Consciousness and Subconsciousness

New watercolours in progress!

Let’s see how it goes and what will evoke between the consciousness and subconscious! With the thinking of movements, form and colours and the combination of inner silence, the wakefulness and mindfulness that may heighten and the opening of the heart that may cultivate......

The forces of reckoning between who we are, who we think we are, and who we actually could be....is still strong, and deep in my heart.

Arts has the eternal truth.......

Self Portrait

I think the self is fascinating, to discover this body that we are carrying since the day we were born. The continuing changes on the body that we are “using” everyday, the breaths that take into the body keep the life continue...thinking that responses to all that happens in life....feelings that could bring suffering and happiness...all this happens in the body of every one, no one can escape except we no longer can breath.

I have been asking myself who am I for years.....What is the purpose of being a human being? Why I was born as a human not animals or others? The path of seeking deeper understanding of this inward beings in variety ways has been a long journey but it eventually leads me to who I am today.

The process of making self portrait is the experience of me relating myself to the rest of the world. There are times I think how would I like to be remembered for? What have life really bring to me? What is best qualities in myself? Creativity does help me in finding my way back to what I already know, already are, always have been, and always will be.

I am aware of the changes and transformations in life, some times the changes can be really challenging and painful but this is a real life lessons and it is important to reflect on experiences and how they affect one’s self.

Life moves on and so should we....

These self portraits did in 2017 represent and perpetuate of own personal mythologies. For physical and spiritual bodies to shape and embark on the rest of my life journey, is to connect the willing and thinking realms with the rhythm of feeling of these three aspects for well beings.

The discovery of the higher parts of nature in me, understand dharma, walk on right path, giving and receiving that comes only from oneself....which may be discovered and expressed one day, through art.

Smile, there’s Art

Yessss!! 1st of the 3 paintings that will be complete soon.

I enjoy holding the brush, watching the colour, form, movement and element emerge, in which, holding my inner thought and purpose.

I am having the absolute freedom! The awakening of body and soul would ripple across the planet and universe. Yes, Spiritual freedom, that is necessary in art as it is in life... as what Kandinsky mentioned in his Concerning The Spiritual In Art.

There is another beautiful feeling of creating this painting, that is the deeds of loving kindness that serves the purpose.

Divine Lotus

"Divine Lotus"

2020

38cm x 26cm

Watercolour on paper

The Lotus, is symbol of the light of compassion, opens its petals of the heart. Divine fragrance spreads when the petals of the heart unfold....It grows into the full bloom of peaceful contentment, just like my life unfolding and blooming. I find inner strength and beauty as I face hard times and overcome obstacles.

Love, gratitude, compassion and kindness are the cause of all enduring… and it’s a wonderful experience in this fundamental principle of life.

The experiences I had in Siem Reap, Cambodia, in the past ten years have enabled me to practice Metta and to be a better person.

Working with children from underprivileged families, seeing their wish to continue study and their acceptance and tolerance, has awoken me.

The Dalai Lama said, ’Only the development of compassion and understanding for others can bring us tranquillity and the happiness we all seek’. This is what I truly believe, since my connection with Cambodian children.

I paint and create because of the need to express my thoughts and feelings imaginatively, spontaneously and authentically. Over time the gathering of these wonderful experiences leads to emotional fulfilment and to the transformation of the inner self.

We are all so deeply interconnected: to love, to be kind and to do good is what we all should practice in this life time. Life is a circle: just like all flowers, beauty is fleeting so that even the Lotus flower must die. This shows the endless cycle of life, death and rebirth.....

Love is the blossoming of heaven. I find affection and everything I need, and loving kindness is the seed of joy and happiness and the ripples of the kind heart are the highest blessings of the Universe.

Lotus In The Moonlight

In the midst of darkness

Moonlight shine

Stillness

Lotus stands

The divine beauty

Among the leaves

Bloom out of the darkness

Purity

Divinity

Radiate into the world

Splendidly

Cosmic breath

Unfolding souls

Embrace In love

Harmony

Understanding

Peace

Calm

Energy

Generate

Middle path

Love for Siem Reap

"Love for Siem Reap"

2016

60cm x 80.5cm

Acrylic on Canvas

Siem Reap town

still a beauty

but not so innocent or simple

women dressed to kill

high heels

lipstick and eye shadow

sense of materialism

much stronger

young girl, ladies

young boy, men

seeking better life

life, no longer simple as it was

small kids

bare foot, running, singing

education and family

do they have a choice

or live the life just as their parents

do they hope and have dreams

gratitude

internal dialog

awakes

loving kindness

sharing and giving

different ways

Art will save the world

connects

Colors of Cambodia

touched

deeply

part of my life

kind hearted

supports

generous

giving without expectation

loving kindness radiating

love and joy surrounds us

each of us plant a seed

seed of Metta

in ourselves

in others

it will

it should

blossom

Party for Colors of Cambodia Students

Laura Louise

 brought the advance class and teachers ( including me and Bill of-course ) to The Hideout on Thursdaynight before she and Sarah go back to Australia on Friday evening.

Everyone had great fun and enjoyed the food very much!Many students have not had the experienceof eating in a restaurant with aircon and Western food.

We thanks Laura for her kindness and generosity...she not just giving donation to Colors of Cambodia, sponsoring students to study English but came all the way from Australia yearly, which has been continuing 3 years to help in schooling items distribution.

A special drawing from students presented to Laura, that our love to her. We are so lucky to have Laura!

16th Years Celebration for Colors of Cambodia

Younger students wasn’t allow to stay back late to attend the party with Laura on Thursday. So, we have second party after the announcement of Colors of Cambodia Art Competition. Yay!! Celebrations

Students who won the competition pool some money to buy drinks and I bought food for them. Hmmm...burgers finished very quickly.

It’s a celebration of Colors of Cambodia still alive after 16 years and we hope it will continue for more years, it’s also a celebration of the Charity Status that we received last year after many years of application.

Colors of Cambodia appreciate all the kind supports, helps and assistance from people around the world. Each of you who walked into the gallery to buy the paintings create by the students, it really means a lot for them. It’s love and encouragement they received.

Students thanks all volunteer teachers for spending their time guiding and teaching them...and here we have Ms Iaroslava Tereshkova who has volunteer teaching twice a week since June. I have tears in eyes listening to Narak Art speaks English thanking Teacher Phany Phanin Futago. Thank you Slava for your patience and encouragement to all the students.

Lot of loves to Bill Gentry for keeping this art project alive....open the door of practicing loving kindness in action. This is a very touching moment, seeing all students here working hard to earn for living, study hard to gain knowledge and still come to gallery to draw and paint ~ Art Will Save The World .

Being Kind is A Choice

Thank you Bill for the acknowledgment! Appreciate a lot!

The truth is without him keeping this project alive, non of us will be here today.

This is the most beautiful and meaningful things I am doing for so many year ~ Art Will Save The World!

It was because of my curiosity how Art Will Save The World that connected me to this noble cause. Blessings!!! When I teach, I also learn. In this past 12 years, we have grown together and Colors of Cambodia is a big part of my life, just like my family.

There are great and unconditional love in this beautiful and unique art school and gallery and people who connected to this beautiful project. It is impossible for me to mention everyone who are giving great support in many different ways to Colors of Cambodia over the years!!!! You know who your are lah.

Love you from the bottom of my heart...

快乐的孩子

“为什么我要读艺术治疗呢？”
“ 因为哦，我看的太多不快乐，没有笑容的孩子！因为哦，我心疼很多没有快乐的童年的孩子！我希望以后可以帮助到越来越多日子过得不平衡的大人和孩子。。” 

考试的月份家长和孩子都很紧张。。看到家长和孩子面对考试的压力，我不禁想起自己小时候读书的日子，不曾有过这么难过的压力。我是一个不爱啃课本，不背书但爱小说的孩子；每一次考试Seni一定拿A。嘿！最喜欢玩，玩跳绳，玩丢石子，玩玻璃球，骑脚踏车，放风筝，跳格子，爬树采红毛丹；中学啦，看课本的日子多了一点点，也有去补习但爱玩的我还是喜欢驾摩托车到海边吹吹风，乘渡轮去槟程看画展，露营，学画画，到戏院看戏。。。我记得那些年我拥有的是快乐读书玩乐的日子。

孩子本来就是爱玩啊！不是吗？想想孩子在0-7岁，7-14岁，14-21岁，21-28岁各方面的学习和成长的过程，每个阶段都有各自该发展和学习的地方。太多的学术和成绩的要求让孩子和父母忘了求学的目的。。求知识？还是求成绩？每天读书而已吗？还是也要懂道德和品行？

我自己的两个孩子也像他们的妈妈一样爱玩，成绩OKOK，所以有几个A做妈妈的就开心到不得了！我乐得笑开怀的是当他两被他人称赞有礼貌，时常笑面迎人。

小时了了，大未必佳。。凡事无绝对，我还是相信会玩的孩子，会开心的学习噢！慢慢的他们就学会了读书和玩乐的平衡点。记得大宝贝上了大学后在他的手提电脑的银幕上放了个”work hard & play hard" 的字，我内心是多么的欣慰，还没离开家里就懂了这道理。小宝贝中四了还有两年也要上大学。我们谈德国，谈爱尔兰。他学德语，我们说存钱去德国旅行，喜欢就到那里留学，要不然去爱尓兰找哥哥。SPM重要啊，要尽力不要压力。英文数理要拿A。。3个A就不得了！再考多几个A就可以帮爸妈省学费咯！😀😀😀

长大以后的孩子要过的是他自己选的日子，要走的路是他自己的人生。对我来说懂事的孩子是除了读书之外，会装水喉，换灯泡，烧饭做家务，听歌弹琴，看戏走街。。。懂生活。

有时候学习急不来，给孩子一点时间，让他随着自己的步伐成长，帮他培养信心和好习惯。。慢慢的他就会进步！就像我咯！当年因为英文差，所以不敢出国留学，二十年后我报读艺术治疗，很开心的学习，很快乐的读着很多我看不懂的书，一边查字典一遍做记录！然后。。我对两个儿子说：“等你们两个做工了，妈咪进大学的梦就要你们来圆了！” 

学习是一辈子的事，不是吗？我在等着踏入大学的日子。。。如果那时候我还活着。。继续的当快乐的老孩子！ 

Appreciation From The Founder of Colors of Cambodia

Presenting this awards to you all, because it's not belongs to me aone, its for all of you!!! I can't express enough of my gratitude to the people who have helped and support me in the Colors of Cambodia project ~ fund raising event, exhibition, sponsorship program, contribution in art materials and etc etc... all these will not work out without you.

In 2007, In Siem Reap, I saw "Art Will Save The World" at street 11. I stepped into Colors of Cambodia art gallery, fascinated by how the Cambodian children create their art and wondered about how art can save the world.

I send an email to the founder Bill Gentry, met him in Singapore, inspired by him! I then revisited Siem Reap. Since then I started to make many life decisions, explored and learned different life lessons. All these have played a big part to get to where I am right now.

My heartfelt thank goes to people who has inspired, motivated and challenged me in my life along this journey. 

I am looking at this plaque given by the founder of Colors of Cambodia again and again....I smile and read the wording, I still can't believe it!

I have no words to express my gratitude to

Bill Gentry

for given me the great opportunity to be part of Colors of Cambodia! Bill is the man who inspired me in many ways, especially Art will save the world!

Loves form my Cambodian teachers

Phany Phanin Futago

,

Sophanin Sor

,

Oun Sok

,

Soben Hour

,

Ponleu Art

and students that working together for nine years often touches my heart! They work very hard, learn and grow...Because of them and many of my Cambodian friends I am able to see the real poverty life in Cambodia, they have teachers me to be a better person! ️️️

I am grateful to my family for allowing me to contribute my times and skills, and to my dear friends for their continuing support in Colors of Cambodia.... I can't do much without your all! Love and kindness always make a difference....Not forgetting my Dharma teachers, brothers and Sisters who are guiding me to the right path.

Thank you for everything! Life is so beautiful to have all of you walking along This is the real happiness... it stays... for long...