Inspiration | Harmony Thoughts

Postcard to Inspire Swap

by Elisa Choi Ang on January 21, 2017 with 1 Comment

Painting on bed Savoring each moment. That’s what I love most when I slow down and make time to sketch and paint the life around me. Last weekend morning, I woke up a little earlier and watched my husband sleeping peacefully by my side. Instinctively, I traced the contour of his face with my eyes and said to myself, you know what, I am going to sketch and paint him. Gingerly, I grabbed my sketchbook and pen. There were many imperfections–the other arm … Read More

(Free Online Workshop) A Month of Daily Sketching and Painting

by Elisa Choi Ang on January 17, 2017 with No Comments

A wonderful 2017 to you all! Last holiday, I enjoyed moments spent with loved ones. Aside from eating delicious food, playing board games and watching movies, we also made art. I set the table for a painting session with the nieces of my husband, ages 4 and 6 years old. “What are we going to paint?” they asked excitedly. I quickly look around the table and suggested we paint the coffee cups design of the table cover. They agreed. And … Read More

Grace in the Not So Comfort Zone

by Elisa Choi Ang on December 23, 2016 with 2 Comments

The restaurant was packed with people. As the waiter ushered us toward our table in the middle, with strangers in front of me, on the side and basically every corner, my heart did a nervous dance. Am I really going to paint in the midst of all these people?! Can I just do the demo at home instead of doing it in public? Husband encouraged me that whatever I will be doing, people wouldn’t mind. The voices in my head never stop whispering fear … Read More

Make Something Everyday + Nanodrawmo 2016 Round-up

by Elisa Choi Ang on December 12, 2016 with 2 Comments

Well, I was only able to accomplish 15 artworks for Nanodrawmo. Not even half of the goal of 50. But this challenge has rekindled me to make something everyday. Surely I may not be able to sketch everyday (or often) but I press on to create something…anything (!) with my hands. That could mean writing letters, making paper brooch, painting, crafting… So many ways to be productive. Because when you don’t attempt to create one thing often, the following might happen … Read More

Snail Mail My Email (and 3 things I have learned)

by Elisa Choi Ang on November 18, 2016 with 1 Comment

I have never written letters on behalf of strangers before. I was so excited to hear about Snail Mail My Email (SMME) which “is a worldwide community art project where volunteers handwrite strangers’ emails and send physical letters to the intended recipients, free of charge.” This is their 6 and last year running it and I am thankful to be a part of this endeavor as a Letter Artist. Last week, SMME invited people around the world for email submission. … Read More

Insides by Freya Pickard

by Elisa Choi Ang on October 26, 2016 with 2 Comments

Freya, a good friend of mine, launched her first poetry collection called Insides. She is a cancer survivor currently awaiting the final all clear. She wrote Insides as a kind of therapy to help her embrace the terrible things she endured; cancer, surgery and chemotherapy. She wanted to bring comfort to other cancer sufferers as well as enabling people with no experience of cancer at all, to understand a little of what it means to go through such an ordeal. … Read More

Turn Mistakes Into Something Wonderful (and a Giveaway!)

by Elisa Choi Ang on September 27, 2016 with No Comments

Eiffel Tower Painting in acrylic by a 7 yr old artist “Oh no, I have blobs of black paint on the sky!” Previously, I would have been frustrated by my student’s lack of focus. I would have reprimanded her carelessness and utter many words of do’s and don’ts. I would have thought of ways to remove or cover the black blob, perhaps asking her to repaint a portion of that sunset sky… That was my old “trying to be firm with my students” … Read More

Why Sketching Your Life is Good for You

by Elisa Choi Ang on August 12, 2016 with 4 Comments

“Lady Eating” ink on sketchbook Taking photos is something that I would instinctively do whenever I see something that captures my attention. Maybe because it’s faster than sketching and I can easily move on to whatever I need to do or go next. However, if I carve out a time, I can grab a sketchbook and pen to savor the moment more. If you haven’t tried sketching your life before, I wish to encourage you that it is good for you because… it enables you to … Read More