14th January 2024 Dr Lau Fen Nee and Madam Lim Ah Tung @ Lim Em Tee.
The above drawing is by Madam Lim, who is 89 years old and, our oldest contributor. She has been drawing as part of activities that her daughter Fen Nee had planned for her. She was tasked with jigsaw puzzles and drawing.
However, she prefers to draw😊. Drawing helps to focus and is a form of meditation. For those who can’t sit and meditate, you can try drawing or other creative work that needs focus. I hope everyone would appreciate what she drew. I asked Fen Nee to write something about the drawing, and she wrote this in a poem.
Thanks for reading. I hope the drawing and the poem create some thinking for the readers😊. There is no age limit in drawing☺️🙏.
It started off as nothing,
then there was a head, is he old or is he young,
anyhow he needs some clothes,
he’s getting ready to go out,
perhaps to the shops,
perhaps to buy something or to have a meal…by Dr Lau Fen Nee
38 thoughts on “Old Man”
I like the part about trying to draw or be engaged in creative work that requires focus. This applies to everyone at any age. This is how we make our lives interesting.
Thanks Jen for your comment. We all do what we can to help ourselves. For older people some activities can be intimidating, especially drawing. Hence we need to encourage Madam Lim.
Thanks
Beena
Looks like an old man…needing lots of rest, due to his old age. He is sleeping in this drawing.
Thanks dear Radzi, am sure Madam Lim will be happy to read your comment🙏😅
I am not an artist but it is great to see an 89 year old draw
Witt those simple lines she was able to communicate that it is a man and of Mongoloid/asian descent
To hold a pen at 89 is a great blessing from God and to make sense of what she is drawing is a greater gift. God bless
Thanks Thomas
This will help to put a mile on her face:)
Beena
Remarkable… the straight lines are near perfect the head shape too is good at 89years to hold the pen to draw a man with a fair amount of accuracy kudos to the artist 😃 with regular sketching she can do much better
Thanks Nandu, your words of encouragement will motivate her.
Appreciate it very much
Beena
Dear Madam Lim . So happy to see ur drawing ! It certainly does look like an old man 😊. Amazing that u could put pen and paper together to entertain us and make us think !Keep going ! A drawing a day..
Hope to see more of ur creations !
Yes ‘It started off as nothing’ and see how it has touched so many of us !
Thank u Madam Lim ! Have a nice day!
Thanks Mariam,
Your comments will warm her heart. Fen Nee will read all the comments to her.
Thanks
Beena
This is a mix of modern art and creativity. Something so genuine that nobody else can come up with it on their own. One look we can see that the man is old with eye-bags etc. The artist is truly talented in a very special way. Keep it up Madam Lim.
Thanks Vasanthi, am.sure she will be happy to see art has created so.much interest.
Thanks
Beena
Dear Madam Lim, Looking at this cute 🥰 little painting it reminded me my beloved father getting ready for his daily evening walk. He liked to carry a wooden stick what he said was trying to shooo the stray dogs away and for self defense just in case …🤭
Lovely painting and thank you so much to bring me back some sweet memories 💕💕
Thanks Angela, her art helped you with sweet memories.
Take care
Beena
Dear Madam Lim,
First I want to appreciate your perseverance to engage with some creative work at your age..especially that which requires fine motor activity, concentration etc. I feel privileged and honoured to see your work and gives me the message that age has nothing to do
with passion, perseverance and
creativity.
Your image is so clear, with the right amount of lines to convey the image of a man of East Asian descent…perhaps all set to go out for a walk with his walking stick..perhaps looking forward to meeting friends on the way.
A picture of hope and happiness.
God bless you.
Suchitra
Dear Suchi
You made her smile
Dear Madam Lim ,
Your enthusiasm for life is shining through this drawing
All of us start as nothing and then life gives us color and shape
Hope to see vibrant colors in your next one
Eagerly waiting 👍👍👍
Hi Geet,
Thanks, according to her daughter Fen, she has hand tremors but was determined to draw, as she knows activity helps her.
Thanks
Beena
The minimalist line sketch has captured the essence of a man. Was the artist thinking of her husband? Or perhaps a son? Or someone special in her life … We can contemplate on it and make our own interpretation. For the artist, her thoughts and memories must have been evocative and special.
Hi Nyuk
Yeap, it must have triggered some form of memory of someone. But she may may know who she is drawing:)
Thanks
Beena
Very interesting drawing by Madam Lim! She is my mums age . She struggles to draw even a single line. However Madam Lim has produced a very vocal picture of an old man who resembles my neighbour or is it Janus ? Don’t know .. it has set me thinking ! Thanks for this Madam Lim. Please continue your good work !
Gee
Thanks Shaj,
Am glad that Madam Lim’s drawing inspires one to think about the possibilities that an elderly person can still perform.
Thanks, you have made her smile:)
Beena
Thank you for sharing this work of art, the man in the drawing looks like he is in deep thought or maybe meditating? Thank you, Madam Lim, you’ve inspired me to take up drawing as a form of meditation!
Thanks Terry
You made her day, inspired you to paint again.
Thanks my dear
Aunty
A picture conveys a thousand words. As we grow old we become like children …. in every sense of the word… more candid more open … without a need to hide. This picture to me … depicts innocence of a child …. only the face conveys the age.
Yes Shobha as it comes from her heart.
Thanks
Beena
From my own personal experience I understand that it is not easy to befriend a pencil at any age; you can call yourself a brave lady.
I see a Chinese man (a happy man); he is wearing pair of shorts and you may be surprised that your drawing brings back fond memories of my husband’s grand father many years back. Please keep on drawing!
Thanks Annie, her drawing helped to revive sweet memories.
Best wishes
Beena
A man with big ears and waving his hands! Wearing a brief only.
The expression on his face is as if he is in deep thoughts.
Hi Lillian
Your comments reflect a deeper story of the drawing:).
Thanks
Beena
Looks like a person resting or meditating. He appears calm
Thanks Chong for your support.
Best wishes
Beena
This is an amazing post – so simple and yet so expressive! The poem also, very nicely matches the drawing. Harsh and soft at the same time. Thanks for posting.
Thanks Allan for the supporting comment. Am sure she will be surprised by all the kind words that she has received.
Best wishes
Beena
Thank you all for the kind comments which we don’t expect at all. My mother is deeply touched by all the comments; they brought her smiles, joy and a sense of self-worth. She is already 89 years old, not only has hand tremors and struggles to hold the pencil, but also has poor eyesight amongst other issues. So she is very surprised by all the feelings her simple drawing evoked. I too am overwhelmed and extremely happy for my mother. Thank you, Beena, for asking me to share this drawing which I hold very dear. To me, it is a masterpiece….
Dear Fen
I too am overwhelmed by the number of comments. There are more as some are shy to post at the website. Am so happy that your mom’s drawing has inspired many. You need to frame that drawing as its a masterpiece as it inspired everyone.
Much love
Beena
Art is about expressing yourself, and Madam Lim has done that so beautifully. It only takes a few lines to tell a story. I hope she draws more and I look forward to seeing her art. 🥰😘
Dear Ma’m Lim,
thank you for a simple but powerful drawing.
the sketch of the old man evoked mixed emotions.
Ma’m, keep on drawing and hold a solo exhibition.many more people will be inspired.
lots of love and hugs. ❤️❤️❤️