Marsha Maung

When Your Heart Screams Art : Interview with Mandy Maung Image Credit: Mandy Maung Art Mandy Maung always wanted to be an artist right from her high school days. She has evolved and continues to gravitate towards different creative outlets that do not require formula memorizations or facts, like crafts and drawing. However, after experimenting with various artistic mediums like sewing, graphics, and multimedia design, she taught herself how to paint with oil and trekked on towards her passion for fine art and mural paintings. Thus, her journey as an artist started evolving in earnest. Upholding the Spirit of Not Giving Up on a Dream Raised by her mom, mommy dearest remains to be one of Mandy’s biggest role models. Her spirit and perseverance fueled her dreams of living her dreams as an artist and made her believe that she can convey her personal messages through her art. She taps into her childhood memories, her experience of raising her child, and the joyful (and exceptionally difficult) journey of raising her own kid to fill her reservoir of inspiration. For instance, a lot of her artwork is relatable and includes traditional and contemporary topics. If you share her love for traditional Penangite traditions, games, culture, and cuisine, you will find them popping out at you in one of her artwork. Bringing Human Emotions to Life on Canvas Everyone lives through different experiences and their journeys are often on full display on their faces and stories. Mandy pays special attention to the faces and profiles of her subjects to make them look special and proclaims to be never tired of this! The face and body language of a person tells a story of who they are, their feelings, where they’ve been, and where they want to go. Through that, she interprets the beautiful expressions to show both the similarities and distinctions of being human. Get this Stay Around Print Art from ClubArtisans A Continuously Developing Artistic Journey Thanks to her love for travel and her ability to find inspiration in both local and foreign cultures, she has been able to transform her own thoughts, emotions, and personal narratives into many different types of artwork. MaMa’s art style combines art movements and techniques to create a fusion of traditional and modern contemporary figurative realism art. With a personal preference in keeping things traditional, she also sometimes throws in some contemporary mix and current news topics. Like a traditional food recipe handed down from one generation to another, it is an adventure in itself to see what works today when she fuses both traditional and modern worlds. The expedition from blank canvas to a completed piece of artwork also helped her see through her own improvements as she kept developing each piece of artwork to make them better and more motivational. For the past 10 to 15 years, she’s painted everything from conventional paintings to murals, origami to contemporary art. The sense of adventure keeps her moving the needle forward. Source: MandyMaung Art Facebook Sharing Tips for Parents During the Circuit Breaker Mandy produces all of her work from her home studio and as a work-from-home mother, she has some great tips for parents during the current circuit breaker. First, establish a routine or set up a schedule where parents spend quality time with their children. It helps kids deal with boredom and anxiety during the current covid-19 outbreak. Activities like video calling their friends, planning fun challenges, and teaching them about chores are some good ways to keep them occupied and productive in the house. Being a children art tutor herself, she recommends starting from small and simple art projects like making handkerchiefs, folding origami, or even scrapbooking! There is no need for professional art supplies. Basic coloring and writing supplies, some glue and scissors are more than enough. Nonetheless, to minimize the mess and stress during the cleanup, create a workspace by laying out old newspapers on the surfaces and let younger kids wear an apron or go topless. Forget about art rules, let children use their imagination to express themselves freely! EMBED: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7qtKyjlSdE&feature=youtu.be (Mandy turning her son, Roco’s, playful, rambunctious nature into a small mural) Kids Have an Infinite Amount of Crazy to be Creative Mandy believes that because kids have no internal filter, they’re better at expressing themselves through art. That’s why she loves working with kids! The young generation learns problem-solving skills through art, about colors, and discover new techniques on their own (when you leave them to their own devices to enjoy that cup of coffee...or wine). They’ll be proud of their own creative endeavors and you’ll celebrate it with them. Grownups can learn a lot from watching children create art; as we get older, our own creative compass becomes inhibited. Learn from the kids, then! Now that we are all stuck at home, this is a good time for parents to explore their creative sides as well. Art opens up an escape route from reality for at least an hour. Mandy suggested Pinterest, online art museum tours, and the Arts & Culture app as some of the best sources for inspiration. Get this Painter’s Hope Print Art from ClubArtisans In her line of work and as a parent, she’s met with many grownups who have expressed an interest in art - either as a collector or an artist themselves. With the Circuit Breaker, Mandy thinks it’s time to pick up the paint brushes again. “Don’t feel discouraged after a few failed attempts. It’s easier said than done, I know, but it’s because we put unnecessary pressure on ourselves to perform and tend to make things complicated,” she shares her experience. She adds, “Find your motivation, drop worries and concerns at the door, and just go for it!” We hope you share the boundless energy and enthusiasm embodied by Mandy throughout her interview with us. There’s no better time than the present to step into the artistic, creative world. Pick up a paintbrush, pencil, needle (or whatever fits your fancy), and let your imagination soar! And if you’re still hesitant, head on over to her art collection on ClubArtisans and get one for your home right now. Sign up for our newsletter or as a member of ClubArtisans if you liked this article. Our newsletters will be power-packed with useful info, enticing ideas, tips, advice, and the latest info from the grapevine. If you'd like to be featured here or looking for information about how to get your products online on our website, send an email to- I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Alternatively, head on over to our Facebook or Instagram and hit the like/follow button to stay connected during this difficult time! Q: Who are your inspirations? What motivates you? A: “My mom and the single parents out there that I know personally are my biggest role models for their perseverance and spirit of not giving up. My art also encompasses a lot of my passion, I like to keep it traditional in various ratios and throw in some contemporary mix, almost like a food dish from my grandparents’ authentic recipe! It is like an adventure to find out what works and what doesn’t. It is motivating to make the next piece better and the natural evolution of my works keeps me going for sure!” Inspired by local and foreign subcultures, personal narratives and current events, MaMa’s art style combines the different art movements, styles and techniques to create a fusion of traditional and the modern contemporary figurative realism art. Q: Why are you interested in the peculiarities and the uniqueness of the human emotion, features and figures? A: “After noticing how even siblings have very different features, I paid more attention to people’s faces and what made them look special, I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it! As an artist, I’m painting more than an emotion or a face, it tells a story, who they are, what they feel, where they’ve been and where they want to go. It is my interpretation and a beautiful expression to show the similarities we have as human beings while still being distinct.” Q: Is painting a good way for kids to express themselves, why? A: “Yes! Children have no filter and that is one thing I adore in kids art. They create whatever they want with their own perspectives! Not only do they learn problem solving through art, they learn more about colours and discover new techniques on their own, which certainly keep them proud at the end. As we get older, our own creative imagination tends to get limited, so I’m sure we can learn from them as well. Give them an empty cardboard box and you will be amazed with what they can come up with.” Q: What’s the hardest part for parents to pursue their art inclinations during this lockdown? A: “I think the hardest thing for any adult, parent or not, is being afraid of failure. A lot of times, things don’t get started at all because they have this preconception that they are not good enough. Always remember that all the experts and masters you have looked up to started somewhere as well. Even if you have given up on previous artistic endeavors, this is the perfect time to try again. It’s important to not feel discouraged after the first few tries or attempts, although easier said than done. We set high expectations and put an unnecessary amount of pressures on ourselves, making things more complicated than they should be. Find motivation, don’t worry too much and just go for it!” 1. How long have you known yourself to be an art-inclined person? I would say some time during high school years? But even before during primary years, I knew I was good at drawing and had the required skills to draw. I love crafts, and just being able to create something out of basic art materials was really cool for me, and I always look forward to the art lessons, anything that doesn’t require formula memorizations or facts - haha! But i was still a good student. 2. How did you pursue your passion and what keeps you going? I’ve always wanted to be an artist, although at that time (when I said it) I didn’t narrow it down as I wasn’t sure which field I should focus in. I was still experimenting and trying new mediums. I took graphics in college, I tried out sewing, all sorts - anything that I can just create. My first oil painting was in 2007, before my son was born. And back then I wasn’t even sure what I was doing as I had zero clue or knowledge on how to use it properly (Youtube was not popular then/ online tutorials not widely available). But I went and try it out anyways. So I taught myself how to paint with oil. 3. Who are your inspirations? What motivates you? My art encompasses a lot of things that I am passionate about. I love traditional art and I also love the modern contemporary figurative realism art. It’s a mix of different art movements and styles and I bring them together. I like to keep it traditional in various ratios and I like to throw in some contemporary mix in it as well. In a way, you can see it like a food dish. Is it an authentic recipe from your grandparents or is it a fusion of mix culture. It’s an adventure in itself to see what works and what doesn’t (to me).So to me, that is exciting in itself..- to find out what works and what doesn't and seeing my own improvement, and trying to make better pieces each time is motivating. till now and being able to do the same say 10 15 years down the road, the natural evolvement that comes with it keeps me going for sure. 4. Do you have a role model? My mom, (and all of the single parents out there that I know of personally), for her perseverance in raising me and my older brother as a single parent. She’s very compassionate and loving, very hardworking and her spirit of not giving up really inspires me. 5. Why are you interested in the peculiarities and the uniqueness of the human emotion, features and figures captivates her interest? “I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of drawing and painting faces. When you sketch a face, you’re sketching more than an emotion, you’re telling a story...who they are, what they feel, where they’ve been, where they want to go, and all of this is seen and felt through YOUR eyes as the artist. How YOU feel about it all. It’s a beautiful expression. There is a unique quality to each one of us, and at the same time we all share one thing, we are human creatures. It’s an exploration worth doing for a lifetime.” (This is from another artist - it says what I want to say , can re write in another form?) One thing to add of my own, is that I started to notice certain features are very different from my aunts and uncles and it was then I started asking why do they do so different even though they are siblings? Thinking back, I guess it was then I started to pay more attention to other people’s features and figuring out what makes them look distinctive or special. I still do it to this day! 6. Do you listen to music when you paint? Sometimes I do, to break the silence. And I listen to podcasts when I need some company. It depends on my mood. 7. What other artistic pursuits do you allow yourself to indulge in? Photography. I’m still learning. It’s essential to know some knowledge in photography as a lot of my work references comes from my own photograph. It helps me a lot in my work. 8. Is social media and the internet the GREATEST source of inspiration for you? If not, what is? It def is esp instagram. It can get overwhelming as well and easy to get lost into and makes you doubt yourself, which is a pit I dislike to be in. But I have also found tons of great inspiring visual artists which I end up admiring and follow. For kids 9. Let’s say there are kids in the house right now who are bored out of their minds or are over-the-moon about the current Pandemic, how would you advise parents to deal with it? Having some sort of schedule does help. It doesn’t have to be overly exciting plans or anything, but spending time and playing with them or give them a set of fun challenges to accomplish does make it less boring. Video calls with their friends. It’s a good opportunity to teach them new skills esp around the hse as well. 10. What if parents are not art-inclined, how do they get started? Start small and simple. It can be a simple project of making handkerchiefs,folding origamis, cut and paste collage, scrapbooking- anything! and just experiment and have fun. Finding inspirations online, watching art videos does help as well because the instructions are there for you. 11. Will parents need a whole studio filled with professional art supplies, paint and a standing canvas to get kids started? Not at all. Basic colouring and writing supplies, some glue or scissors even are more than enough. There’s a lot u can create and come up with these items alone. 12. Kids may cause havoc in the house when they’re painting or creating something, what’s your best advice for parents dealing with it? Depending on the ages of the kids. If they are young, it’s best to create a “working space” for them to do it. If it’s going to be a messy project, laying out some old newspaper on the working surface (table/floor), and let them wear an apron or go topless - helps a lot in the cleaning, and if possible do it before their bath time! If it’s going to be something less messy, you’d still need some basic preparations but it’s important to not micro manage too much and know that some minor accidents of some sort can happen and that it most probably will, and be ok it. Just breathe…... 13. If a kid is not ‘talented’, how do we, as parents, encourage them to explore their potential? I think having a project initiative from the parents can help a lot. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece. It can be in the form of building legos, playing with playdough, making a signage inspired from their favourite cartoon or football teams, whatever their interests are. Another good way to find out what interests them is by going through art videos tutorials with, pick a few ideas (that you are okay with as well!) and let them choose. 14. If painting a good way for kids to express themselves? Why? Kids don’t care about art rules. They express themselves freely with no filter whatsoever. It is one thing that I adore in kids art. They create whatever they want to create with their imagination and their own perspectives. And it is important that they channel their imagination, be in art or play. They can learn problem solving thru art, They learn more about colours, they might even discover some techniques on their own, it certainly keeps them busy and occupied and they feel great and proud at the end of it. As we get older, our own creative imagination tends to get limited. Let them enjoy it, and we can learn from them as well. Give them an empty cardboard box and you will be amazed with what they can come up with. For parents 1. Some parents have hidden creative talents, something they’ve intentionally oppressed within themselves just to keep the family going. Is this a good time for them to start exploring their creative sides? Now that we have A LOT of time, it’s a definite yes! 2. Where do they start? The easiest way to start is finding their own personal interests on what they like to try or make. Is it writing, illustrating, making crafts,.. And Using what they have or already own. 3. Where is the best place and what should they do to find that inspiration? Pinterest is a great place to start and search on what they want to find. Online art museums tours are great as well. You can visit the most popular art museums in the world. Arts & Culture is a great app to have. A whole library of great art related articles and you can visit the museums from that app as well. 4. What’s the hardest part for parents to pursue their art inclinations during this lockdown? I think the hardest thing for any adult, parent or not, is being afraid of failure. A lot of times, things dont get started at all because they have this preconception that they are not good enough or comparing themselves to other artists, so finding the motivation and not worry if it’s going to meet expectations. And it’s important to rmb that all the masters started somewhere as well. Skillshare is a great place to go as well. It has lots of different online classes - even for art. 5. If they’ve started the painting, drawing, or sketching before this but have given up, do you think they’ll feel down and unmotivated to get started again?It’s important to not feel discourage at the first few tries or attempts, although it is easier said than done. We put a lot of unnecessary pressures on ourselves in doing it right by setting expectations. Doodling on cheap paper printing paper helps take the pressure off. Not everything has to be done on an expensive sketchbook. Do a simple copy of an illustration from a story book or from a colouring book. Add your own twists if you want. Illustrate a simple comic story using funny shapes as your character. We tend to make things more complicated than it should be. Strip it all down and start from there.