From Lawyer to Artist: Lisa Teo Shares A Day in the Life with a Full-Time Artist Based in Kuala Lampur
“Many people have the impression that all artists do is paint. The reality is that artists are like any other entrepreneur. Not only do I create artwork, I have to create opportunities to get exposure for my work.” Today’s woman dreamer, Lisa Teo, is truly living her dream life as a full-time artist based in Kuala Lampur. Ever wonder what a day in the life looks like for an artist? Lisa shares her daily routine (starting with 5 am sun salutations). She provides actionable tips to artists on how to build their brand, how she navigated her career change from law to art, and the key learnings she had from her first solo exhibition at the renowned Gallery 1819 in Singapore. A must read for all creatives, enjoy Lisa’s story!
1) Tell us your story. You are a full-time artist based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. You are truly living your dream life. What does a day in the life look like for you?
I work from home. Although I have flexibility in managing my time and work, I must be disciplined in allocating time and effort juggling work and home life. My daughter is presently pursuing her A levels in England. My son typically stays with me alternate weeks. When he is with me, I spend more time at home painting, cooking meals for us and spending quality time together. When he is with his father, I split my time between painting, meeting clients and friends and pursuing hobbies.
Many people have the impression that all artists do is paint. The reality is that artists are like any other entrepreneur. Not only do I create artwork, I have to create opportunities to get exposure for my work. I network with the right people and ensure I have a presence online via social media to promote my work. I manage my finance, I make decisions on my speciality, branding and art direction. I make decisions on which art galleries or art platforms I hope to work with.
Most mornings, I wake up at 5am, I do 80 sun salutations, meditate and walk my dog Chewie by 8am. I have coffee and breakfast before responding to messages on social media or post updates on my social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram). I enjoy painting between 10-12.30pm because this is when I am fresh and more productive in creation. After lunch, I may resume painting or work on my social media content. Sometimes, I meet clients to discuss painting commissions. In the evenings, I may meet family or friends or just chill at home watching Netflix or reading. On weekends, sometimes I go hiking in a forest near my house. Occasionally, I try new activities such as stand up paddle boarding, simulator training in car racing, or attend courses to learn how to make jewelry, pottery or glassware.
2) You had your first solo exhibition at Gallery 1819 in Singapore. That is so cool - what was it like putting together your exhibition?
In February 2021, the owner of Gallery 1819, Mr Zak Lo, saw my LinkedIn posts about my artwork and reached out to me. We had a Zoom meeting and he invited me to hold a solo exhibition. In particular, he liked my paintings on paddy fields. At that time, I had started working on my second series on paddy fields. It took me about 6 months to complete 17 oil paintings for the exhibition. I was in contact regularly with Zak on my progress. I relocated to a bigger home in May because I needed more space to create these paintings. I worked on 2-3 paintings at a time. Oil paintings require many layers. Each layer needed time to dry before I could work on the next layer. So while one was drying, I worked on others. Besides creating the paintings, I also worked on the narrative about the inspiration behind the series and the write up for each painting. I was also working on several commissioned paintings that were not related to the exhibition. It has been a busy and productive year for me.
When the paintings were ready, I sent them by courier to the gallery. Unfortunately, because of covid travel restrictions, I couldn’t be present physically at the gallery in Singapore to meet and mingle with visitors to my solo. However, when the Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore visited the exhibition, the gallery arranged for me to meet him online via Zoom so that was exciting!
3) What is your top tip to other artists looking to put together their first display/exhibit?
It is not enough for an artist to create great artwork. It is equally important to create opportunities to get our artwork seen by many. Spend time creating a presence in the art world, whether online via social media or physically by participating in group art exhibitions or art competitions. My tip would be to increase exposure online, to have courage to approach art galleries or relevant people in the art industry, to understand what makes a successful artist in present times.
4) You are also a trained lawyer. What inspired you to make the career change to pursue your passion for art? What were some challenges you faced along the way?
It was my dream to pursue Fine Art at university but in Asia, parents tend to encourage their children to pursue professional careers in medicine, law, accounting or engineering to earn more stable income. I pursued Law instead as they wished. I practised as a lawyer for a few years in Kuala Lumpur before quitting work to bring up my two children. I am fortunate to be able to do this in a single income household. Eventually I had the opportunity to resume my passion for art and started exhibiting and selling my artwork in local group exhibitions.
The challenges I faced were mainly internal struggles, in the sense that I didn’t graduate from art school and had self-doubts about my artistic and technical skills. I overcame them by learning and practising different skills from various specialist teachers skilled in mediums like watercolour, oil, charcoal and acrylic and styles such as cubism, impressionism and realism. I gained art knowledge by reading and understanding the history of different art movements and artists. When I travel, I make it a point to visit art museums to see the works of great artists such as Rembrandt, Picasso, da Vinci and my favourite artist, Paul Cezanne. It was over time that I gradually built my experience, skills and confidence as a professional artist.
5) As the platform for women dreamers, what is your next big dream?
I hope to gain more exposure in the global art world. I am presently creating paintings for a Tokyo-based online art platform. I am also working towards holding a solo exhibition in US in 2022. I plan to participate in the World Art Dubai art fair and the International Women’s Day event in the Langkawi Art Village in Malaysia in March 2022. My big dream is to use my art and narrative to encourage others to tune in to their intuition, inner voice and the universal intelligence and to fulfil their life purpose.
Thank you Lisa for sharing your inspiring story with us. We are excited to have you in our global women’s network!
Check out some of Lisa’s work below!
Bio: I am a full-time artist based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and a single mother of two teenage children. I have been creating art for the past 10 years. Since 2015, I have participated in four group art exhibitions in Kuala Lumpur. In September 2021, I held my first solo exhibition in Singapore. In line with my love for nature, hiking and travelling, I specialise in creating oil paintings of nature, especially of the paddy fields in Malaysia. The paddy fields are a metaphor for the cycle of life where I explore various themes relevant to a person’s life journey. My style is influenced by the works of post-Impressionists and Cubists. I merge Western art techniques with Eastern feng shui elements of abundance and growth. I also create commissioned paintings, in particular oil portraits to commemorate special events such as weddings, birthdays or the passing of loved ones.
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