If you asked me who my favorite photographer is, I couldn’t choose just one but Wee Seing Ng would be at the top of that list. We collaborated for years on some incredible shoots. There was the shoot with soon-to-be supermodel, Binx Walton that became the “Flights of Fancy” editorial for Mocha Market Magazine. Then a really cool military inspired editorial followed for the same publication a few months later. There was “Gitane de la Mode” with Sarah Englland for Design Scene, Bride of Typhon (remember this one) with Rachel Peterson and Siberian with Rachel Ruff, both for Papercut Magazine, there was a beauty story with Kaitlin for Delima Magazine, “La Sorciere Blanche” (remember this one too) which I believe translates to The White Witch for w25 Magazine and I have to mention the brilliant combination of photography and animation for an astrological inspired editorial, “Zodiac Killer” for Native Magazine. I could go on and on. We’ve known each other and worked together for the better part of 10 years. I can not tell you how excited I was when he contacted me last year and shared that he started painting – there are these fantastic images that were inspired by fashion editorials he photographed, some of which I styled. I hope you look at more of his work and enjoy it as much as I have! His artist website is weesng.com and his photography website is weeseing.com

Are you still shooting? Since covid, I’ve taken a pause with shooting photography. I’m looking to resume very soon.

When did you start painting? My first oil painting was completed in June 25, 2019.

Gone Not Forgotten

How did you get started? I grew up obsessed with comic books. Creating characters with supernatural abilities and backstories, searching the dictionary for meaningful hero and villain names, and diligently studying anatomy in order to draw them realistically – this is how I spent much of my childhood. However, when it was time to choose a career, my parents advised me to keep art as a hobby and pursue financial stability. Twenty years later, opportunity in the form of being laid off from my I.T. job and finding incredible inspirations from artists on the internet, re-sparked my love and pursuit of creating art. After all this time, I have returned to creating characters but in a different way. A simple image of a face can tell a layered story, and reveal strengths and vulnerabilities.  I’ve come to realize that every work of art has a narrative, whether I’m conscious of it or not. Some narratives are intentional and are determined before the paint hits the canvas, others start with an emotion and I have to think about its purpose only after the painting is completed. The works are also varying degrees of autobiographical. The characters and moods reflect my past and present, my personalities, and my sensibilities..

What are you focusing on? The focus of my work is emotion. Emotions drive us to act irrationally, choose inefficient ways, and gravitate to what hurts us, yet enables us to connect meaningfully, inspires us to lift our fellow humans, and moves us to do the impossible.

What’s your inspiration? I am inspired in a few different ways. Many artists of figurative and abstract work, scenes and world building in films, and photographers like Paolo Roversi and Deborah Turbeville. I love realism and abstract, deconstructed imagery. I love the paintings taht look realistic from far away, but close up, look like random abstract marks. 

Any upcoming shows or exhibitions? It’s been a challenge to get things going due to COVID, but I definitely have some things in the works. I’ll keep you posted.

Impending

Is there anything else we should know? One of my children is non verbal, with significant developmental delays. A lot of my work reveals the challenges and joys of raising him thus far. In navigating through his first eight years of life, I have seen how much support parents of special needs children require to have any hope of thriving. Only the parents know some of the unique needs that help the family get through the difficult days and the gaps our current system leaves. Our family’s journey has inspired me to want to reach out to other special needs families, so 50% of each sale will be contributed to a charity I am creating called Elijah Loves. I find the endeavor enthralling and look forward to sharing the details with you as they develop.