Penang Postcards in Watercolour

Thomas Ngo's Penang Watercolour Postcards (23 November 2014)


Penang Postcards in Watercolour is a small business created by artist Thomas Ngo. It occupies one side of the bicycle shop Love Bike, on Love Lane in George Town. I came across Thomas's shop when I was walking down Love Lane one evening.

Thomas paints scenes of George Town in watercolour. I thought they are all very nice, and kind of reminded me of Penang's most famous watercolour artist, the late Tan Choon Ghee. As it turns out, Thomas learn to paint from his father, another famous artist, Ngo Teong Beng (born 1950), who knew the late Mr Tan.

According to Thomas, he learned to paint through "accident", so to speak. As a young boy, he had to follow his on the back of the motorbike holding the canvas, as his father took him to different spots to paint. It was harsh, as the wind on the canvas would occasionally toss him off the bike. Then there follows the hours of waiting around while his father busied himself with the painting. It was then that he decided to do some sketches of his own. When Thomas's father saw his work, the elder Ngo immediately realised that the talent has seeped down to the next generation. And since then, he began to teach young Thomas to paint.

Thomas Ngo (23 November 2014)


That was how Thomas Ngo got his start in watercolours. In late 2014, he opened the bicycle shop Love Bike in partnership with a few buddies. He also took one side of the shop for his watercolour postcards.

Getting there

If you are going down Love Lane from Farquhar Street, look for Love Bike on your left. It is the second shophouse before the junction with Stewart Lane.

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