She was born deaf, lost half her sight to the eye disease Retinitis Pigmentosa, yet remains very optimistic. Anyone who feels put out by what life doles out needs a dose of Faith. The 47-year-old is a bundle of joy, especially now that she has an avenue to express her hopes – digital art.
Blurred images are part of her everyday life. Still, Faith is thankful that she hasn’t lost her eyesight completely, which doctors had said would happen 10 years ago, and is glad that she can distinguish colours and see shapes in bright light.
“I loved art since I was young,” says Faith, who decided to pursue her passion in earnest only in late 2023, after she left her job at a cafe. “I realised then how much I love art. So, I explored what I could do, because just normal drawing with a pen or pencil isn’t possible. I cannot see,” she explains.
Signing up for a course in digital art opened a new world for Faith. “I realised that with digital art, I can see with my own eyes what I am drawing, so I decided to pursue the dream.”
Faith wasn’t always as sure of herself as she is now. “I completed school without obtaining O-level qualifications, and my hearing and visual impairments often left me unsure of my abilities and struggling with feelings of inferiority,” she recalls. “I was often worrying and feeling insecure about my future.”
Today, Faith spends most of her time refining her talent at home, which is a rental flat she shares with her mother. Through her social worker, Faith tapped on the Goh Chok Tong Enable Fund to buy a tablet and stylus that allow her to spend more time refining her digital art skills. She can now spend as much time as possible sketching on the bright iPad screen, shading colours using codes. It usually takes her a few days to create each of her artworks, which are mainly nature-themed.
Faith’s latest artwork is titled “Live in the Present”. She says the piece is a visual representation of her life journey and hopes that her personal expression through art can serve as an encouragement to others facing challenges, while inspiring hope and resilience.
“The Goh Chok Tong Enable Fund has truly made a significant difference in my life, and for that, I am forever grateful,” she says.
“The Fund has not only eased my financial burden, but it also inspired a newfound sense of purpose and hope within me. With the aid of this gift, I am eager to embark on a new chapter in my life.”
DONATE NOW