I was browsing through the net one day looking up at some art works for inspiration when I stumbled upon her blog at :-
www.artworksbydeborateo.blogsp
My mom loves her paintings too!
I met up with her for the first time yesterday. I wanted to get to know the artist behind the paintings. Her creations moves me. I can't explain the feeling. It's like as if she's telling a story. Her life story. Her surroundings. The people she meets. The stuff that happens in everyday life. It could be me that she's painting about. It could be my life. It could be my story. We might have been strangers before, but her paintings had reached me, called out to me and connected, deep within my soul. There's a story waiting to be told behind each painting, it's like her very own personal diary and I for one, would love to get to know her better.
Lo and behold, guess what I found out? She is an ex Malaysia Airlines stewardess. It's a small world indeed :) She joined MH in 1991 and left a year or so later. No wonder I have never met her. As much as she had loved flying, she was homesick most of the time. She met her husband that year as well and so, she left and became a full time housewife. They have 2 beautiful children together. Both in their teens right now. A girl and a boy. The boy has somehow inherited her talent. Her daughter's pretty upset about that though. She sometimes asks her mom, whether she, is her biological child or not. Cute and funny. They are both overseas at the moment.
Debora's from Miri, Sarawak. She only started painting seriously when she got bored after having to move to Bintulu and didn't know anyone over there. A self taught artist. She creates from within. Life is her teacher. Her emotions transforms empty canvases into an array of beautiful colours that speaks volume and it was what helped her heal after her battle with breast cancer.
It happened when she was 32. By then, she was already a mother of two. It obviously took a toll on her. Caught by surprise but not wanting to give up, she fought a brave fight. Her children were her pillars of strength. Her family and friends were the branches from the tree of life, that she reached out for and was given support. They were the roots that kept her grounded and the force behind her not wanting to give up. Her surgeon, Dr Mark Jeevan, was Godsend. He provided her and the family with all the right information and care needed. He introduced her to the right people and she got a chance to share her hopes and fears with other cancer survivors on a 1 to 1 basis, and that was what helped her to be in the right frame of mind. All in all, she went through a total of 8 cycles of chemo for a duration of 6 months. It wasn't pleasant to say the least, but she was determined to pull through. Overcome it she did and from then onwards, she hasn't looked back.
Painting became her full time passion. She is also actively involved in many cancer awareness programs, providing support and auctioning her paintings for their charity gala dinners. She has helped to set up a breast cancer awareness support group in Miri and also organize events for them. Her surgeon has now become a good friend and he is always, one of the first to be there for her. To express her gratitude, she presented him with THE TREE OF HOPE 11.
Labor of love. Presented to Dr Mark Jeevan as a symbol of gratitude ♥
A poem for the tree of hope chosen by Debora :-
"Remember when you heard the words - and your mind went blank - you were in another world
God heals
Remember in your darkest hours - when all that surrounds you is pain and sorrow
God heals
Remember friends' prayers - your family's encouragement - glimmers of hope from everyday angels
God heals
Quiet...you can hear Him now - always there - yet never this close
God heals
It's just another day - yet everything has changed -and you hear yourself say
God heals
Birds are singing - the sky is a beautiful blue - flowers are blooming...
God heals
Truths that you knew as a child - awakened again with new understanding
God heals
Remember when others can't - that life is a gift - each day to treasure
God has healed
Yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope."
-Anonymous
Here's a piece of hers under the Ballerina Series for Pink Ribbon - reach 2 recovery charity gala auction this September :)
Like I said, I couldn't for the life of me choose which painting of hers to share with all of you. I think, this snapshot below, will be one of the best way to showcase what Debora has to offer :)
The pictures below were displayed in an Art Gallery once and the painting on the right which depicts Eve of Eden was the first one sold on opening day ~
She spends most of her time getting inspired, with cups and cups of coffee to keep her awake ( she has absentmindedly dipped her brushes into many coffee cups since, hehe ) and music to keep her company. She currently enjoys listening to Birdy. For commissioned pieces, it can take up to a week to complete for she tries her best to express what her clients want, but if it is her own idea, it can be created within 14 hours. Once started, she can get lost in her world of colors for hours and hours only to come out once it's ready. Currently, she's working on the Metamorphose Series. The price of her paintings normally ranges from RM 500 - 3.5K
Her sister's family
* A little something that I have penned down especially for you Debora, after our meet, inspired by the painting above :-
As the furious wind punched her red cheeks and the cold white snow blinds her sight, freezes the tip of her nose till the end of her toes, she continues on. She reminds herself that shivering is good. It means that she is alive. Nothing can be worse than what she has gone through..Her body might ache but her will is as strong as ever..with that in mind, her heart stays warm :)
The youngest out of 4 siblings, she's been painting professionally for the last 3 years now. Each step she takes, gets her closer to the unknown...
By the way, I asked Debora if there was anyone who loves her paintings to have a collection of them and she mentioned a good friend by the name of Serena Liew. A Sabahan legal practitioner who has bought more than enough to start a mini gallery of her own. A friend had introduced them years ago and she had since been a fan of Debora's work!
She'll be setting up a mini studio by year end. Currently she works from home and arranges for appointments to see her art pieces.
I enjoyed my little chat with Debora. We connected right from the start. It's good to find out that she is as beautiful inside and out as her paintings portrays. It was like meeting an old friend, totally unpretentious and full of understanding. I even had a chance to learn something new when I followed her to get her stock from the art & crafts shop at the Gardens :)
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Commissioned work titled WATER
Oh yes! I'd love to continue dreaming of a happily ever after, loyal dog by your side gazing up at the moon thingy, holding hands scene with a loving someone by my side someday. Amen to that and thanks to Debora, I shall keep on believing while she continues painting :)
Please don't go away yet...Here are a few more links for you to get in touch with Debora if you'd like to own a piece of her * Art from the heart
Hola! That's us saying goodbye for now and I am glad that you've enjoyed every minute of it :)
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