Happy new year! 

I am very thankful for the year of 2024 we just ended. The Lord's nearness, faithfulness, and grace continued to be the source of my hope and strength throughout the year. The same hope I have for 2025! 

 

First Oil Painting Collection

As I decided to pursue fine art (which in itself was a story you can read here), it is my intention for this year to build my art portfolio and formulate my artist statement. I have a few ideas for my body of work, and I have been working on my first collection. It is quite a challenge for me to paint series of paintings and stick to the theme. Yet, I have observed that throughout the process of creating a collection, I was able to engage more with my works, and ponder on the eternal message I want to portray. My heart and mind have been yearning in prayers that through it all the Lord is glorified and that my feeble efforts will have its place in God's purposes. 

✨ New Dawn Brings is a series of oil paintings inspired by Proverbs 31 woman and God's unfailing mercy and grace. This series is personal to me and it gives a glimpse into the unseen that speaks of resilience, discovery, and the serenity a woman finds in the fullness of grace.

This collection of oil paintings is dear and special to me. Not only because it is my first series that marks the beginning of my journey in fine art, but it tells of the Lord's sovereign work in my life that has brought me to where I am today. More stories on the series will be available on the launch date of this collection: Monday, 6 January 2025. Please be sure to come back here. 

 

Group Exhibition

I entered this new year with God's favour as He opens a door for me to have my first ever group exhibition. I am thrilled to announce that one of my paintings from the upcoming series will be displayed at Fox Yard Gallery on 10 - 21 January 2025!

It is one of my goals this year to submit my arts for exhibitions in galleries all around UK. Very grateful that the Lord opens this door right at the beginning of the year!

 

Journal Line-up

Last year I decided to go analogue with my journaling and note taking. Read about my system here. It was a success and I am doing the same thing this year. The only change I make for this year is that I stop using ring binders for planning and journaling. I replace them with classic black journals. This is for archiving reason. Archiving loose binder sheets is a nightmare! With classic journals, I can just write title, year, and volume (see picture). 

Black? Seriously? Yes, I like my journals and study folders colour coordinated with neutral colour. As simple as possible! I don't do art journals! The purpose of journaling for me is to record life and capture my thoughts using words. My art have its own space (on canvases) and that's how I like it to be.

 

 

Epilogue

I look forward to 2025 and how the Lord leads me on this artsy path. I am also excited to see how my journaling and notetaking system continue to grow this year. After all, these are records of God's daily mercies and how He enables me to grow. It is how I capture them and interpret them in the form of words and brushstrokes. One day when I look back, I hope to see a fruit from it, an eternal fruit that will last.

Happy new year, happy growing! 🌱

— Fillia