Hi, I'm Candice! Originally born and raised in Singapore, I moved to Hawai'i after living in Okinawa for three years. As a self-taught artist, my style has been deeply influenced by the natural beauty and culture of each of these islands. Through my art, I hope to highlight the wonder of the places I've experienced. While I'm now a full-time teacher at a local public school, art remains my first love and I hope to be able to share it with others!
My biggest artistic influences actually come from children's books like "The Little Prince" and "Where the Wild Things Are" -- although they are very different aesthetically, I really love the whimsical, thoughtful, and imaginative nature of these stories and their accompanying illustrations.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration in nature, the outdoors, history, and my own personal experiences. I think it's important to find delight in the little things and try to capture those small experiences in unique ways. Of course, living in a place as beautiful as Hawai'i makes this very easy!
Does art help you in other areas of your life?
Art is therapy for me; it allows me to exist in my own space and bubble where I can make my own rules and create according to my own terms. It's a form of meditation that has taught me to slow down, pay attention to details, and appreciate the ordinary and mundane.
Tell us about your artistic journey to become an artist?
I've always enjoyed doodling and drawing as a child, but never pursued it formally or took classes -- it was always "just a hobby" and I went through long periods of time where I didn't draw at all. In 2015, I moved to Okinawa to teach English and decided to dabble in watercolors as a way to spend my time; needless to say, this opened up a whole new world of possibilities -- I was hooked. I continued learning and experimenting with different mediums on my own, and only started pursuing art on a professional level after I moved to Hawai'i in 2018.
What is your favorite piece you've ever created, and why?
My favorite piece is called "Ryukyu Love Letter.â It's an ode to Okinawa, a place that is very special to me for a multitude of reasons. It's a watercolor and gouache piece painted in deep tones of purple, yellow, and red that evokes a sense of nostalgia for the island's natural beauty and history.
How do you define success as an artist?
I think the word "success" is often associated with commercial or financial achievement, but artists should always try to create for themselves. In today's overly-exposed and overly-saturated world, it's important to continue creating for yourself as an artist and what feels authentic for you. I think staying true to this ethos makes it all the more significant when a stranger tells me a piece of my art helped or touched them in some way.
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