Art, and the enjoyment of it, comes naturally to us as human beings. But in a fast-paced urban society like Singapore’s, our interaction with art is limited to mostly museums, galleries and art studios, which can seem disconnected from real life at times.
“People might think of an art studio as a separate world. We simply know it exists and that’s it, but we hardly ever see how it functions,” says Lee Teck Hiang, the founder of art studio The Art Bones. Breaking down this barrier was a large part of why he started the studio, hoping to create an open space where people can interact freely even while working on different mediums.
“We offer a variety of art classes ranging from painting to ceramics workshops. [Anyone] can simply walk over to another artist to mingle or observe… This allows first-hand interaction and observation, which breeds collaboration, curiosity, and growth,” says Teck Hiang.
The Art Bones’ philosophy is also to encourage creativity and expression among young individuals, without overemphasis on technicality as tradition art lessons might have. “We retain the key parts of both education and technique in our programmes, and are constantly trying to find that perfect balance between an atelier style and inquisitive learning,” shares Teck Hiang, who has been practising art himself for nearly 18 years and is a former educator. He shares his insights on how we can help young ones develop a greater appreciation of art.
How does creating art help the mental development of children?
Did you know that drawing is an important developmental milestone? Aside from the fact that creating art strengthens fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, it also increases the attention span and hones cognitive skills. While building, drawing and constructing their pieces, self-expression is crucial for children and sometimes art is the best mode of communication.
Personally, I’ve discovered that creating art helps children to focus and make observations. You might be surprised at what they pay attention to and catch what we might have missed.
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How did your experience as an educator impact the vision for your art studio?
In reality, our local schools are somewhat restricted in terms of the space and mediums available, so there is not much freedom for students to explore their craft. After seven years of formal teaching, I decided that there was more I could do for the community. So I started an accessible and welcoming studio that allows everyone of all experiences to explore all types of art, embrace all mediums and not be limited to the common ones we are used to in school.
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What kinds of art classes have been popular with children recently?
Tactile work such as clay or anything that involves 3D work is usually very popular with children. They are more tactile learners and children love using their hands to create, construct, and play! We also offer limited pop-up workshops that include more exotic offerings such as the wildly popular Terrazzo Jesmonite Workshop. In this workshop, they use marbling to design bright terrazzo-style jesmonite pieces. Children enjoy creating art that is colourful, and even better if it’s messy!
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Would you encourage parents to sit back and let their child explore the art on their own, or do it together with them?
I’ve seen parents who are overly hands-on, giving practical guidance at every step, such as instructing the kids on which colours to mix, how much to do, and where to paint. I’ve also seen laissez-faire parents who have little to no involvement in their kids’ creations. Both these methods are less than ideal, and striking a balance is key.
I would encourage parents to join in the creation and exploration together with their children. They can make suggestions, but give the child free rein and only stop them if the activity is dangerous. Give them more reassurance and encouragement, and less criticism or evaluation.
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What are your tips for introducing art to young children?
There is no need for any fancy tools — a large whiteboard with plenty of colourful markers is a good start. This large space gives children the freedom to doodle endlessly and it is a perfect space for creation and mess.
Parents need to learn to embrace the “mess”, and though it can be an eyesore, this mess is crucially important for the young ones. It allows children to go through journey of creating, which fosters their curiosity, imagination and problem-solving skills. It is one of the best ways for them to explore the world around them with all of their senses.
The art supplies you can start with depends on the age group of the children. For the younger kids, crayons and markers are perfect for them. You want something that is preferably big and easy to hold for small fingers. Just be sure to change the size of the crayons gradually into something smaller as their dexterity improves.
For older children, parents can consider air-dry clay to work with. The clay introduces them to tactile learning and also builds their creativity in a 3D space.
The Art Bones currently offers ceramics hand-building workshops and terrazzo jesmonite workshops for children during June and December school holidays. For more information, please visit www.theartbones.com.
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