Over 40 years, my work has evolved from elaborate black-and-white doodles to increasingly detailed figurative paintings. I am totally self-taught. Each painting is the result of my interpretation of randomly applied swirls of paint on a surface. They reflect my take on our human existence — our relations with each other, other living things, and our environment. I’ve had an ongoing self and formal education in the Sciences with particular interests in our alteration of the natural world. I tend to explore the hypocrisies, cruelties, and absurdities prevalent in our dealings with each other and with nature. In general, I envision a rather dark world but still leave room for beauty, hope, and occasionally, humor. I like to emphasize the complexities in things we tend to take for granted. While trying to establish relationships among the images within individual pieces, my work includes mysteries that are open to interpretation, as those that occur in dreams. I have always been intrigued by the Surrealists, but do not consider myself a Surrealist.

My work in fine arts has principally been in 2 classes of abstract paintings: oils and water-based paints. However, I have completed numerous works in drawing. Recently, I have experimented with spray paints. I focus on color, texture, methodology of delivery, and composition. In composition, I am interested in positive space and negative space as well. I believe the painting/drawing is a manifestation of my emotional state of both conscious and unconscious feelings.

I am an artist born in Hong Kong in 1954, I enjoyed drawing and painting despite not receiving formal art training. I worked as a professional accountant and served as the CEO of one publicly listed firm in Singapore and the General Manager of another in Hong Kong. However, after retirement, I have been devoting my time to painting.

I learned watercolor painting and outdoor sketching with a local artist named Mr. Kong Kai Ming after I graduated from Hong Kong. Fascinated by the unpredictable nature of watercolor, I enjoy manipulating the water, colors, and drying time to capture the atmosphere, demeanor, and emotion of the motif I have chosen.

My artworks focus on the balance and harmony of warm and cool colors, hard and soft edges, strict and lose brushstrokes, and light and dark contrasts. My approach aims to establish unity, wholeness, and harmonious balance while also creating essential tension to captivate my viewers.

I have also been practicing Tai Chi Chuan, a Chinese martial art, for more than 18 years. I serve as the Executive Director of Taiji Foundation Ltd, a charitable organization recognized by the Hong Kong government that provides free Tai Chi lessons to spread awareness of the Tai Chi way of life and its health benefits. My painting style is greatly influenced by the Tai Chi Ying Yang principle.

Despite not having any formal art training, I submitted my artworks to international competitions and won numerous awards and chances at exhibitions. This gave me the confidence to continue experimenting with watercolor techniques. I began by painting in the realism style before gradually transitioning to impressionistic realism.

Whenever I paint, I enter a meditative state and feel relaxed and calm. Painting helps me forget life’s troubles and completely immerse myself in my art world.

Since 1999, I have studied Realism through a lens. Realism is not a word used to describe photographs today. I took a documentary approach to this series to reflect our time.

I have always been an admirer of the artist, Edward Hopper. He was a master of light, balance, and composition. He created paintings that depicted his time. The 1930 painting, “Early Sunday Morning” had a soul-stirring effect on me.

How could I, as a photographer today, find a backdrop that replicated our society and mirrors Edward Hopper’s balance and composition?

I became a photographer trying to match one of the most iconic paintings in history.

For twenty years, I studied light, color, balance, and composition with a fire hydrant as the most important element in the series. Capturing human traces and documenting natural elements was of the utmost importance, but I knew Hopper’s paintings told a story.

At the beginning of 2019, I had a collection of over 180 photographs, but I was in search of something more.

On New Year’s Eve, 2019, I went photographing in Charleston, South Carolina. I chose a random alley to walk down. When I approached Church Street and Elliott Street, to my left was a cityscape that rivaled “Early Sunday Morning”. This storefront lit up my eyes and my hand went over my heart. I smiled and bowed my head in submission.

At that moment, I realized I would never match Edward Hopper’s painting. I took a deep breath, went down on one knee, and photographed a vertical.

After all these years, I realized I was just in search of my own, “Early Sunday Morning”.

I have been working with pastel, watercolor, and oil all through the years. During the last few years, I have been using pastels a lot to create my artwork. I have some unique pursuit of beauty in my creation and I always pay attention to the details of my characters, I think the pastels’ smoothness and the ability to cover multiple layers could just meet my needs.

My entry for the show “Charm of the Ocean “ has parts of myself in it. The women in the picture have side faces, and there is a light of sorrow and loneliness in them. And if you look at my other paintings, the characters always have side faces or backs. And there’s always a loneliness in my paintings.

Lately, I’ve been exploring contemporary subjects using pastels. I would continue to pursue my inner world in my new creations.

As a painter and visual artist, I am captivated by the beauty found in vulnerability and authenticity. Whether on canvas or through the lens, my goal is to reveal the unseen stories that live within each subject, capturing not just what is visible but also what is felt.

Growing up with a camera in hand, I first learned to observe the world in fragments—details of light, texture, and mood that others might overlook. This early passion for photography shaped my approach to painting, imbuing my work with a cinematic quality and a sensitivity to composition that allows me to tell deeply personal stories. Inspired by my travels and the diverse individuals I’ve met along the way, I gravitate toward themes of resilience and transformation, often featuring LGBTQ+ individuals, dancers, and artists who embody a strength I find both inspiring and universal.

In the studio, I work with a blend of structured technique and instinctual movement, allowing colors and forms to emerge naturally. My process is a balance of control and spontaneity, one that mirrors the unpredictability of human experience. Through each portrait, I aim to invite viewers to encounter people different from themselves in a safe space—to be curious, to feel drawn into the shared human experience, and to recognize beauty in a new context. I believe this curiosity can bridge divides and break down the walls of fear that too often separate us, fostering a deeper understanding and compassion that help us get along in the world.

Art, for me, is a constant act of discovery—a way of engaging with the world and with myself. Through each piece, I seek to open a space of connection, reflection, and empathy, where every detail contributes to a larger narrative of what it means to be seen, understood, and celebrated.

I’m a self-taught oil painter based in Westfield, Indiana, known simply as Ruddy. My journey into art began after a long career as a special education interventionist. Painting became a way to process emotions too big for words—a quiet conversation between spirit, memory, and light.

Originally from Virginia Beach, I’ve always felt deeply connected to the ocean, to sunlight, and to the quiet strength found in nature. These elements continue to influence my work, but more than anything, I paint to explore the tension between fragility and resilience, sorrow and hope.

As someone who has long advocated for inclusion and equity, my art also reflects a longing for peace in our communities, in our world, and within ourselves. I’m drawn to moments that feel fleeting yet profound: a child in prayer, a loyal dog in mourning, a man at the edge of twilight. These images help us pause, reflect, and feel.

In 2025, my painting Prayer for Peace was selected for an international anti-war art exhibition. That recognition affirmed what I’ve always believed—that art can be a gentle but powerful force for change.

Through each piece, I hope to create a quiet space where emotion is honored, light is remembered, and healing begins.

I took a long hiatus from art during my naval career. From deployments to training, I didn’t fit my deep-rooted passion into my life. My mental health has taken a fairly large hit from my time downrange and when my fast-paced life started to slow down, I found myself in my head a lot. Today, I use visual arts as a therapy and I do it as much as I can with two young boys at home.

I have always enjoyed painting, specifically realism. Whether it’s a scenic view or a portrait, I always enjoy taking the real world and representing it on a canvas. Lately, I have been taking the bumpers off and allowing my creativity to start to show in my work. I have found so much joy in creating art for people of things that hold personal meaning to them, like a portrait of a family member or a childhood home. It’s such a special connection made when something someone holds so close to their heart is brought to life on a canvas. I still do other paintings (like the bridge painting), but my heart is in making people feel thankful and blessed.

I am a versatile artist, exploring both traditional and non-traditional media in my work. One of my favorite non-traditional materials is fusion beads. My journey with them began in 2008 when I bought an art kit for my daughter, which included thousands of beads and a small 6” x 6” pegboard. While she was busy creating birds and flowers, I found myself visualizing patterns on canvas. When I created my first bead artwork, I was thrilled by the outcome. This excitement sparked a desire to explore the endless possibilities of this medium, and I’ve been working with fusion beads ever since. The bright colors and textures of the beads bring a unique vibrancy and depth to my pieces.

My work is deeply inspired by Rangoli, a traditional Indian art form created during festivals. Rangoli is made on the ground using colored powders or flowers, only to be washed away once the celebration ends. This fleeting nature of Rangoli, the temporary beauty, is something that resonates with me. Similarly, my beadwork reflects a sense of impermanence, beauty, and celebration, capturing the fleeting nature of the artistic moment.

Art is not just a practice for me; it’s a meditative and calming experience. It offers me a space of silence and peace, where I can immerse myself in the beauty of colors and textures that bring joy. Through my work, I aim to share that sense of joy and tranquility with others, inviting them into the vibrant world I create with each piece.