Back in 2019, I felt like words failed me. My mind was a chaotic storm filled with disorganised thoughts, trauma, and torturous voices that threatened to consume me. That period was overwhelming indeed. Trying to survive, I locked myself in my bedroom, crying for hours and seeking an escape from the agonising frustration in trying to understand the whole situation, which I am unable to articulate.

That was when a notebook became my sanctuary. It was my escape in search of comfort. Unable to express what was going on, I poured my pain into ink. I began creating repetitive, miniature doodles, cluttering the pages with odd, irreverent cartoons of pigs, poop, and private parts. The doodles and drawings were random. To anyone else, they might have looked like crude, ridiculous sketches. To me, they were a profound emotional release and escape from my tumultuous mind. Every tiny drawing, crude or otherwise, was a quiet act of rebellion against my trauma, and a way to anchor my mind when all hell broke loose. I kept myself from going completely silent by letting my pen do the talking. That way, I managed to breathe and survived the daily struggles.

Today, those exact doodles and drawings remain preserved in my favorite cute notebook. They are no longer just symbols of my excruciating past. Instead, they are tangible proof of how I sketched my way out through the cold, formidable darkness and survived. Below are some of the random drawings I did back then.

Over the years, art became my solace and comfort. I transformed my pain into a laboratory of expression, experimenting with every medium and method I could get my hands on. Each stroke of a pen on my notebook, and every sweep of a paintbrush across a canvas, gave me a sense of control when I feel as though I am losing my mind. For that specific block of time, the movements of my hands would quieten the voices in my head, the unseen war raging in my mind, and offer rare moments of comfort that I learned not to take for granted.

However, this journey in art evolved far greater than a mere distraction. Through sheer determination, endless practice, and stubborn effort during my darkest hours, I watched my raw survival mechanism sharpen into genuine artistic skill. Today, finishing these small art projects brings me a profound sense of joy and pride. The pieces of art are no longer just products of distraction or my escape. They have now become milestones of my growth, proving that I can create beautiful artwork despite my hardest times.



These paintings of flowers bloomed from references I discovered online, where I fell completely in love with them. The outcome of these artworks is incredibly bright and colourful, radiating a warmth that instantly fills my heart each time I look at them. To mark this evolution from doodles to intentional art, I proudly had a traditional Chinese name seal carved. Stamping my name onto the completed artworks leaves my official trademark, turning them into permanent pieces of my identity.



While creating these cards depicting Christmas trees, I found calm and happiness. It heightened my feelings of the festive season, which helped dull the pain from the overwhelming daily challenges.



Seeking new horizons, I also ventured into the world of traditional oriental scroll paintings, teaching myself the intricate techniques through YouTube videos. Bringing those ancient methods to life brought me a deep sense of accomplishment and pure happiness. This particular painting captures the majestic, misty mountains of China. It is a powerful piece of artwork that now hangs proudly on my bedroom wall, serving as a daily reminder of what my hands can create.



This painting of an oriental version of cherry blossoms holds a deep meaning for me. These blossoms represent my own efforts finally blooming, proving that beautiful progress can be made, even out of my darkest and deepest struggles.

Year by year, my growth in art accelerated. I eventually discovered the world of drawings using black ballpoint pens. By studying other artworks created online, I taught myself the intricate techniques using the medium. Before long, I moved past copying references and began creating my very own original, hand-inked masterpieces.







Finally, in 2026, four pieces of my artwork were exhibited in two art galleries. I was over the moon when the art curators accepted my humble artworks. Of course, many attempts are made to contact art galleries before that. Needless to say, I am thrilled to see my labour of effort, while maneuvering through the darkness, hung on the walls of art galleries. I am now using “Jane Jang” officially on my artworks.







Currently, I am pouring my energy into building my portfolio on Instagram. What I can not express in words, I hope my artworks portray my feelings and do the talking. One of my main resolutions for 2026 is a personal challenge to create 20 new artworks before the year ends. Looking back at where I started, I am profoundly grateful that I never gave up on art and that art never gave up on me.