From Law to Art: Nature, Healing and the Journey Within
I’m Lisa
I was trained as a lawyer and I transitioned into the world of art more than a decade ago. My career transition was guided by a conviction in the power of art and creativity to transform lives. Today, I am an artist and certified Guided Drawing art therapist based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I have cultivated a unique, dual-discipline practice that bridges visual storytelling and emotional healing, all rooted in a deep belief in the interconnectedness of nature, humanity, and the psyche. My creative practice is an exploration of the dialogue between inner consciousness and the natural world, forged at the intersection of evocative painting and therapeutic art.
“Nature is my enduring muse - whether in the lush paddy fields, the depth of the ocean, or the majesty of mountains.”
Nature is my enduring muse - whether in the lush paddy fields, the depth of the ocean, or the majesty of mountains. Nature serves as both subject matter and metaphor. My Paddy Series (2017–2021) emerged as a meditative response to the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic, finding solace and profound symbolism in the cyclical rhythms of planting and harvest in Malaysian landscapes. These works are quiet testaments to the human capacities for patience, resilience, and the certainty of renewal and new beginnings. In painting the paddy fields, I find order amidst the chaos of the world. Later, my Ocean Series (2023) delves into the fluid and mysterious, using impressionistic, layered brushstrokes to parallel the unexplored depth of the deep ocean with the subconscious mind. Here, ethereal light piercing aquatic darkness becomes a powerful symbol of illumination and self-discovery emerging from within. The message of my ocean series is that all answers can be found within us. I have also been painting mountains over the years. Mountains represent strength, challenges, resilience, and spiritual ascent. In the coming months, I will create a new series that bring together the paddy fields, ocean life and the mountains (Body, Mind and Spirit).
My artistic journey reflects a growing dialogue with audiences locally and internationally. Following numerous group exhibitions in Malaysia, my solo exhibitions, Reflection (2021) and Inbound (2023) at Gallery 1819 in Singapore, marked significant milestones in presenting my cohesive exploration of inner and outer landscapes. This reach expanded globally in 2024, with participations in the Walt’s Waltz Mental Health Moonshot in South Carolina, USA, and a curated exhibition of 80 international female artists at On The Fringe gallery in New York’s Tribeca. These platforms affirm my work’s universal resonance and my commitment to art as a language of connection and healing.
“Through guided drawing, I help unlock the mind, release stress, and transform emotions into clarity and calm.”
Lisa Teo
Parallel and integral to my painting is my work in art therapy. My Guided Drawing sessions empower participants to bypass the rational mind to access and release subconscious patterns through the drawing of simple, rhythmic shapes with eyes closed and using both hands. This powerful method fosters tangible transformation, reported by participants as reduced anxiety, greater emotional clarity, and renewed confidence. My therapy extends from intimate one-on-one sessions to structured workshops for diverse groups, including corporate teams at AXA and Coca-Cola, university students at Taylor’s University, and broader community circles via holistic wellness festivals and community programs run by organisations such as SEGi College. As an HRD Corp certified trainer in Malaysia, I design corporate wellness programs that harness the power of drawing to manage work stress, enhance mental health, interpersonal relationships, and work productivity.
Ultimately, my practice underscores a core philosophy: that art is not merely expression but a vital pathway to health, wholesomeness and the understanding of Life. My landscapes and seascapes are thus imbued with a dual intention — to capture transcendent beauty while offering a reflective, therapeutic space for the viewer. Each canvas is an invitation to pause, contemplate, and embark on one’s own journey inward. Through my paintings and therapeutic workshops, I shall continue to foster an essential dialogue between art, nature, and the human spirit, and build a strong connection between contemporary art and holistic wellness.