Many, Many, Anyhow, Anyhow

A Children’s Drawing exhibition by Nel Lim at L’Observatoire @ Blue House

13th May till 2nd June, 2017.

Please note: Exhibition has been extended till the Friday 2nd of June.

If you plan on visiting, please make an appointment with either of us:

Isabelle – 92734991 or by email idesjeux@mac.com (Curator)  And Nel – 9645 9621 or by email MrNelYSL@gmail.com (Artist)

For this exhibition, artist Nel Lim, who teaches Arts and Craft, has pasted a large part of his children’s drawings collection on the walls, the ceiling, the windows!

The exhibition is interactive and there is a space for the children to draw, inspired by the drawings. There are also a number of challenges offered to the children, to encourage them and start them looking carefully at all the drawings (e.g. find the details, “what do you think this drawing represents?” “How many categories of drawings do you count?”, “How many pictures do you think are in the space?”…). There is also a challenge for adults, as we try to get educators/parents/artists to think about the role of free drawing in children’s expression. Finally, both Nel, the artist and myself (as the curator), would be most happy to engage in a discussion about children’s drawings on any level.

It would be our great pleasure to see you AND THE CHILDREN come and visit!

Although we try to open every day from 10:30 till 4:30 pm, we are flexible on the hours (we can be there earlier!), and will be happy to take you around the space – do give us a call to arrange a time, or by email to Nel and/or myself (See contact above)

Due to the size of the space, we recommend that group no larger than 15 children visit at a time. It is nicer if you give the children time to explore and draw at their own leisure, and for this, you should plan 20 to 30 minutes for a visit.

Drawing, Folding, Colour and Light – First week of classes!

Classes have started again this week! We never have more than 7 student per class, so at the start of a new term, when some students move on, there are often a small number of spaces available. Look below and see if there is something for you. If you have a group of 3 or more students, however, we’d have to start a new class for you.

Painting Our Book Covers…

On Monday (3:30-4:30 class), in Drawing Class, the 5 year olds took inspiration from simple bottles and learned to see the details that makes one different from the other, and started drawing their own.

Teacher: Richard. Number of places available for new students: 2

Still-Life by  5-year old student

On Monday (4:45-6:15 class), in the ArtScience Class the 7-10 year olds discovered the wonders of magnifying glasses, fresnel lenses, magnifying with water, and projection on frosted sheet. The went home with their own home-made Camera Obscura!

Teacher: Isabelle. Number of places available for new students: 0

Shoe-box camera obscura

On Tuesday (3:00-4:00), in Drawing Class it was the first class for a group of enthusiastic 6 and 7-year olds. They tried mark-making with a variety of media, and drew the first element of the large drawing project that will continue over the weeks.

Teacher: Richard Kearns. Number of places available for new students: 0

On Tuesday (4:00-5:00), the more advanced 6 and 7-year olds tackled the same project: Looking and Drawing a coffee cup from different angles.

Teacher: Richard. Number of places available for new students: 1

Looking at and drawing a coffee cup, with Richard.

On Wednesday (4:30-5:30), in Art and Crafts (for ages 6-8 or older), we started looking at how to make books, looking through the studio’s collection of hand-made artist books. The students then painted sheets to be used for the cover of their first book…

Teacher: Isabelle. Number of places available for new students: 3

Some acrylic-decorated papers from the studio, to inspire the budding artists

On Thursday (3:30-4:40) in Art and Science for the Little Ones, we also started with some art, and looking at the “technology” required to make a book, the different parts of a book. The students looked at the collection of artist books, taking in how each did not comply with the classic definition of a book, but argued about whether they were still books or not! They each chose their favorite book (based on colour, story, format…), and set out to also paint a cover to start their book.

Teacher: Isabelle. Number of places available for new student: 0

Showing off their favorite books from the collection. Some made by students, some by artists.

on Saturday (9:30-11:30), at the Open Studio for teenagers (from age 12), we welcomed 2 new students and the first class was aimed at getting to know each other, exploring styles and finding out what everyone’s favorite medium was. Easels will come up next week! Upon my remark that the class was so quiet, Emma (16) remarked:

“It’s like when you give a small kid an ice cream. They go quiet as they enjoy their treat. It’s the same for us when you give us something to draw”

Teacher: WeiXin. Number of places for new student: 2

Drawing still life with WeiXin

On Saturday (12:00 -1:30), Drawing Class for advanced 8-11 year olds, children decided to fold origami cranes. The first decorated a variety of papers with a chosen patten and learned to fold their animal step-by-step. Those will be used as drawing props for next week before going home as mobiles.

Teacher: WeiXin. Number of places for new student: 0

If you are interested to enrol in either of these classes, you may go and check the Classes page for details, and drop us a line with the form below and we’ll get back to you shortly.

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Introducing a new team of artists!

From left to right: Richard Kearns, Weixin Chong and Isabelle Desjeux

 

 

Introducing: Richard Kearns and Weixin Chong!

Well, Richard doesn’t need an introduction, as he was already artist in residence early last year. But let us remind you that he is a printmaker (MA Printmaking (Distinction), Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, 2013), a photographer, involved in a variety of projects. He will be back in the studio for more creative printmaking, more participatory artwork, among others. And Richard will be in charge of the Drawing Classes for the younger ones (currently Mondays and Tuesdays). Do check his website here.

Weixin is also a printmaker, of another kind! Having recently completed her MA in Printmaking (Royal Academy of Arts, London , 2014), Weixin in back in her native Singapore, and already involved in a number of projects using a variety of media. Weixin will be in charge of the older students, drawing (and more!) on Saturday morning. Do check her website here.

As for myself, I will continue to splash on Mondays and Thursdays for the ArtScience classes, as well as on Wednesdays for the Art and Craft Class.

We will be introducing a number of other artists who will be in the studio for shorter times – in time, we are looking forward to reviving the Tinkering Sundays, on the first Sundays of the Month. As usual, make sure you get the information first by liking our page on Facebook.

And do drop by to say hello!

Open Call – Free Studio Space

The Observatoire is expanding.

We are currently looking for 1 or 2 committed artists for 2015, who have a definite project for next year and need the space and support to achieve it. The successful applicant will have a space in our beautiful studio, and in exchange, will be providing some teaching to the regular students.

If you know of a Singapore-based artist with an exciting practice, please let them know!

Click on the “Open Call” below. Deadline is 15th of December 2014

Open Call Studio

Fill in form here.

New season starting on the 15th of September!

Charcoal drawing (7-9 year olds)

Observational Drawing classes ; Art and Science ; Art and Craft ; Open Studio – Take your pick! Classes are starting again from Monday 15th of September with a new team of facilitators, mostly artists but all with an experimental edge, ready for exploration of the world around us. So go look at the schedule and sign up now. Or call 9273 4991 to arrange a trail class.

Seeking Collaborators!

Acrylic painting in Open Studio for teenagers

Still Life set up for drawing classes

Admiring a newly-built dinosaur to cast a shadow on the wall

Observational Drawing (Alice, 5 years old)

Self-Portraits by the 6-7 year olds

Blowing bubbles to understand how fish breath.

Feeding the fish

Painting a fish (Art and science for the 4 year olds)

FIsh paintings after weeks of observation (4 year olds – Art and science)

Collage (6 year old Lauraine) Observational Drawing class

Charcoal drawing (7-9 year olds)

Learning to reproduce accurately (Adult Drawing class, Wednesday morning)

“Our Garden”, presentation by the 5 year olds’ group to their peers

Creating shadows for drawing (Open Studio for teenagers, Saturday morning)

Creating shadows: “Can I fit in the box?”

Proudly displaying his photograph (happy camper from pin hole camp)

Explaining the “rules” (Artist in Residence Richard Kearns)

Looking out , “Outdoor Cinema”

More teamwork – Tinkering Sunday “Woodworking”

Checking the tree…

… with a little help from Ila.

Looking down the microscope

Interacting with plants takes all sorts of forms

L’Observatoire is seeking collaborators! Do you enjoy drawing and teaching the basics of drawing? Do you enjoy experimenting? Are you a scientist? An artist? a bit of both? Are you looking for a place to experiment, a platform to test your ideas, and a studio with like-minded people?

Located in lush Turf Club Road, collaborating with pre-schools, schools, museums, l’Observatoire is a community space where art&science gets made every day.

We are now looking for:
– Partners. Those will have full use of the studio, equipment and support, and can teach either drawing, art and science, or art and craft for a few hours a week, to children mainly (Limited to 2)
–  Interns. You will be witnessing new ways of teaching in art and science. You’ll be tasked with helping document the process, interact with the kids, prepare the classes, maybe with a bit of admin.
– Support team. If you have what it takes, we’d call you when something exciting comes up that requires more hands – do you have a specialty you want to share? Underwater music, silk-screen printing using recycled material, styrofoam sculpting…?
– Resident artists – invited on a monthly basis, you will be given a studio space, and access to tools, equipment, support to develop your idea. In return, we’ll work with you to develop a Tinkering Sunday workshop.

Interested? Fill in the contact form below and we’ll get back to you.

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