WHAT if you have a hidden talent or a deep passion for something but just didn’t have the confidence to do something about it?
Well, that talent might stay hidden forever or for a very long time. In the case of Monica Lee, it was stored away for 12 years.
Monica loved to draw, ever since she was young, and she even enrolled in an art college but due to lack of confidence, she did not pursue a career as an artist.
Instead, she took the safe route and worked for her father who ran an advertising photography studio.
She did that for more than a decade before coming across some artwork on Instagram that inspired her to get back to drawing. That was five years ago. Today, Monica works as a full-time artist and has built up a body of work that’s simply stunning.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST REALISE YOU WERE ARTISTIC?
I always loved drawing but I didn’t think I had the talent for it. Even after going through art college, I was still terrible at drawing. I’m not naturally talented. I have to work hard at it. But I believe with hard work, determination and passion, anything is possible.
AS A CHILD, DID YOU THINK OF DRAWING AS A POTENTIAL PROFESSION?
Absolutely not. I remember when we were kids, my teacher used to ask us this question: What do you want to be when you grow up? I actually wanted to become an artist.
But all my friends wanted to be lawyers, doctors or teachers. As a result, I thought that drawing could only be a hobby and not a profession. How wrong I was. If only the Internet had existed during that time, I would have known better.
HOW SUPPORTIVE WERE YOUR PARENTS ABOUT YOUR ARTISTIC ENDEAVOURS?
They were very supportive, actually. What held me back initially was myself because I lacked confidence. But they knew I loved drawing and when I decided to go to art college, they were very encouraging. And even when I eventually decided to quit my job to become a full-time artist, they supported my decision.
WHAT WORK WERE YOU DOING FOR YOUR DAD, AND WHAT CAUSED YOU TO FINALLY MAKE THE LEAP TO A FULL-TIME ARTIST?
My dad is a photographer. Growing up, my sisters and I used to hang out in his studio on the weekends. He had a huge library of photography books that I enjoyed looking at. I think because I grew up appreciating photography, photorealism naturally appealed to me.
After college, I did digital imaging for my dad. Basically, it’s compositing different images into a final composition in Photoshop.
After 12 years of doing that, I began to question myself. Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life — just creating work for clients? I wanted to create my own work. I wanted to draw. Deep inside, a part of me still hoped to become an artist.
DID THE EARLIER WORK HELP WITH THE WORK YOU ARE DOING NOW?
Absolutely. In digital imaging, it’s all about patience, details, observation and refined craftsmanship when creating an image — qualities that I apply in my artwork. During that time, I learnt to appreciate art and photography. It really helped improve my artistic sense.
WHAT DID YOU DO TO NURTURE YOUR DRAWING SKILLS?
It wasn’t easy in the beginning. It took hard work and determination. I’d never had to work so hard in my life — spending an average of 13 hours a day drawing.
But every day was a learning experience through trial and error. It was very tiring but satisfying. I didn’t take any further formal instruction beyond what I had done in college but Instagram became my learning platform and artists on Instagram became my teachers.
HOW DID YOU FIND YOUR CONFIDENCE?
I posted my work on social media and people began to take notice. The words of support and encouragement I received online were just amazing. That gave me some confidence to continue my art journey.
Social media has been really good for me. I got featured in the Daily Mail UK, Gizmodo, and Huffington Post after they noticed my work on social media. Without a doubt, I wouldn’t be here right now if not for social media and others promoting my art on their blogs and websites.
DO YOU ENGAGE IN OTHER ART FORMS OR DO YOU STICK ONLY TO GRAPHITE PENCIL DRAWINGS?
I prefer working in black and white rather than in colour. I find black and white drawing makes the subject more dramatic and gives it a classic or vintage feel. This is why I use graphite pencils and charcoal only. I also like the idea of using something as simple as a pencil to create a piece of art.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO DO ONE OF YOUR DRAWINGS?
A typical piece takes around four to six weeks to complete. It also depends on the size and complexity of the drawing, of course. A piece titled Rhino took me three months! It was by far the most challenging piece I’d done so far. Drawing the texture of a rhino is insane and it really tested my patience.
DOES YOUR HAND HURT FROM DRAWING SUCH DETAILED IMAGES?
Actually, it does. I am obsessed with details so it is very time consuming and tedious. I can’t help it. I think it’s my form of obsessive compulsive disorder. But the sense of fulfilment and satisfaction I get when the work is complete makes it all worth it.
IS SELLING YOUR ARTWORK YOUR MAIN OCCUPATION RIGHT NOW?
Yes, I’m a full-time artist. I have to admit, I don’t have a stable income now and I don’t earn as much as I did before. But thankfully, I do have some savings from having worked a steady job for 12 years.
CAN PEOPLE COMMISSION YOU TO DO A DRAWING OF THEM OR FOR THEM?
Yes, I do take commission work once in a while. Much of that is wildlife drawing actually.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE SUBJECTS TO DRAW?
Basically, I work within these three themes: Portraiture, wildlife and still life. All three subject matters involve a lot of detail and textures. Of the three, I like drawing wildlife the most. Nature is something that we take for granted. I hope to portray the beauty of wildlife animals through my work.
FOR THE KIND OF DRAWINGS THAT YOU DO, YOU OBVIOUSLY BASE THEM ON ACTUAL PICTURES. DO YOU EVER DRAW ANYTHING BASED ON IMAGINATION?
Yes, I draw based on photographs. I have to admit drawing from imagination is definitely not one of my strong points. I really admire artists who can do that but it’s not for me.
HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE YOURSELF?
Looking at the work of great artists is a way to motivate myself as it serves as a reminder that in order to be as good as them, I need to work really hard at it. I’m also a big fan of motivational quotes. My favourite is “Train insane or remain the same”.
WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU WORKING ON CURRENTLY?
I’m working on a series of Chinese opera drawings. The beauty of the costumes, the meticulous embroidery and details all make it an interesting subject to draw.
ARE YOU TRAINING OR MENTORING ANYONE IN YOUR UNIQUE FORM OF ART?
I’m not professionally training anyone. But I try to share my drawing process on social media. I learnt my craft from watching other artists’ work-in-progress videos. I hope to help others by doing that.