Portfolio | Kristen Kiong

Encouragement for every season of life.

kristenkiong

If you love animals, we’ve got some! 🐘 Been

If you love animals, we’ve got some! 🐘

Been a crazy long week with everybody everywhere falling sick (it’s not just the kids my friends!) and lots of thoughts and things I want to do. So many ideas but so little time!

Anyway 20% off with ALLTHINGSNEW is ending tonight and proud to say I think I might be hitting my KPI of clearing my old stock. But don’t miss this chance to get something you like or that might

Some days back I was reminded of the morning a few

Some days back I was reminded of the morning a few years back (probably 2018?) I heard just one line from a sermon playing in my patient’s room. That was when I realised it takes obedience and quiet for me to hear God speaking. I wasn’t sure if it was at first, but I realised it came with practice and careful studying of the Bible. It isn’t always easy , in fact sometimes that came with a serious challenge (for me).

If you’re in a season of waiting and/or hoping to hear from God, I just wanted to encourage you that in the darkest and lowest, God is still with you ♥️

Firstly could I just say it just dawned on me that

Firstly could I just say it just dawned on me that we’ve sold over 1000 frames?! These were my fourth batch of frames and I’m still learning.

Let me tell you a little story - when I first got this batch of frames I was thrilled! Beautifully done, perfectly engraved. But when I started using them I realised there was one major manufacturing issue I’d completely overlooked. The acrylic sheets stuck out at the bottom making the frames unbalanced when they stood. Oh goshhhhh. Disaster. And they were so challenging to ship over that I didn’t want to make them redo it etc. also, waste.

I remember the early days - i tried shaving the frame itself to make more space for the acrylic to no avail. Then I realised that my hardy cutter could slice thru the acrylic sheets. But this meant that for the entire batch, I’ve had to check each one (some were okay) and slice the acrylics before every delivery.

350 frames later we’re almost done with this batch. It was hard, honest work and even though it wasn’t perfect I’m proud of it. I’m down to my last 20ish before I welcome a beautiful new batch. Thank you IG fam for journeying with us. By the end of the new batch we’d have sold over 2000 😭♥️

Me today - missing the bugs and hugs a bit more an

Me today - missing the bugs and hugs a bit more and feeling particularly torn between all the duties I’m carrying on my shoulders - work, mothering and more work. Today’s post about hoping in the Lord is probably for me more than anyone else.

Well swipe if you wanna see a recording of the bugs at 7 in the morning. It’s my favourite time of them both and I thought I wanted to keep it here because ♥️

Just in case you need a hug 🥰

Just in case you need a hug 🥰

Letters to those in waiting / grieving 🖤 I rem

Letters to those in waiting / grieving 🖤

I remember the first time someone got me to illustrate something to remember a loved one. We picked out their favourite outfit, the things that she loved, her favourite verse, her character, and we illustrated them together.

When I went through my period of infertility and waiting (since 2017 we waited 3 years for a baby!), I felt that painting walked me through some of my hardest moments. Verses reminded me to trust God and His timing. I’m not sure why I never made some of my favourites (which I feature) into posters but maybe I should?

Anyway, that was when I realised that my art, which were mainly for Christmas, birthdays, and happy occasions could be used to walk others through their grief and their darkest moments… if they needed a little light in that moment.

What else helped/helps you in difficult moments?

Words of encouragement for days we don’t feel gr

Words of encouragement for days we don’t feel great ✨➡️

It’s been a really tiring weekend, and while my tired body of me is ready to go back to work and take a break from the kids, my heart is not. And then with the influx of new (and not to mention complex) cases, I feel like I’ve been shaken awake brutally on this rainy Monday.

It’s gotten me thinking what I love. And i think the best part of my day is where I bring b2 to knock on b1’s door, sit her on the playmat and watch them yell at each other & giggle at 630 in the morning before I leave for work.

On the way to work, b1 put away all her things and said. “I want mummy lie down on my lap.” And that’s all I need today.

Anyway during my quiet time I picked things that spoke to my anxious heart & these were it ♥️

With the code ALLTHINGSNEW. A very Kristen-style

Oh #raspberryseah, how are you not tiny anymore? I

Oh #raspberryseah, how are you not tiny anymore? I don’t see you much during the week and suddenly you look bigger come weekend.

I remember the day I sat at @toastboxsg at Greenwi

I remember the day I sat at @toastboxsg at Greenwich V drawing this one all afternoon. I had the idea of ashes in payne’s grey, to beautiful sparkly gold.

Fun fact: For as long as I can remember, I’ve always used payne’s grey in place of black. I almost never use black in any art unless it’s a monochrome piece. In particular for those who are curious I use @dalerrowney1783 payne’s grey.

Then came the gold and I was obsessed with @finetec paints. Clearly I was still obsessed with Watercolor washes and it worked out for this one. At the end of it I was taking shiny boomerangs of this one. ✨

I first posted this on 8 March 2017. Before this ,

I first posted this on 8 March 2017. Before this , I remember most things were florals and inspired by the likes of Jenna Rainey and Rifle Paper Co.

But one day I decided, wouldn’t it be cute if their eyes and noses were on the same level? I remember feeling incredibly satisfied that day, 3+ years after starting on this art journey because I finally found my style. And the first of the #kkslittlepeople series was born.

So to any of you still wondering why other people can create something unique while you’re struggling, don’t rush it. Developing your own style takes TIME! And it’s always going to keep evolving. Before you know it you’ll be dreaming up designs like never before!

Just a few more moments of this weekend I really w

Just a few more moments of this weekend I really want to document. Felt like I was transported back into the 70s with this home while we visited the kids’ grandaunts/uncles.

At some point Blueberry’s grand aunties asked if she gets a beating if she’s naughty. She said “no.”

“Then how?” They asked.

(At this point I swear I was just waiting for her to say something like ‘they threaten to beat me/they punish me/they take away my toys’)

“They teach me.” She says. 🤔

In all fairness I think most of the credit goes to my husband who’s usually more level headed and able to gather the incident into a lesson. But also putting this here to remind myself that we’re doing a good job, even tho i don’t feel like i am 99% of the time.

#risenmotherhood #blueberryseah

👑 90 + 7 great grand children

👑 90 + 7 great grand children

Welcome to my cafe where I charge exorbitant price

Welcome to my cafe where I charge exorbitant prices & cook for my sister who will eat anything.

Today’s meal cost us $90 and at the end of the fine dining experience, chef Blueberry brought Raspberry into the kitchen for a tour. Also had to remind Blueberry to wash her hands to keep her food hygiene levels excellent.

Guess it isn’t just a “little cafe” then! 🤣

Pretend play essentials:
Storefront @shopvoilasg x @kristenkiong
Kitchen and everything in it was lovingly handed down by @shuuuff
Empty @littledragonbabycare soap bottle

Also pls take special notice of my @baoberryfabrics fruit of the spirit tshirts (with @rascalandfriends diapers to complete raspberry’s look lol).

My 10 minute doodle today with a new colour palett

My 10 minute doodle today with a new colour palette that u rarely use (because I need some fresh this Friday). Reminds me of gardens by the bay.

Step by step
1. Lettering - do each one on a separate layer so I can align later
2. Florals - draw simple florals , copy-paste and relocate them
3. Shadow - copy paste the words, colour them dark grey, shift slightly to the right bottom, Gaussian blur 8%

And there we have it. What other quotes/styles would you like me to try?

I realised not everyone knew what we did in the Fu

I realised not everyone knew what we did in the Fun with Music @philwinds concert. This was a big part of it - animations to fit the music. Coupled with narration/dancing by Shauna and her team from @kindermusikwithlove , it was a musical! (Not forgetting pre concert fringe activities like instrument petting zoo, face painting, wave drum making + colouring too).

It was a lot a lot of hard work for everyone so I can’t promise that there will another of this scale, but if there is, JUMP AT IT. You can’t say I never told you.

Ok I think I’ve raved enough. So much work and so so good it deserves a space on the feed. 🥁♥️

We went for our first concert as a family! And eve

We went for our first concert as a family! And even more special, my illustrations played such a pivotal role in this one. 3 years after being a mum I’m starting to get a glimpse of what mum life is - sharing what I love with the littles with both music & illustration in one. Honestly I was exhausted from multi tasking and navigating naps while making it on time… but I’m also really really happy.

Our weekend in photos be like…
1- the fabulous backdrop I designed 🎨 and the characters I drew for Fun with music. Haha. Did you notice trumpet fish & blowfish? #punintended also featuring @shuuuff & @lenoileyl - stole their photo as they had a better photo of the backdrop. Thank you for always looking out for this 👩🏻‍🎨, I am blessed by your friendship.
2 - Documenting our first concert as a family, thanks @leeseefee for the photo. Thank you @philwinds for being the girls’ first.
3 - Didn’t want to wait too long for face painting. #blueberryseah was sad so mum artist promised to do it for her before bed.
4 & 5 - #raspberryseah tasted noodles for the first time. I didn’t include the photo of her completely knocked out 😴 after bouncing around in concert.
6-8 - blueberry got to touch the instruments we’ve talked about. We’ve talked about snare drum rat-a-tats & the vroom! of the timpani. & her first introduction to brass and woodwind too.

Now we’ve heard some of you asking for stickers or plushies?! 😳 haha. I am flattered but seriously, would people want stickers ?

#kristenwrites #painterkiong

I have yet to collect my thoughts on the HUGE proj

I have yet to collect my thoughts on the HUGE project we’ve just completed but thank you for having me @philwinds. This was extremely nostalgic for me and special for the family. The entire concert was amazing but leaving you with my favourite 6 seconds of the concert. Thank you MunHoe for executing this perfectly 😭 (video awkwardly truncated because raspberry was trying to grab my phone)

I was thinking abt today and my first thought was

I was thinking abt today and my first thought was “oh I barely posted because I was busy.” But I sat down and thought about it - and if I was honest with myself I was very busy WORRYING about Raspberry’s sleep. I was worried about why she cried so much that she completely missed a nap. I was worried about her next nap. And I was worried abt how she would sleep tonight. (A huge thank you to my mum @susanshkiong + @sleepybubba.sg for always being so patient and encouraging 😭)

And then I carry on to worry about how in the middle of mothering, fulltime work & getting enough sleep, I feel like I don’t have much time to do my art like before. And whether things would slow down too much. Or whether I’d have time to pick up my actual watercolourbrushes again.

But also my supermom friends @r.haida & @realmomsg astutely remind me that it’s all a phase. The babies need us the most in their first year and then it gets a little less hectic.

All in all, my worrying always reminds me of this verse in Philippians 4:6-7, which also reminds me to put my worries at the foot of the cross, focus on doing what God wants me to do, and that peace comes from trusting in Him. 😌 #donotbeanxious #kristenwrites

Set aside some time on the train to experiment thi

Set aside some time on the train to experiment this morning. ☀️ in the background I actually did draw a city on a hill!

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