The Art of Khik Weng Keat

  Amphibious Attraction , acrylic on canvas, 2022. 24" X 33" Amphibians are cold-blooded animals that have a "double life". They begin in water, as jelly-covered eggs which hatch into tadpoles that breathe through gills and swim with their tails. The tadpoles change shape as they grow into adults that breathe through lungs and walk on land on four legs. There are around 4000 species of amphibians which live all over the world except the polar regions.  The blue poison dart frog ( Dendrobates tinctorius "azureus" , top left) is a species of poison dart frog found in northern Brazil. Its bright, blue skin, usually darker around its limbs and stomach, serves as a warning to predators. It also secretes poisonous alkaloids from glands as a defense mechanism to potential predators. The black spots are unique to each frog, enabling individuals to be identified. Staying close to water sources, it spends most of its active time, during the day, hopping around in sh...

 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...

 COOL AND CRAZY CROAKERS There are more than 4300 species of frogs and toads around the world. They have survived the course of evolution unchanged thanks to having a handful of adaptations and survival methods. There is a large difference between frogs and toads. Frogs have smoother skin than toads which have bumpy skin, and frogs had longer and stronger hind legs to enable them to jump long distances while toads usually crawl due to their shorter legs. Cool and Crazy Croakers , acrylic on canvas, 2021. Set of 9, each piece 8" X 8"  European Toad Croakers' Swamp Life , acrylic on canvas, 2021. The European toad is a widespread toad living in most of Europe and western Siberia. It is nocturnal, which means it is more active at night than during the daytime when it usually lies hidden. It is the fourth most commonly-distributed amphibian in Europe. Below the toad in the painting is the Asian edible frog ( Hoplobatrachus rugulosus ), also known as the "tiger skin frog...