Art Journey

The journey of art was never planned in my life; it unfolded more as a coincidence tied to personal passion. My parents were happy to keep me busy with colours for entertainment, and it soon became my day-and-night pastime. I’m not sure I can fully describe my curiosity then, but having a pack of crayons, watercolours, and pastels in a wide spectrum felt like stepping into Alice in Wonderland. That pursuit of discovery grew into a lasting bond between me and colours.

What began as play soon turned into a gut-driven desire to explore the world of art more deeply. On my birthday afternoon in 2000, I received a large set of oil paints, a big canvas, and all the necessary tools from my older sister. I can’t recall how many hours I stayed awake experimenting with each tube of paint under the dim light, but I still remember my mother asking me to stop and go to bed. That night marked a turning point in my life—when a true companion, art, joined me for the rest of my journey.

I attended only a few drawing classes before stepping away. I couldn’t connect with painting realistic images when a camera could already capture them better. My mind wanted a bigger world to imagine—one that broke rules and lines to discover what else might exist. That desire went beyond simple expression, and I remember falling asleep each night with books about light, colour, and composition beside me. My background in geometry, physics, and chemistry helped me think more scientifically about painting. The exploration of materials, the use of geometry in composition, and the evolution of my style continued for years—and still continues today.

My education in engineering and management shaped my thinking to be both disciplined and creative, blending geometry and colour into my own visual language. Wanting to be unique, I was drawn to abstraction as the best way to create something new. Each composition feels like solving a math problem, where every brushstroke brings me closer to the answer. My love for problem-solving comes from my background in calculus and my understanding of colour and light in physics. Since then, every painting has become a new story, built through careful layers of colour.

The process of creating abstracts—layering colours, using Persian carpet techniques, crafting my own tools for carving, and combining art with science—feels like a small act of creation within the universe. It is my joy in life. 

For over three decades, I have lived and worked with colours, exhibiting internationally for nearly twenty years since 2005. Yet the journey of learning continues. My desire to create has never faded—it still connects me to my inner child, alive and playful with every new piece. If I were to wrap up my story, I would say that art has been the best friend of my childhood—a gentle polish to my soul, a light in dark days, and a steady hand through life’s storm.

The ceramic artists in this page are Kayo O'Young & Diane Nasr.