Q&A with Denise: Life, Art, Nature, and Animals

Dear friends,
I’ve been looking forward to sharing this — a Q&A post on my blog.

Q1. Can you share some memories from your childhood?

I was born in 1981 and grew up in a small town in Malaysia surrounded by forests and rivers. Back then, my siblings and I had very little digital entertainment—in fact, we only had a coloured TV when we started our high school years.

My siblings and I grew up spending most of our time in nature: running into the forest with our late father to catch fish in a small stream, catching pretty bugs and sometimes beetles, watching fireflies dance, and (in my case) chasing or disturbing the chickens at night. Since we lacked entertainment and toys, we would look for natural resources the earth offered us and handmade our own toys.

I was a very active child. I loved Arts and English when I was still in primary school. I enjoyed cycling or roaming around the neighbourhood instead of staying at home to read (I only discovered the joy of reading around the age of 23). I also used to sit on the front porch of my old house at night and watch the starry night skies. In short, I would say I had a good childhood.

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Q2. What sparked your passion for animal and Italian landscape painting?

When did you start drawing and painting animals?
I started drawing animals when I was a small girl, before primary school. As for watercolour painting, I began seriously painting animals in 2009, when I created my first puffin watercolour painting. I also painted other animals in watercolour.

When did you start painting Italian landscapes?
I started painting Italian landscapes when I was given a travel book by my eldest sister. I fell in love with Italian scenery and painted my first Tuscany landscape watercolour (the painting is already sold). Since then, I have also painted new Italian landscapes - Lake Como (so beautiful...), and Italian restaurant. To me, painting Italian landscape is a way to escape to a beautiful country.

Who or what inspired you?
No one inspired me, actually. I paint animals out of my love and passion for them.

What mediums do you enjoy using?
Watercolour. I think this is the best art medium to present an animal or landscape in the form of a painting.

Which animals are your favourites to draw or paint?
I used to paint birds—puffins, kingfishers, woodpeckers, robins, penguins. I also love elephants, foxes, and badgers.

How long does it take to complete an animal or landscape painting?
3–4 days for an animal painting, 5–10 days for a landscape painting.

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Q3. Could you tell us about your professional experience as a designer-illustrator?
I have worked as a graphic designer-illustrator since 2005. Some of my creative works (almost none related to what I studied in college; I studied multimedia design) include five mascots, a concept café, a large cave drawing for Penang Butterfly Farm, exhibiting some animal jewellery designs in the Hong Kong International Jewellery Fair, publishing short stories (plus drawings) in two newspaper columns, and selling original watercolour paintings to art lovers worldwide.

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Q4. Have you had any memorable encounters with animals?
Yes. I’ve seen a little owl before in my late father’s small garden/messy forest at night, many years ago. When I heard the hoo-hoo-hoo sound of the owl, I quickly grabbed a chair and a lousy camera, and rushed to the garden to video it. The owl was perched so high above me that I had difficulty filming it, but I did manage—though not without neck pain—all thanks to the cuteness of the owl.

I’ve also saved a kingfisher before! The kingfisher dived into my fish tank (which had lots of small fish) for a free meal. It had a good feast but couldn’t fly out of the tank—it was trapped. I heard my dog barking outside the house (the fish tank and the kingfisher were in the garden), and saw the struggling kingfisher. I caught it, and was amazed to see how beautiful it was. I decided to keep it for a while and placed it inside a cover. But the highly intelligent kingfisher managed to escape when it saw a gap (I opened a small gap to look at it) and quickly flew away.

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Q5. Can you share your experience with story writing?
I believe I was given stories to write. I have memories where an entire story suddenly entered my mind when I was not prepared for it—when I was doing other things such as washing dishes or walking. My first short story was about a brown bear searching for the sun on a hill. I wrote the story while sitting on a small stool, with a pen and paper in my hand.

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Q6. Can you share your experience as a soloist?
I was a soloist before, singing mainly good old hymns. Personally, I love classical music and musical songs such as The Sound of Music and The Phantom of the Opera.

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Q7. Tell us about your faith.
I am a Christian (a Presbyterian). I love to read the Bible, listen to sermons, and sing hymns.

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Q8. Some fun or unexpected facts about you:

1. I have long hair and have been trimming it myself for about 10 years, so I haven’t stepped into a salon for many years (there is a skill to trimming one’s long hair without regret or tears).

2. I can listen to Christmas songs on any non-Christmas day or season.

3. I normally use just one brush to complete a painting.

4. I often start a landscape painting with excitement, only to get a headache because of its complexity (for example: painting an Italian restaurant), but I still manage to complete the work.

5. I had a major asthma attack in mid-2018. I stopped breathing (experienced short term memory lost as well) and felt an unusual peace embracing me in that moment, before life returned about 2 minutes later.

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Q9. Your favourites:

Books: The Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit, The Little Prince, The Railway Children, The Pilgrim’s Progress, works by Jonathan Edwards, the Puritans, A Tramp Abroad by Mark Twain, and children’s books by Beatrix Potter. I also love reading history, and books on plants and animals.

Movies: I love classic Walt Disney cartoons, Winnie the Pooh, some animations by Hayao Miyazaki, history, nature and wildlife documentaries, travel videos that explore culture and history, The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and musical films such as The Sound of Music, The Phantom of the Opera, and Life is Beautiful (among many others).

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Q10. What are your dreams and hopes?
To paint and write full time as an artist-writer, publish my children’s books, and travel to Italy to paint.

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Q11. When you’re not working, how do you like to spend your time?
Walking (I am an avid walker), reading, writing, and spending time in nature.

African Penguins at the Beach, Watercolour Painting (Limited Edition of 7)

 

I am delighted that my African Penguins at the Beach watercolour painting is finally done! This painting is my 30th Limited Edition of 7 in my shop Denise Wong Arts.

"In this sunlit coastal scene, four African penguins gather at the water’s edge, their sleek forms reflected in the shimmering wet sand. The golden tones of the beach meet the gentle blues of the ocean, framed by weathered rocks that hint at the timeless rhythm of tides and the enduring beauty of the shoreline. Each penguin is caught in a distinct posture—two appearing to exchange quiet words, one mid-step as if about to join, and another gazing toward the horizon—offering a glimpse into the gentle social rhythms of these remarkable seabirds. Painted in delicate watercolour, the work blends soft washes with precise detail, capturing the texture of sand, the play of light on water, and the subtle character of each bird. The composition balances realism with warmth, inviting viewers to pause, linger, and share in a moment of seaside serenity where time seems to slow and the natural world takes centre stage."

The print size is 29″ × 20.7″, only 7 prints worldwide! Printed by The Print Space UK on Museum-grade Hahnemühle German Etching paper. The four penguins can’t wait to go to 7 homes… that’s 28 penguins altogether!

African Penguins at the Beach, Watercolour Painting

 

My latest latest African penguins at the beach watercolour painting is nearly done. I look forward to sharing the complete work here soon.

For now, here is the story of this painting:

"The Great Beach Debate"

It was a fine, sunny day at Boulder’s Beach, and the tide was low enough for serious penguin business to unfold. “Alright,” said Percy, the penguin in the middle, puffing his chest out. “We need to decide once and for all—are we going for a swim… or for ice cream?” Beatrice, to his left, tilted her head. “Ice cream. Obviously.” She gestured at the sun-baked rocks. “Perfect weather for it.” Gregory, standing opposite her, flapped his wings dramatically. “No, Beatrice! Swimming comes first! The waves are perfect, the fish are practically begging to be caught—”

 

From a distance, lonely Nigel stood staring at the water, ignoring them entirely. He was already in “ocean mode,” imagining himself gliding like an aquatic ballet dancer. “Look, Greg,” Beatrice said, “last time we went swimming first, you ate so much seaweed you got stuck in the kelp. And we still didn’t get ice cream.” Gregory scowled. “That was a tactical error.”

Percy rolled his eyes. “How about this—we swim to the ice cream shop.” There was a long pause.
Beatrice tapped her beak thoughtfully. “I’m in.” Gregory grinned. “That’s… actually brilliant.”

And just like that, the Great Beach Debate was settled. The four waddled toward the waves, dreams of fish and chocolate chip ice cream mingling in the salty air.

Little did they know, the ice cream shop had been closed for three days due to a very confused seagull invasion. But that’s another story.

Portrait of a Puffin, Watercolour Painting (Completed)

Dear friends, I am delighted that my Portrait of a Puffin watercolour painting is completed. This is my 28th Limited Edition Fine Art Prints (only 7 prints in the world). The Print size: 30″ × 22.1″ on Hahnemühle German Etching Paper. 

"This intimate portrait captures the striking beauty of the Atlantic puffin in quiet profile, its vivid beak aglow with warm tones of red, orange, and golden yellow. Painted in watercolour with fine detail and care, the puffin emerges with quiet strength and clarity, its feathers softly layered and its eye full of gentle alertness.

Set against a soft, impressionist-inspired background—gentle shades of green and blue that echo sea cliffs, distant grasses, and misty coastal air—the composition creates a sense of calm and open space. The puffin stands centered yet unconfined, as if caught in a moment of stillness before motion.

Balancing realism with atmosphere, this piece offers a contemplative pause within nature’s quiet beauty. Each brushstroke invites the viewer to slow down, to notice the elegance in stillness, and to connect with the gentle dignity of this beloved seabird." 

Portrait of a Puffin, Watercolour Painting

 I'm delighted that my portrait of a puffin watercolour painting is nearly completed. And I never expected that the background is bit impressionism. I truly look forward to seeing the painting completed.

Two Puffins, Side by Side, Watercolour Painting

Bathed in the soft light of a coastal afternoon, two puffins stand quietly along a worn earthen path, nestled among windblown grass and delicate wildflowers. Their vivid beaks and striking plumage contrast gently with the muted greens and ochres of the land, capturing a fleeting moment of stillness in their ever-moving world.

With a tender balance of realism and painterly charm, this watercolour painting invites us to pause—much like the puffins themselves—and appreciate the quiet companionship of these iconic seabirds. Through subtle textures and a restrained palette, this piece reflects a deep appreciation for nature’s rhythms and the intimate beauty of its less hurried moments.

Limited Edition (7 only) – Fine Art Prints, Print size: 26.9″×21.6″ on Hahnemühle German Etching, View the Prints  

Il Pozzo degli Etruschi, Italian Restaurant, Watercolour Painting

 

Step into a sun-kissed cobblestone alley in the heart of Italy, where time seems to slow and every detail invites you to linger. This watercolour painting, “Il Pozzo degli Etruschi,” captures the timeless beauty of a traditional Italian ristorante tucked within an ancient stone street, bathed in the golden light of late afternoon.

Rendered with exquisite care and warmth, the artwork draws the viewer into a peaceful, inviting scene. Warm terracotta hues and textured brickwork tell stories of generations past, while the wooden doorways and wrought iron signs reflect the region’s handcrafted heritage. The awnings stretch out to shade the neatly set tables below—each one quietly waiting for guests to arrive. A cascade of flowers spills from planters and hanging baskets, adding softness and color to the rustic setting.

The restaurant’s name, Il Pozzo degli Etruschi, evokes a poetic connection to history and place—“The Well of the Etruscans”—a nod to the ancient people who once inhabited this land. The spirit of Italian hospitality is alive here: comforting, authentic, and utterly romantic. This painting celebrates the beauty found in everyday life: the joy of shared meals, quiet streets, and places steeped in culture and charm. It’s a visual love letter to Tuscany, and to all the tranquil corners of Italy where art, architecture, and food come together in perfect harmony.

Created with delicate, transparent washes and subtle layering, the artist’s watercolour technique gives the work a luminous softness while preserving every architectural detail. It reflects countless hours of attentive observation and patient brushwork. Whether hung in a dining room, kitchen, or hallway, “Il Pozzo degli Etruschi” invites the viewer to dream, remember, and savor the simple beauty of everyday life in Italy.

Limited Edition (7 only) – Fine Art Prints, Print size: 30.0"x 30.2" on Hahnemühle German Etching, View the Prints