About Artist

Born and bred in Singapore, I've grown up loving to paint and draw. In my secondary school, I joined an Art Club and frequently followed my teacher to do outdoor drawings. In 1986, I enrolled in the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts to study oil painting. My studies led me to a deeper understanding of oil painting and started me on my painting career.

My paintings use both outdoor and indoor themes. In the outdoors, sceneries and natural flora are my constant sources of inspiration. To create these works, I first capture the scenery on photographs and then patiently recreate it on canvas with a pointillistic technique. Viewed from an appropriate distance, the rich and colourful pointillistic strokes will suddenly blend together to form a harmonious image.

I also have a penchant for indoor still-life paintings. The advantage of still-life painting is the greater control I have over the theme, composition, colouring and lighting. It provides me the opportunities to refine my techniques and the freedom to express my thoughts in fresh and interesting compositions. Combining the unique texture and appearance of oil with my unique painting technique, I can create realistic images that has depth and texture.

The painting life is an arduous one. There are hardships to overcome and exacting standards to reach. Whenever I'm about to finish a painting, I will sit back and reflect on my creation. Then I will painstakingly make corrections till I'm please with my work. I constantly strive to outdo myself and explore different techniques so that I may one day create new ones.

Oil is my preferred painting medium as it offers me a wider choice of painting techniques. There is more room for expression, correction and experimentation. Whenever I complete a painting, I have a deep sense of satisfaction. And it is this sense of satisfaction that pushes me to my next masterpiece.

Tan Thian Joo
(English translation by S.H. Tan)