17
Reggie had offered Jasmine a wooden hut on the far side of the padang to use as a studio. Open on one side, it got plenty of light. Overjoyed, for the first time in her life she had the time and space to experiment freely with her art without anyone looking over her shoulder or telling her to clear her materials away. There was even running water and a small tin sink where she could clean her brushes, as well as plenty of light, but away from the glare of direct sunshine.
She received a small monthly allowance from the sum of money left in trust for her by her father, so she had saved up and ordered an easel and some good quality oil paints. Malaya’s climate was not conducive to oil painting, as the high humidity made paintings slow to dry, but Reggie had suggested she try putting the
