Ted Tsai

Episode 5 of Portrait Artist of the Year Season Two. Between “your time starts now” and “your time is up” is where the magic happened.

The artists, the judges, the hosts, the sitters, the crew and the audience were all there with the same purpose – to make it happen. We did it!

As the lights began to dim, I packed up my belongings, said goodbye to my fellow artists and walked towards the car park. That familiar feeling returned – the one I get when I finish a piece, sign off and file it away: a sense of emptiness. It was a good sign. It meant I had given it 100%, my all.

It’s the end of the episode, but the beginning of a new chapter.

To be continued…

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This is it! Here are my official publicity photos for Episode 5 of Portrait Artist of the Year Season Two.

Watch me and eight other talented artists pour our hearts and souls into creating our works of art in just four hours.

As the cameras began to roll, seeing my self-portrait displayed on the wall alongside eight other amazing self-portraits was quite surreal. It felt like walking into a hall of fame. We’ve made it!

It started as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and finished as a life-changing experience. It’s helped me expand my art practice to include more mediums and connect with like-minded artists.

If I proved anything that day, it’s that I can work under pressure while staying true to myself. I enjoyed it so much that I didn’t want the day to end.

What did I take away? A sense of accomplishment. You don’t need to be a winner to feel like a winner.

Tune in and watch us on ABC TV, Sunday 13 September at 7:30 pm.

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Titled Behind the Lenses, this piece explores the idea of vulnerability. It represents my way of expressing vulnerability as I feel mostly free and liberated when doing it through art and writing.

Using sunglasses as a metaphor in my work, what I’d like to leave with the viewer is: there’s also a time when it’s completely OK to exercise caution and protect our vulnerability hidden in plain sight under the sun…

Medium: Watercolour pencil on 250 gsm paper

Size: 29.7 x 42 cm

I’m a firm believer that some things are best left with professionals. For example, designing a logo. And when you have a brother who is a graphic designer with three decades of experience and a formal education and training in Visual Communication from UTS, you don’t go to anyone else.

From concept to completion in no time. A simple instruction is all it takes when leaving things in a professional’s capable hands. That’s what I like most about dealing with professionals: They are just so switched on. They get it. No further ideas need to be exchanged back and forth. In my case, the rest is to give my brother total freedom to express his creativity and work his magic. It’s an important reminder for future commissions: establish this ground rule from the outset.

Now, the story. As blue is my favourite colour, naturally I wanted my logo to reflect that tone in my name, TED TSAI. The word ART sits beneath it in a deliberately larger font, because art is larger than me, while its white colour represents the blank page I face each time I begin a new piece.

The result? It exceeded my expectations with an unexpected added bonus. The muted grey shadow along the lower edges gives just enough shade and form. It’s a subtle element that enhances its three-dimensional feel. I also see it as self-doubt that inevitably occurs when I stare at the blank page. That shadow of doubt is in fact a source of value and depth in art. I’ve learned to give self-doubt a break, and the credit it deserves.

It’s interesting how this little logo has a big story to tell. What’s so fascinating is that it not only showcases the face of the brand, but also the philosophy of my art practice and the creator behind it…

After progressing through multiple rounds of a rigorous selection process, out of close to 2,000 applications, I’ve been shortlisted for Portrait Artist of the Year Season Two.

To get this far is an honour and a privilege in itself. It’s indeed a significant milestone in my artistic journey.

As I stepped onto the set, I had only one goal in mind: show up and do it for the love of art.

Mission accomplished.

Stream Portrait Artist of the Year from Sunday 16 August, 7:30 pm on ABC iview and ABC TV.

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Titled Thinking of You, this artwork follows on from my previous piece, Bohemian. It depicts a dog separated from his owner.

Yet this piece stands alone and has a story of its own to tell. I dedicate it to anyone who misses a beloved pet…

Medium: Watercolour pencil on 250 gsm paper

Size: 21 x 29.7 cm

This artwork, titled Bohemian, is about choosing your creative path, even in the face of pressure to conform. The soft, muted tones reflect an identity shaped by quiet presence and the courage to express one’s artistic self.

It arrives at the right time, as this month marks my fifth anniversary of following my calling. Beneath the brushwork lies a personal story of my lifelong pursuit as an artist, marked by a transition from the corporate world to the art world…

Medium: Watercolour pencil on 250 gsm paper

Size: 29.7 x 42 cm

Sunday is my beach day, a rest day, but my mind is thinking about art all the time.

Here, three types of wildflowers flourish on their own in autumn, each representing a primary colour in the palette. Nature knows best. A little deliberate observation goes a long way.

A while ago, someone asked me where and how I find inspiration for my artwork. Let this be my answer…