We ask Tiger, an art teacher and art director at Tree Art Singapore to tell us what it’s like inside her kids art class in Singapore. She also explains why art is important and what she loves about supporting budding young creatives.
How did you discover your passion for art?
I arrived in Singapore as a secondary school student in 2005. I’ve been passionate about art since childhood and deeply influenced by my mother. She was among the first batch of students admitted to the Luxun Academy of Fine Arts after the resumption of China’s university entrance exams. Her unwavering dedication to art and her meticulous pursuit of excellence inspired me profoundly. “Perseverance and precision” became my mantra. Her values instilled in me a relentless commitment to art and art education, a journey I embarked on and will continue – now and forever.
What do you enjoy about being an art teacher at Tree Art?
Tree Art is a place where we nurture and educate through art. I’m surrounded by an incredible team that shares the same vision: “From Education to Happiness.” Here, teachers from diverse professions and countries learn and exchange artistic skills while collaboratively refining our courses and teaching methods.
We use the REMAT (Regroup/ Extend/Multi/Atman/Theme) course system, which is inspired by Jerome S. Bruner’s Spiral Curriculum model. Tailored to students’ ages and physical and psychological characteristics, it provides highly targeted professional
courses. This approach allows us to offer a structured and engaging learning experience that evolves alongside the learner.
Tell us about the art classes and courses available.
Tree Art offers courses for students aged three to pre-university. Our curriculum, co-developed with leading universities worldwide, blends international art education with an innovative online-merge-offline (OMO) model. For ages three to eight years, Creative art courses can ignite imagination. If your child is eight or above, try our professional art class in Singapore. Students in secondary school and beyond can enrol in our pre-university art courses. Additionally, for Singaporean students, we provide DSA-related courses tailored to academic and admission needs.
Beginners can start with a free trial lesson, after which we place them in a suitable age-specific small-class and monitor progress for periodic advancement. For children with academic or admission goals, our competitive and preparatory courses are the perfect choice to unlock their potential.
What is it like in your classroom?
I pour my heart into designing lessons that teach not only art but also life skills, cultural insights, and geography. I encourage children to explore freely with diverse materials, helping them grasp the essence of “art reflecting life and transcending it.”
Moments in the classroom with children always bring joy – their innocent questions, curiosity and candid remarks never fail to make me laugh.
Why is art important for kids?
Art education is a cornerstone of holistic growth. It nurtures creativity, focus, patience and emotional expression, while fostering self- confidence and cultural appreciation through completed works. Art also provides a therapeutic escape, promotes innovative thinking, and brings fulfilment through creation and appreciation. It enhances social connections, deepens aesthetic understanding and even boosts creativity and problem-solving skills for professional growth.
Do you have a favourite art style?
During my studies in Europe, I admired Salvador Dali’s works for their seamless fusion of dreams and reality, bold imagination and intricate techniques. As I shifted to youth art education, I began appreciating the unfiltered creativity in children’s art – a honest expression of emotions and life. It reminds me of the profound beauty in “painting like a child”. Regardless of career paths, I believe systematic aesthetic education during childhood shapes innovative thinkers who thrive across disciplines.
What are you looking forward to in 2025?
This is a year of opportunities and challenges. Amid rapid AI advancements, Tree Art has launched its own AI-Art courses, and we continue to host our annual Art-Tech Youth Competition. I look forward to seeing children discover and enhance themselves through the intersection of art and technology.
TreeArt also offers courses for adults with art class topics ranging from Chinese ink to photography.
Find out more about the offerings or book an art class in Singapore at treeart.co.
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