Peranakan Art Corporate Team Bonding Workshops

Great to see a corporate design team getting creative at one of Singapore's oldest Hokkien temples! Yummy Kueh sweets and local coffee powered our enjoyable carving and printing session. Surrounded by Peranakan floor tiles and the nearby Peranakan Tile Gallery, there was lots of inspiration! 

Learn how a creative workshop can benefit your team!

“It was a relaxing environment to get to know colleagues outside of work context. I had a fun time with them :) ”

— Edalene Tay 

“We had tons of fun, and it was interesting to see one another’s masterpieces in process. I enjoyed myself very much. ”

— Lim Li Li

Children's Printing Workshop

Looking for interesting experiences for your children? Book a printing session tailored made to your group! In this recent workshop, I had parents with children as young as five years enjoy a two-hour session of printing. It was a fun and satisfying morning for both parents and children as they produced some colourful works as part of a home schooling art activity. It's also a good way for kids to connect to Singapore's heritage since many of the rubber blocks we use in the workshop are inspired by Peranakan tile design. 

The Next Generation - LASALLE College of the Arts

Love teaching the next generation! I recently enjoyed teaching Fashion Diploma students at LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore. Seems like just yesterday when I was printmaking student at university! It's great to see students from Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, China and Singapore learning together.

It was really interesting to see what kind of motifs the students came up with. Some also used my Peranakan tile inspired rubber blocks along with their own blocks, and the results were amazing. I hope the overseas students learn all they can about the various cultural influences behind modern day Singapore while they are here. I look forward to seeing the fashion lines that they produce in the near future! 

Chinese New Year Printing

I always enjoy running my Chinese New Year printing workshops in January. Students recently enjoyed a special series of seasonally inspired printing sessions to make decorative table runners. Students used a library of Peranakan tile designs, Chinese auspicious flowers and Chinese written characters to create gorgeous personalised designs.  Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Missed out? Check out upcoming workshops.

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Peranakan Printing Takes Over Toa Payoh Library!

I was invited to teach linocut printing to senior members of the community last month as part of Silver Arts Festival 2016. It was a privilege to be with different member of the community and watch as they got the hang of transferring their designs, carving and printing. Many were first-timers to taking an art class, and we had a really enjoyable afternoon together. 

If you missed out this time, join my other workshops or subscribe to my monthly newsletter for future events. 

Printing on a High - National Gallery Rooftop Studio Workshop

Teaching art in Singapore was a particularly amazing experience recently during my linocut workshop at National Gallery Singapore. The gallery's rooftop studio was the scene of much carving, printing and laughter as students learnt basic linocut printing. I was delighted to be invited to create a series of images inspired by architecture features of the two national monuments that form Singapore's largest art museum. Students created an amazing variety of prints and I love how many shared blocks and inks - spontaneous artistic collaboration! 

Missed out? Like my Facebook or subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date with workshops and events! 

Linocut Printing - Combined Paper and Fabric Workshop

Printing your own fabrics and stationery is such fun - and it was great to recently combine two workshops so that students could get an insight into each technique. The same 'linocut train' takes all the students to the transfer, tracing and carving stops. Then there are two tracks - one for printing on fabric and one for printing on paper. Same, same but different as some might say!

The good thing about the type of lino we use is that it can work with both paper ink and fabric ink. It's nice to know that students who print on fabric this time might be sending friends some handmade cards in the same design next time! My new stationery set with greeting cards, envelopes and wrapping paper comes with instructions and an envelope template - great for putting your own touch on presents! 

Being creative with other like-minded people is something I really enjoy about my workshops. It's relaxing to make things on your own, but sometimes a studio environment is just what you need to being out the (efficient!) artist in you. It's also lovely to see students making new friends as well as enjoying time with friends that they bring along. 

Heritage tiles are the inspiration for many of the designs we use in my workshops. It's one thing to admire the beautiful designs (beneath your feet!) but it's another to take the time out to carve and create these designs. The process of mixing colours and working out patterns really makes these architectural features 'yours' in my view. To think you can take incorporate a little of Singapore in something you make is special. Try your hand at a unique art workshop by subscribing to my newsletter or check out upcoming workshops! 

Creative Corporates - Team Building Workshops & Printing events

Team bonding! As a former corporate warrior (in Japan!), I know how important it is to be able to work with people of different nationalities and backgrounds. It's vital to allow colleagues to develop stronger bonds  - outside the office kitchen! I love seeing how art can help people to get to know each other in a relaxed and creative environment. 

Art workshops can also be a feature at events. I was recently invited to host a Peranakan tile inspired printmaking session for a media launch at Hotel Indigo Katong, a new boutique hotel in Singapore. Members of the press used linocut blocks that I custom-made based on designer tiles at the hotel. As you can see from the photos, the event was a lot of fun! 

Contact me to learn more about my tailored art workshops for companies.  

Team Bonding, Corporate Events, Team Building, Art Workshops

How to Destress Through Art

After years as a translator in the Japanese corporate world, I think I know what it's like to feel stressed at work! That's why I love to help my students feel relaxed and inspired in my art workshops. 

Preparing for the morning's workshop!

Powerpoint presentations, endless emails and unrealistic deadlines (and for Japanese workers....'humble' language and 'respectful' language where verb endings change completely) can seem a world away once art calls your attention. 

Getting started with transferring our favourite images! 

I work hard to make sure my workshops are fun and have very achievable goals. But in order to achieve these, participants quickly find that the mini targets ahead of them require a kind of quiet focus. 

From one little block...

When their hands are busy, there's no way my students can be making calls or checking their messages! In fact, often there's barely enough time to take admiring photographs of the process. 

You get this great print! 

I choose background music that is lively but not energy draining. I sprinkle some essential oils around and I make sure my home studio is uncluttered and inviting. Hence more excuses to buy decorative batik textiles to scatter around...

Different colour and different placement! 

I encourage my students to take a good break between carving and printing. I'm not joking when I say they need to up their blood sugar levels ahead of power printing! 

Ready to print! 

Getting ready for printing is like giving a concert - a lot of things are put in place before you even appear on stage. In fact, most of the preparation is done long before the class even starts!

And here's the first print in hot pink - love it! 

Knowing your destination - clearing a space for your freshly printed images, lining up all your tools, having your paper ready at hand. These somewhat boring considerations are all essential once you get printing. But it's these points that help my students feel confident and calm. 

And now we'll add another colour! 

It's great when participants have fun mixing up colours and trying new things! Everyone is so different. Some people have a very clear idea of their goal and others just work it out as they go along. 

Lovely turquoise colour. 

Unexpected lines, wonky alignment, a few finger prints...that's the nature of the handmade print. Perhaps it shows how much we have become accustomed to perfectly Photoshopped images! 

Coloured centre - a totally different look! 

Since I started teaching, it's increasingly obvious that art has benefits beyond just creating beautiful pictures. I'm so glad when people have the courage to explore this often neglected part of themselves. And I feel inspired when I see my students doing new things that I hadn't thought of. To teach is to learn! 

Happy to hear that this participant had an enjoyable session! 

Physical health, mental health - taking the time out to explore your creative side is also a great way to make new friends, learn new skills and find out something about yourself! 

Linocut printing - peranakan style

'I took this workshop because of my interest in things Peranakan and also to learn a new craft/skill. I would recommend this workshop as it’s a good starting point in learning the craft.' - Jenny Ng, Singapore

Some new designs got a work-out in my recent Peranakan Lino Workshop. It was interesting trying out various colour and pattern combinations. It's always a thrill seeing how each student's unique carving and printing style produces amazingly different prints.  

I love using these heritage floor tile designs and I've begun to group them into categories. Some types are circular with a kind of flower centre. These can create really beautiful and striking designs, especially when printed on a large scale. The same tile can be printed by spinning it around the other way - resulting in a totally different looking image! 

I'm looking forward to our next workshop - check out the dates here! I hope to make it as enjoyable as it was for this workshop's students. Thanks for the nice review! 

Peranakan Tile Workshop

The final print - and then other designs possible by reversing the block! 

Powered on pineapple tarts, this workshop is fast-paced and fun! It's great to see the different carving styles and printed effects. I love to see participants come from zero carving experience to creating a beautiful matrix that they can use for multiple projects - cards, envelopes and even for fabric prints!

Don't miss the fun - join our next workshop in March! 

Press Play Series: Peranakan Linocut

Lovely to spend a Sunday afternoon with such an enthusiastic group of creators today! Enjoyed seeing their artwork and confidence develop as they mastered the basics of linocut printing in 2.5 hours...Book now for the next Peranakan Tile Linocut workshop on Saturday 27 February 2016 - limited places! 

#pressplaysg #jenniferlimartist #linocut #artworkshopsg

National Library Arts Program

Press Play 3 has kicked off! For the next three months, the National Library of Singapore is running an exciting program of creative workshops and events aimed at bringing in young adults to the libraries around town. 

I'm honoured to be part of this yearly program and excited about teaching Peranakan Linocut - one of a few boutique workshops that I run regularly. We're going to learn how to transfer, carve and print - and enjoy designs often seen on Peranakan tiles. By the way, what is Peranakan? You can learn more here!  

You could also win a voucher to one of my Peranakan Art workshops worth SGD$95! Make sure to follow the instructions on the Press Play 3 Facebook page. 

Don't worry if you missed out on this library workshop as I've got a workshop set for 10am-12.30pm, Saturday 27 February 2016. Details to come - contact me to book your spot!  

Printmaking at Waterloo Street

Creativity, chicken rice and chatting! A great all-day workshop today for beginner students of Japanese Woodblock. See some of the beautiful multiple prints made after students hand-carved their blocks...Next workshop: Easy-Print Japanese Woodblock, 11-2pm, Saturday October 24, 2015. 

EASY-PRINT JAPANESE WOODBLOCK WORKSHOP

Express Japanese Woodblock workshops give you the chance to try this some 400-year-old craft in Singapore! Inquire to learn more. 

Creative Saturday Workshop

Lots of #colour decisions and a wonderful array of #woodblock #prints from today's first Saturday Easy-Print #Japanese Woodblock Workshop! Freshly made (capsule - cough!) coffee helped power our manual printing machines this morning. Love the colour combinations! 

Art deco meets Art Nouveau? 

Inking up this delicate flower - not too heavy and not too light...

Yummy range of colours - even better up close!  

The power behind the baren...

Practicing handling the paper and registering the corners. 

The block having a break! 

New friends! 

Ink 'dabbing' brushes and printing brushes! 

Playpen hacking...perfect for drying papers from the wet stack, which keeps the washi paper nice and damp while printing! 

EASY-PRINT JAPANESE WOODBLOCK WORKSHOP

Japanese Woodblock Printing without the hefty carving! Print your own Peranakan inspired prints using specially created blocks. Join the Easy-Print Japanese Woodblock Workshop on Friday 26 June, 10am-1pm. Saturday classes also available (Saturday, 4 July, 2015). Book your spot now!

Four-colour print - Victorian inspired art nouveau print

Woodblock printing set-up. Incredible variation possible using watercolour paints and a press - your arm! 

Another great workshop! 

Japanese Woodblock Workshop - June 2015

I just love teaching this class and seeing how students master the technique and unique nature of this craft. The dampness of the paper, the grain of the block, the humidity in the room...and how much caffeine/sweets have been consumed all adds character to the prints! 

See the beautiful multiple block prints made by students in my recent workshop. And a kind review: 

'Jennifer Lim would have been the teacher that I would have loved to have been taught by at school - she is incredibly calm, patient and meticulous in her method and her workshop was such a pleasure to take part of. 

This was my first experience in wood blocking and it was something that I thoroughly enjoyed.  Jennifer took me through every step with great guidance and explained everything so well that by the end I felt I had become quite competent in my new skill - thank you Jennifer.'

- Natalie Blayney

#artsg #artclasses #jenniferlimdesign