HUMANS OF RV (HoRV): AXE-traordinary Art
In which we talk about vectors, and there's no math!
Are you looking for someone to design your class logo? Need a new CCA insignia? Ever wanted to get an art commission of your idol done? Well, look no further, River Valley Student Editorial Club (RVSEC) brings you this special editorial featuring one of the most talented designers in our school! For about 6 years now, Ng Xuan Fei of class 6S has been a self-taught artist and graphic designer, producing quirky and beautiful vector art. Her name has travelled far simply by word of mouth for she has been approached for commissions and requests by classes from all levels and numerous CCAs.
Xuan Fei's design for her 6S class tee
Xuan Fei shares that her passion for arts and design had humble beginnings, starting from simply doodling on her worksheet out of boredom! One thing led to another and she started pursuing her love for the arts. To further her artistic talents, she believes that consistent practice is the key to improvement. From using up sketchbooks by the dozen to exploring new mediums of art, the effort that she has spent on her passion is truly admirable. Other than constant practice and research, independence is another quality that Xuan Fei believes in as she feels that it helps budding artists' to develop their own style and their own of doing things.
"There is no such thing as originality left in the world – all we can do is produce new combinations of old creations. "
Sample Commission by Xuan Fei - 4P'2015
As with every Künstlerroman, there are many obstacles that stand in the way of our beloved artist's success. Three guesses on what this section is about, and the first two don't count! "Artist's blocks are the bane of any artist's existence", says Xuan Fei. She notes that the frustration of not being able to reach the high standard that one had managed to achieve before is incredibly discouraging. Ironically, the ‘bane’ of her existence has actually made her realise that she should aim for the future, not the past, and it is this understanding that has allowed to her to get rid of artist’s block. Apart from that, Xuan Fei points to inspiration as another means of overcoming artist’s block. Quoting from personal experience, she cites her greatest inspiration - Scottish photographer, Joe Skilton, as the one who had brought her out of her first artist’s block in 2011. She adds that he isn’t “famous or anything”, and that he only runs a blog at: joewebs.tumblr.com, where he posts his photos and his interests.
“I am continually inspired by [Skilton’s] bittersweet perspective on the highs and lows of ordinary life and unexpected beauty.”
When asked about her aspirations, Xuan Fei remarks that she anticipates the day that she can take ‘self’ out of ‘self-taught’ and is currently aiming to apply for Nanyang Technological University’s School of Arts, Design and Media. Her other long-term dreams include becoming a successful graphic designer while continuously building on her hobby of being an artist. Interestingly, Xuan Fei distinguishes between the two, stating that, “a graphic designer receives set work and requests from others; an artist creates artwork and hopes people develop an interest in them”. With that in mind, she hopes to improve art education in Singapore schools in the future. Despite not having a very formal arts-based education, Xuan Fei is grateful to have been exposed to multiple aspects of the arts which has aided her on her journey in becoming an artist. She believes that having been an English literature student for 4 years has intensified her attention to finer details that aids in bringing her artworks to life.
Vector Illustration by Xuan Fei
Xuan Fei's artistic tribute to the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew
To end off, Xuan Fei encouraged fellow RVians with a penchant for art not to feel disheartened just because of the lack of an official artistic platform in school. “To aspiring artists in RV, there are more of us here than you think. Never give up because you seem alone and helpless in your pursuits. Strength is the best ally of an artist.” As such, Xuan Fei offers her professional email designaxeff@outlook.com to any aspiring juniors who are looking for advice.
“This is why I want to do both design and art – one makes you a living while the other gives you freedom – hopefully, I’ll get the best of both worlds.”
To check out even more of Xuan Fei’s fantastic works or art processes, just look up @designaxeff (for professional commissions) or @artaxeff (for personal artwork) on Instagram! With that, we at RVSEC wish Xuan Fei lots of luck for her future endeavours and hope to appreciate her works on a larger scale in time.