Hi everyone, I'm Caihui, and I explore life through colours.
As a passionate artpreneur and a mother of two, I understand the complexities of navigating life's emotions, especially with motherhood.
Not Good Enough? A Familiar Mantra:
Many of us, myself included, carry the burden of "not being good enough." Growing up, this was a constant negative mantra looping in my head. When I became a mother in 2007, I yearned for a fresh start. I dove headfirst into creating the perfect environment for my child, sacrificing my own passions unknowingly – Japan and the arts – for a self-imposed checklist of "perfect motherhood."
The Internal Tug-of-War:
For the next 11 years, I existed in this exhausting state. The guilt of wanting more beyond the home clashed with the fear of neglecting my child. After giving birth to my second child in 2013, the internal struggle intensified. I felt constantly triggered, overwhelmed, and lost. My "perfect mom" checklist was no longer working, and I felt like a fraud.
The Turning Point:
Desperate for a solution, I turned to logic. "Think harder, work harder," my mind screamed. Yet, this only amplified the self-criticism and exhaustion. Bad strategy.
One night, after yet another meltdown, I took a walk around the block when I was stopped by an image that suddenly flickered in my mind - a phoenix rising from the ashes. The message was clear: I needed to burn down this internal system and rebuild from the ground up.
Deconstruct to Reconstruct:
My journey to reset began with listening to my heart. It became clear that I needed to invest in the person who would be with me forever: myself.
Rediscovering the "Lost" Caihui:
Motherhood had buried the carefree, artistic, Japan-loving Caihui beneath a mountain of "shoulds." It was time to rediscover her.
The universe, as it often does, intervened when I stumbled upon pastel art from Japan. This art form reconnected me with both my creative spirit and my love for Japanese culture.
Art: A Path to Self-Acceptance:
Through art, I learned to embrace life's ebbs and flows, trust the creative process, and gradually accept my imperfections. It taught me self-compassion, the importance of being gentle with myself, and the power of mindful awareness.
Self-Expression: Embracing All of Me:
Art became a space for self-expression, allowing me to accept all facets of myself – the good, the bad, and the in-between. There's only one Caihui, and just like I tell my students, art need not be categorised into good or bad – it's about celebrating our unique voices.
From Fear to Love:
Most importantly, art showed me how to live from a place of love rather than fear. It encouraged me to embrace life's uncertainties, just like Mother Nature, where flowers bloom beautifully without competition.
Heart In Hand Atelier: Sharing the Power of Art:
This journey of self-discovery led to the creation of Heart In Hand Atelier in 2020. My mission is to share the transformative power of art with others. Through workshops and classes, I help people connect with themselves through colours, let go of control, and find self-acceptance, self-compassion, and self-love. After all, when we love and accept ourselves, the world becomes a more peaceful place. We no longer need to look outwards for validation.
Now, I create colourful positive affirmations & mantras to encourage and empower myself as I navigate through challenging moments in the hustle and bustle of life. This was a far cry from the "old" Caihui who was constantly on the lookout for all things bad and negative of herself. I am still a work-in-progress, but my colourful artworks now serve as my visual mantras to cultivate self-compassion, self-acceptance and self-love.
Emotional Landscape
Mantra: "I embrace all of me"
Celebrating the range of emotions in life and embracing all parts of ourselves, even the messy ones, can be challenging, particularly in motherhood. The colourful waves in Emotional Landscape reminds you that when we embrace and accept all parts of ourselves, the bigger picture is more beautiful than we thought.
Tapestry of Life: Weaving Thoughts into Reality, Diptych
Mantra: "I am kind to myself"
2 mirror images that represent the power of our thoughts shaping our reality. The left represents our thoughts while the right represents the reality it brings. "Weaving Thoughts into Reality" is about being intentional about the thoughts that enter your mind as they will be reflected into your reality. YOUR THOUGHTS CREATE YOUR REALITY. Curate your thoughts by being kind to yourself.
Ready to invest time in the most important person in your life?
We often neglect this VIP in our lives - ourselves. Are you ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery to nurture this important relationship through colours?
Join my next Art & Life Connections: Pastel Art x Mental Wellness workshop on June 29th, from 2-3:30 PM!
Our theme for June is Flow. Create and explore life's flow through colours with Heart In Hand Atelier. Learn more and register here
To read more about the inaugural session in May, head over to my IG post here.
I hope you get to experience the magical power of art that transformed me and hope it brings a touch of love and hope to you.
Sending you love and joy, Caihui