things on your own and seeing what brings you joy and purpose without anyone’s opinion or judgement. This is the only way you can listen to your inner voice that tells you which path is true to you.

I had always been a creative person but it was never an option to become an artist. It felt really unrealistic and too unstable to pursue something of my own. But through all the inner work and time in solitude, I knew that it was simply a negative belief I had from my childhood.

So one day, I decided to start painting moments I had experienced on my travels and things I had seen in my daily life in hopes to share more calmness with the world.

Why Watercolours?

The main reason why I taught myself watercolour painting at 23 years old was for my mental health. I dropped out of high school due to depression and ever since, I felt like a failure, very lost and thought my future looked hopeless.

Through many years of battling depression, anxiety, self-sabotage, panic attacks and burnouts, watercolours gave me an escape and hope for a different future.

Painting was purely for me and it felt so good to re-connect with my creative and playful side. Even though my perfectionism and inner-critic told me every day that I wasn’t good at it, I cried a lot and kept making art anyways.