But the 69-year-old does not view them as such; rather, “I go there and simply teach what I know. That’s what makes things comfortable between us as there are no barriers,” he tells FMT.
“We joke around and really enjoy ourselves in the class as we paint and learn together. We have even organised outdoor and overnight trips to paint.”
One special memory for him was the time the group took a trip to KLCC Park to paint wisterias.
Cheng believes the class is beneficial as it keeps their minds occupied while helping them find support from one another within the group.
It also gives him a sense of contentment. “I feel very satisfied teaching them because they are very positive and jovial,” he says.
Cheng’s love for art began when he was very young.
“I would be so engrossed that sometimes, I would even use my finger to ‘paint’ in the air,” he recalls with a laugh.
“I lived in an old shophouse that had a skylight. In the mornings, the sun would shine on the landing of the staircase, and that was my favourite spot to paint.”
This was the start of his affinity for old buildings and architecture. Cheng eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 1988, and practised for close to 20 years.
Despite being busy during this period, he would occasionally attend art courses and shows at galleries, which gave him the opportunity to get to know other artists.
But it wasn’t until his retirement in 2009 that he was able to devote more time to his passion.
Cheng – who hails from Sungai Petani in Kedah but resides in KL – has always been interested in Chinese culture, and describes Chinese ink painting as his forte.
He has, nevertheless, also learnt about other types of painting such as oil, acrylic, pastel, and portrait.
Cheng says there is great interest in Chinese ink painting in Malaysia, and he even has Malay and Indian students in his class at the National Cancer Society. “After all, art is a universal language,” he says.
So, where does he get his inspiration from? Mostly his travels.
“I would see many sceneries and landscapes that really touched my heart and left vivid images in my mind. I love looking at mountains, rivers and waterfalls,” he reveals.
On his travels, Cheng would bring along a small sketchbook and occasionally some watercolours. “When my wife and son visited certain places, I would sit down and sketch the scenery as I waited for them.”
He also joined Sketchwalk Kuala Lumpur, a non-profit community of art enthusiasts who would draw in the city every week.
“We even travelled to countries such as Bangkok, Hanoi, Taiwan and Indonesia to sketch,” he recalls fondly.
Sharing the joy of art
According to Cheng, art can be a form of therapy. “When you paint, you can get caught up in the process – every stroke you make and the colour composition you create.
“Then, when you’re finally finished, there’s this sense of accomplishment and satisfaction,” he says.
“During the pandemic, I felt down as I couldn’t go out. Painting really gave me peace of mind, and I started looking forward to each subsequent day so I could paint.”
He intends to spend his golden years creating and sharing his passion with others. “Every morning after breakfast, I am already painting and I really enjoy myself,” he shares warmly.
Apart from his class at the National Cancer Society, Cheng teaches senior citizens at a community centre in Overseas Union Garden (OUG) here, and looks forward to teaching a group of Myanmar children in a refugee camp next month.
“Children are just like a piece of blank paper, and I want to create a space for them where they are free to express themselves,” he adds.