Jacky Ng | Make Everything Beautiful

ARTSG: Why did you choose oil paints as your medium?

Jacky: Shortly after high school I began painting with a local portrait artist—this was my first introduction and experience with oil paints. I fell in love with the medium right away. I have tried others, but have always come back to oils.

Several of my contemporaries have moved to acrylics because of the toxicity of oil paint, mediums, and cleaners but I will probably never make that move. I love the richness of the colors.

ARTSG: What do you wish you knew about oils before you got started?

Jacky: I suppose I wish I had known more about the different mediums available to mix with oil paint.

I started with linseed oil but found it took such a long time to dry. I finally ordered several different kinds of mediums. It has a great consistency and dries in a within a couple of days.

ARTSG: What is the best part about working with oils?

Jacky: I love the way the paint flows, the variations I can capture, the ability to blend colors, and layer the paint. I have tried many mediums and some of the techniques I have learned. . . I bring back to my oil paintings.

ARTSG: How do you choose the subject of your painting?

Jacky: A lot of my subjects are from my travels.

I am an avid photographer. I love the ambiance of Europe, the old buildings, and flowers are everywhere. Water has always been one of my favorite things so it is a natural in my paintings.

I love to express light. That’s probably the one thing I have practiced the most. Whether it is a sunny day or evening with lights shining, I try to notice everything. It is definitely the light that I want to stand out.

ARTSG: What is your creative process like?

Jacky: I practiced certain techniques until they became automatic. Now, I do not practice a technique everyday per say, but I do start 4, 5, or 6 canvases around a similar theme.

I generally formulate an idea in my mind, often inspired by the elements I see. . . a pot overflowing with flowers, a stunning sunset, or a European café. Then I work the painting around it.

I go to my easel and start drawing with a wash of acrylics. Because they dry so quickly, I can easily change as my idea transfers to canvas. Quite often I finish with something very different than what I started with.

ARTSG: How has your style changed over the years?

Jacky: I have worked diligently (and still do) on becoming looser with my brush strokes. I used to spend so much time trying to get it exactly right. Now, I try to capture the essence.