Like a Lilac, Like a Dream

Like a Lilac, Like a Dream is a serene and contemplative still-life painting that evokes a sense of quiet elegance and fleeting beauty. A bouquet of soft purple lilacs, their delicate petals full of grace, rests in a simple white vase atop a pristine white table. Above them, a light casts soft, diffused light that enhances the painting’s dreamy atmosphere.

Beside the vase, a basket of vibrant yellow fruit provides a striking contrast—its warmth and richness standing out against the cool, monochromatic backdrop. The composition balances delicacy and vibrancy, stillness and life, inviting the viewer to reflect on the contrast between permanence and impermanence, presence and absence.

The restrained color palette creates an almost ethereal quality, as if the scene exists in a quiet, introspective moment—a memory suspended in time, like a lilac, like a dream.

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"Paint, as if the brush is an extension of my arm, my body and my mind. Paint, as if my art is blossoming on the strong shoots with the energy of harmony flowing within. "

Cheryl is an Australian artist of Chinese heritage, born in Yunnan, China. She began studying Chinese calligraphy at age ten and later developed a focused practice in Chinese brush painting, exploring its techniques and philosophical roots.
Her work centres on still life, birds, and botanicals, using both the mogu (boneless) technique and meticulous brushwork to balance fluidity with precision. Through ink and colour, she captures movement, harmony, and atmosphere.
Now based in Australia, Cheryl draws inspiration from the natural environment, particularly native birds and flora. Her works have been exhibited in the East Meets West Arts Exhibition (2024) at Hunter Valley Wetland Centre, reflecting both artistic expression and an awareness of wildlife conservation.
Cheryl actively supports charitable causes in Australia, contributing to initiatives such as brain cancer treatment by donating proceeds from her artwork sales to the Neuro Surgical Research Foundation.
She is a member of the Australian Watercolour Institute and was an exhibiting member of the Ku-ring-gai Art Society, with a practice that bridges Eastern tradition and contemporary expression.