"The Tools"

pegboard 1

The Tools" (Customized paint-by-numbers acrylic paint and watercolor pencils on canvas). These are my tools displayed on the pegboard in my home studio. While it may resemble an ordinary pegboard one might find in a jeweller's workshop, it holds significant sentimental value for me. Reflecting on my early days in Australia as a struggling art student, unable to afford a dedicated studio or even a workbench of my own, having this space feels incredibly special. It wasn't long ago that I finally established a studio in my home, complete with a couple of pegboards adorned with tools that evoke feelings of relaxation and safety. Some of the bench files depicted in this painting are over 20 years old, and I still hesitate to part with them. After working in jeweller's supplies for almost a year, I can now properly name each tool: bench files, Chenier cutter, face mask, ring sizer, brass ring mandrel, parallel flat-nose pliers, masking tapes, gas lighter, and more. As I painted this scene, I realised it holds the potential to share countless stories about the tools themselves, my work, their names, my journey as an immigrant, my studio, and beyond.