Evolve like water
Inspired by Bruce Lee's quote"Be water, my friend". This illustration serves as a metaphor for adapting to the new changes with resilience.Painted with Gouache and Acrylics
SHOWCASE
/ ARTIST / 2025
| ARTIST: | Hsieying |
| COUNTRY: | Brunei Darussalam |
| EMAIL: | hsieying@gmail.com |
| CONTACT: |
https://hsieying.wixsite.com/portfolio facebook.com/hsieying instagram.com/hsieying |
| Hello, I'm Hsieying. I'm a watercolor illustrator based in Malaysia, originally from a small town in Brunei. My work is rooted in gentle storytelling, often blending the natural world with surreal imagination. Through vivid colors, layered textures, and symbolic compositions, I create dreamlike illustrations that evoke wonder and nostalgia. I enjoy working with water-based mediums like acrylics, gouache and colour pencils, which allow me to express my ideas on a blank canvas. Currently, I'm working on a personal project- a series of tarot-inspired illustrations that explore symbolism and intuition through my visual language. |
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Painted with Gouache and Acrylics
Hornbill Paradise no.1
This is the first Illustration in the Hornbill Paradise series. It's a visual exploration of a jungle brought to life by the spirit of Hornbills. The concept grew from a lush living world shaped by this bird.Painted with acrylics on Arches paper.
Lady in the woods
A visual tribute to my mother in her favorite place- her garden. In her 30s, she began cultivating a small flower business, and to this day, she continues to nurture it with care and strength. I wanted to capture her essence through the image of a tiger in the woods- resilient, graceful, and deeply rooted in the natural world she loves.Painted with Gouache and colour pencil on Arches paper
The 3 Garderners
A simple story of a person who works, cultivates, and sows seeds for herself — a hardworking soul tending to her own garden of flowers. The three-headed hornbill represents this spirit, which is one being carrying out all the care and labour with dedication and grace.painted with Gouache on Arches paper.
Ace of pentacles
This is the first tarot-inspired illustration that sparked my journey into exploring the world of tarot. The Ace of Pentacles represents new beginnings, opportunities in the making, and abundant potential - themes that deeply intrigued me and drew me into the rich symbolism behind the cards.painted with Gouache on Arches paper
Six of cups
This tarot-inspired illustration is based on the Six of Cups, a card that signifies comfort, nostalgia, and a connection to the inner child. I chose to represent these themes through an otter- a creature that embodies playfulness and innocence. In this illustration, she gently plays with her shell, symbolizing a quiet return to joy and simpler times.Painted with Gouache and colour pencils on Arches paper.
Peranakan Flora - Kantan
This piece is part of my Peranakan Flora series, where I explore the fusion of Peranakan Chinese wares with elements of local flora and fauna. This particular illustration features the torch ginger (kantan) flower alongside the Hibiscus and the Rhinoceros hornbill. All paired with the decorative Peranakan vase.Painted with gouache and colour pencils on Arches paper.
Peranakan Flora - Morning glory
This piece is part of my Peranakan Flora series, featuring the morning glory, a flower commonly found across Malaysia, alongside the oriental hornbill, all paired with traditional Peranakan Chinese ware called the Chupu.Painted with Gouache and colour pencils on Arches paper.
Peranakan Flora - Butterfly pea flower
This piece is part of the Peranakan Flora series, featuring the butterfly pea flower, a pair of Rhinoceros hornbills and a traditional Peranakan teapot. the butterfly pea is often serve as a tea beverage, a detail I wanted to subtly reflect in this illustration.Painted with Gouache and colour pencils on Arches paper.
Peranakan Flora - Moonflower
This piece is part of my Peranakan Flora series, featuring the Malaysian moon moth, moonflowers, and a pair of oriental hornbills perched on a traditional Peranakan vase. While moonflowers don’t naturally bloom in the tropical climate, I chose to include them to evoke a sense of quiet mysticism and align with the moon theme.Painted with Gouache and colour pencils on Arches paper.