EVERY so often, a painting finds its way into your life and stays there, not because you know what it means, but because of how it makes you feel.

I've never considered myself an art aficionado, though I've long been drawn to the light-dappled worlds of Claude Monet and the Impressionists, where ordinary moments seem to shimmer with beauty.

Closer to home, it's the work of Malaysian-born, New York-based artist Eng Tay that has held a particular place in my affections.

His paintings rarely clamour for attention. Couples sit side by side, families gather, musicians play; ordinary moments unfold with a warmth that makes you want to linger a little longer.