Be You. Be More. Go on a 12-year Journey of Artistic Inspiration

From freely doodling on paper as a toddler to sweeping acrylics across nearly two-metre-high canvases as a Year 12 pupil, Jay's artistic journey embodies growth, reflection, experimentation, and personal breakthroughs.

At the age of 10, Jay first stepped foot in a professional art studio. Confronted with a large canvas for the first time, he felt an unprecedented sense of freedom.

"The canvas is vast; it can hold so much imagination," he recalls.

The transition from pencils and ballpoint pens to acrylics opened up a new world of expression for him—mixing colours, layering, and experimenting with endless possibilities.

In the studio, his tutor guided him through the styles of diverse artists, from Jean-Michel Basquiat to Jackson Pollock. A journey that began with imitation gradually led to his own original creations. 

Jay vividly remembers the moment he was given complete creative freedom: "With no reference, I started to truly consider what I wanted to paint, which emotions I wanted to express, and which experiences I wanted to record." 

Although that initial attempt was unrefined, it was a pivotal awakening—he realised the brush could be his language of self-expression.

Over time, Jay's artistic sensibilities evolved quietly. During middle school, he was captivated by the frenzy and intensity of Pollock’s paint-flinging technique. Later, the distorted, emotionally charged faces in the works of George Condo and Francis Bacon drew his interest. 

Today, while his tastes have diversified, his pursuit of "art with substance" remains unchanged.

This past summer, Jay joined the Rhode Island School of Design's pre-college programme, majoring in Art and Activism. While exploring themes like power and identity, he began to see how artworks can engage with social issues. 

Inspired by Basquiat’s philosophical and satirical graffiti, Jay created a piece addressing discrimination against the Asian community. He has also begun translating his daily observations on social issues, like ageing, into reflections on canvas.

"Creative blocks are common," he admits. "But each breakthrough usually brings a leap forward." 

This growth is evident not only in his painting technique but also in his conscious shift from "pursuing aesthetic appeal" to "seeking depth of expression."

Jay's artistic growth has never been a solitary endeavour. His mother, a lighting designer, provided early exposure and constant encouragement. His studio tutor took him to exhibitions, taught techniques, and inspired him to cultivate his own aesthetic. 

The Wellington art curriculum added another crucial dimension to his artistic development.

"The creative process at school is more structured, beginning with conceptualisation before gradually developing the composition. Overall, it emphasises systematic thinking," Jay shares. 

Unlike the more spontaneous studio work, school projects taught him to reflect calmly and proceed steadily. This approach has helped solidify his ideas and reduce creative blocks.

As one of our Arts Fellows, Jay not only continues to explore personal projects but also actively engages in campus art activities. He collaborates on group exhibitions and leads younger pupils during Arts Week. To him, art is not just self-expression; it’s also a way to connect with others and serve the community.

Regarding the future, Jay remains open-minded. He believes "art is everywhere"—from a chair to a beam of light—as long as it’s perceived and imbued with meaning, it can be part of art. This perspective enables him to observe the world uniquely, finding beauty in the ordinary and depth in simplicity.

As for what he hopes to convey through his future work, he admits he is still searching: "Perhaps as time passes, I’ll gain new understanding of myself and my art."

For Jay, not rushing to define himself opens up more possibilities, and the paintbrush remains his trusted companion in exploring them.

Jay not only embodies the progression of an art student but also the sincerity and courage of a young person discovering himself and understanding the world. 

From imitation to creation, from technique to thought, from personal emotion to public engagement, each of his "leaps" marks a chapter in his growth.

Jay’s brush continues to move, and the next work is always something to look forward to.