A Study of Hands and Still Life

During the dead period between Christmas and New Year, I filtered through Pinterest to centre my art on a singular theme for 2026. Since I struggle to stay focused, the theme needed to be challenging, universal but retain the overall concept of being present. So I arrived at this painting of a hand holding a rose and the Human Touch was born.

Ok, I did some pondering before conceiving the Human Touch.

Our hands are simultaneously delicate and complex. The human hand is made up of a total of 27 individual bones and about one quarter of our body’s bones are found in our hands . We use our hands for almost everything from carrying heavy items, to gripping pens to write, to gesturing - sometimes rudely, sometimes lovingly. For the most part, our hand movements are unconscious and automated actions. So I pondered about this and how the delicate and complex balance is conveyed in the painting through the delicate grip of the rose. Its singular focal point reflects the core of humanity - intricate and delicate. And this was the birth of the Human Touch, a reminder to reconnect and understand our intricate and delicate human nature.

The ‘Luxury’ of Fresh Flowers

While I waited for my hand models to arrive so I could start hand anatomy studies, I began a daily ritual of painting fresh flowers. The first still life study.

In this economy, I’m fully aware that fresh flowers are a luxury. They are aesthetically pleasing objects with a short life span- a waste of money for most people. For me, fresh flowers are a necessity for my mental health. It’s their vivid colours that brighten my day and grounds me to nature. I struggle less with starting and staying focused because I’m continuously inspired by nature’s artistry, its perfect colour palettes and seasonal changes.