Starting with a pencil
Like many children, I once had a long list of dream careers—policeman, social worker, teacher, actor, singer. I imagined myself in all sorts of roles, but the one thing I never stopped doing, no matter what I dreamed of becoming, was drawing.
Art has always been my quiet companion. As a child, I used to receive off-cut paper from a relative who ran a print shop. I didn’t know the names of the different paper types, but it didn’t matter—I had pencils, I had paper, and I had endless curiosity. The simple joy of creating something with my hands connected me to myself in a way nothing else could.
When I told my mom I wanted to pursue a degree in fine arts, she shut the idea down. She meant well—she was funding my education and wanted me to choose something “practical.” So I studied business administration instead.
Drawing stayed with me, but only as a hobby—something I did in the margins of life. Still, even when I was building spreadsheets or sitting in meetings, art would whisper to me. The desire to express myself through drawing never really left; it simply waited.
Then came the pandemic. Like it did for so many others, it shook me awake. COVID-19 made me rethink everything—not just how short life is, but how flexible and full of possibility it can be.
The digital world has changed the way artists work and connect. With new platforms and creative tools, artists today can share and sell their work directly, in ways that didn’t exist before. And for the first time, pursuing a life in art doesn’t feel impossible. It feels like something I can actually begin.
So here I am—starting.
This website marks the beginning of my journey back to art, but this time with intention and courage.
Little Beak Creative Studio is my virtual studio and creative space. The name comes from my first pet, a lovebird named Jiu Jiu, whose small beak I always found cute and memorable. I never had another bird after him, and he has stayed with me as a part of my childhood. Little Beak represents a personal part of me—my early dreams and the creative passion that I once put aside but never let go of.
Art, to me, is an experiment. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about being present. I’ve taken a few summer classes in painting, some pottery, and a handful of design courses over the years. But mostly, I’ve taught myself. I explore, I play, I learn through doing. I believe everything we see, hear, touch, and feel can become inspiration. Our senses are our teachers.
I don’t know exactly where this will lead. But I’m showing up. I’m making space for the part of me that never stopped dreaming.
Wish me luck—and if my art brings you even a moment of peace, joy, or connection—whatever good means to you—then I’ve already succeeded.
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