By Osman Mia

USD4,500 excluding shipping

I was "commissioned" by my 14-year old niece Sophie to make a painting for her room which she shares with her elder sister Marsha. She showed me the wall space above her bed and clearly said she wanted pastel colours.

Somehow what I thought she meant was light colours, something not too contrasting and not necessarily pastel colours. Maybe it's because I've never thought of a pastel-coloured painting as fine art. I went for azo yellow medium, vermilion and pthalo turquoise. For black, I mixed the three and included quinacridone red violet. She had said she liked the beach, so I made the abstract with a sense and feel of a beach.

When the painting was nearly complete, I sent her a photo. She said, "I like it, but it doesn't match with the theme of my room." What could I say except, "I guess I'll have to make another one. Tell me again, what is the theme?" She sent me an image of a palette of pastel colours. Undeniably, what she nean was pastel colours.

Watch out for "Pastel Beach", coming soon.