ESTHER Law Lee Poh, hailed as the “Woman of Wisdom” by prominent Chinese media in Malaysia, is a dynamic entrepreneur, educator, and writer.
Passionate about sharing life experiences and spreading love and inspiration, she continually seeks life breakthroughs, embraces challenges, and sets new goals fuelled by self-encouragement for a sustainable competitive advantage in her career and daily life.
Renowned as the founder and chairwoman of the YAST Group, Esther’s journey into the realm of painting is nothing short of inspiring.
Her artistic endeavours were sparked by a desire to cultivate her character, seeking a hobby that would bear the fruits of personal growth.
The 49-year-old entrepreneur said the muse for her artistic pursuit manifested during her global travels, particularly influenced by doctor friends who owned their galleries.
“That was many years ago, in 2012–2013. Deep inside my heart, I feel like if I had my own gallery one day, it would be nice. I keep in my heart.
“But usually, when I wish something to happen, I will make it happen. But not right away,” she told New Sarawak Tribune.
While serving at a cancer hospital in China, Esther’s dream of having her gallery incubated within her.
In 2015, during a well-deserved break, she decided to explore her artistic side as a hobby.
Despite lacking formal training, she bravely ventured into the world of canvas.
The initial attempt was marked by instinct and recalled memories from secondary school art classes.
She said an unexpected visit to a bookstore triggered the commencement of her painting journey.
“I remember that one afternoon, my husband, daughter, and I went to Popular bookstore in Tun Jugah mall.
“I went to the painting corner. I know canvas is canvas, and paper is paper. I had no idea what acrylic paint was, let alone the aluminium painting instruments.
“But I pick up based on my instinct. As well as the water colour.
“And that night, I was excited. I didn’t have a painting corner yet. I just sit in my sitting area; I did what I learned in secondary school.
“Took the water, the unused plate, and just put the colours. Just recalling what I learned in school I just draw small paintings. I tried different patterns,” she said.
Talent, as Esther believes, can be cultivated through desire.
Her strong yearning to make art happens fuels her progress.
Sharing her first masterpiece, Hearts, on WeChat, she noted that she garnered positive responses, reinforcing her commitment to painting.
“Maybe my inspiration came because I would really like it to happen. It was my strong desire that drove me to make things happen.
“I’m not talented, though. But sometimes talent can be cultivated based on desire.
“Then I posted on my WeChat that the paint is very good. Since then, I have started to paint,” she added.
A surge of inspiration, akin to the flow of ideas in writing, guided her artistic instincts.
Astonishing herself with the outcomes, Esther found an energy within her work that transcended her expectations.
“I call it energy. Just like when you write. When the idea comes, it just flows. I just do it based on my instinct. I even came to be amazed at my work,” she remarked.
As she delved deeper into her intuition through more paintings, a profound connection between thoughts, intuition, and action unfolded.
“I continue to explore my intuition by doing more paintings. The more I draw, the more I discover the power of our inner thoughts.
“I got to understand more about the coordination between my thoughts, my intuition, and my action,” said Esther.
Esther then said she started doing research about the process that she had gone through.
“I started to find out why through Google, and I discovered that people in other parts of the world were going through the same process that I went through.
“I found out that my style of painting is called intuitive painting. These are the answers I discovered through my research.”
Despite not considering herself an artist, Esther’s Tranquillity art made waves in unexpected ways.
An auction saw one piece fetching RM33,000 with another piece commanding RM12,000.
Astonishingly, she donated every cent to charity, exemplifying her altruistic philosophy.
“I do not sell my paintings, as I don’t see myself as an artist. I never expected my Tranquillity art to be auctioned for RM33,000. And another RM12,000 for another piece.”
The first contribution went to Orang Asli Education, showcasing Esther’s commitment to using her artistic pursuits for the greater good.
Her painting philosophy is simple yet profound: follow your heart, for it can never be wrong.
This mantra, she said, has been the compass guiding her through nearly 100 paintings since 2015.
She asserted that each art takes two to three hours to create, a testament to her dedication and passion for the craft.
Currently, Esther is on the brink of yet another milestone in her artistic journey.
Fifty-four of her paintings are in the process of being compiled into a book titled “Life Senses,” set to be available on Amazon.
This collection encapsulates the essence of her creativity and the evolution of her skills over the years.
During our visit to her office, Esther presented her radiant artwork titled Glowing to New Sarawak Tribune and Suara Sarawak chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Dr Jeniri Amir.
Notably, her collections have also graced the spaces of important figures like Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
From her first painting in 2015, to the upcoming book release, Esther’s artistic odyssey is a testament to the transformative power of passion and desire.
Her story not only reflects personal growth but also highlights the ability of art to impact lives and contribute to noble causes.
As she continues to follow her heart, her artistic legacy unfolds with each stroke of the brush, leaving an indelible mark on the canvas of her life.
