The Art of Khik Weng Keat

These bird paintings are made by the artist as part of his training journey. Quetzal , acrylic on art block, 2018 The resplendent quetzal ( Pharomachrus mocinno ) is a green bird known for its colorful feathers. The quetzal is regarded by Mesoamerican (Mexican and Central American) cultures as a divine bird and a representation of flying snake deities in their mythology. It is also the national bird of the Central American country of Guatemala, and their monetary unit is named after the bird. Mandarin Duck (male) , acrylic on art block, 2018 The Mandarin duck ( Aix galericulata ) is a spectacular-looking duck from east Asia, where it became a symbol of love and affection. The male (pictured) has the species' striking coloration, with multi-colored plumage, orange neck feathers and "sails" on its back.  Mallard (male) , acrylic on art block, 2018 The mallard ( Anas platyrhynchos ) is the most widespread duck in the world and the precursor to the domestic duck. The male mal...

These paintings by the artist is part of a study based on life study of fruits. Red Apple with Droplet , acrylic on art block, 2018 The water droplet on the apple seems to be the main attracting point for its refractive characteristic. Banana , acrylic on art block, 2018 A ripe banana is yellow with brown spots and is soft. The banana in the painting is in its early stage of ripening, as there are hints of green on it. Pineapple , acrylic on art block, 2018 The "scales" of a pineapple which contain spines are called the "eyes" of a pineapple. Red Grapes , acrylic on art block, 2018 The grapes pictured are Red Globe grapes which are large, have seeds and firm flesh. They can be consumed fresh, dried for raisins, and made into various grape juices. Because of their large size, they can also be used as ice cubes in beverages when frozen in water. Rambutan , acrylic on art block, 2018 The leathery skin of a rambutan is red (rarely orange or yellow) and covered with soft...

  Bear No Evil: Temptation , acrylic on canvas, 2021. 18" X 18" This painting is inspired by the "three wise monkeys" which are posed covering their body parts. One covers its ears ("hear no evil"), another covers its eyes ("see no evil") and the third covers its mouth ("say no evil"). The choice of the three bears to imitate the monkeys' poses, namely a panda, a polar bear and a grizzly bear, is inspired by the cartoon show, We Bare Bears . It pictures a scene when the polar bear is trying to resist its temptation to catch and eat a walrus that had popped out of nowhere, by covering its mouth ("taste no evil" in this context). The panda covers its ears and the grizzly bear covers its eyes. They wouldn't "bear" to hear or see the possible commotion and the fate of both the polar bear and the walrus, as both of them are equally matched in strength. The walrus seems to be confused because the bears are acting ...

The Metal Mushroom , acrylic on canvas, 2019. 20 X 20 cm This painting is inspired from a morning walk where the artist finds a suspicious-looking "mushroom" stuck on a piece of wood. The "mushroom" turned out to be a large steel nail. The piece of wood where the strange "mushroom" is stuck in is surrounded by a cluster of purple mushrooms, also from the real-life scene.  

 These pencil sketches by the artist as part of his training journey. Jaguar and Anaconda , pencil on 200gsm art block, 2018. This drawing depicts a jaguar and a green anaconda encountering each other in the Amazon rainforest. The green anaconda is one of the most aquatic of all snakes, living most of its life in the water. Desert Life , pencil on 200gsm art block, 2018 This drawing features life in the North African desert, specifically in Egypt as the pyramids are featured in the background. The animals include dromedary camels, a fennec fox, a scorpion and a peregrine falcon. The desert plants in the drawing are palm trees. Swinging Apes , pencil on 200gsm art block, 2018 This drawing features two of the most popular tree-living apes: the chimpanzee and the orangutan.  Giraffe and Gazelle , pencil on 200gsm art block, 2018 The drawing features a giraffe feeding near a tree with a Thomson's gazelle beside it. Australian Marsupials , pencil on 200gsm art block, 2018 The drawi...

 UNUSUAL YET UNIQUE Among the freaks of nature came those that look ordinary to others. Although they may look like their close relatives, they also sport unusual features that make them stand out from the rest of their kin. These adaptations are the products of their evolution in order to survive and thrive in their changing environment. Unusual Yet Unique , acrylic on canvas, 2021. Set of 9, each piece 8" X 8"  Aardvark Aardvark Eating Ants , acrylic on canvas, 2021. The aardvark ( Orycteropus afer ) is a nocturnal burrowing mammal that lives in sub-Saharan Africa. Its closest living relative is the elephant. Its name comes from the Afrikaans word for "earth pig". The aardvark has an elongated head and small mouth, typical for an animal that feeds on ants and termites. It slurps up its prey using its long tongue that measures 30 centimeters long. Lungfish Aqua Lungs , acrylic on canvas, 2021. Lungfish are a group of fish that are able to live out of water and brea...