Art Close & Personal

INEZ TAN | Inez Designs

Some people capture memories in a photograph, while others capture them in an artwork. In Inez Tan's case, she captures them in embroidery.

Using photographs, Ms Tan, who is self taught, creates embroidered hoop portraits of people and pets. First she creates a sketch using thread, and the image is brought to life using different stitch techniques, such as satin, backstitch and French knots, using threads of different colours. Customers can ask for text or specific items to be included, as well as their favourite colours.

The artworks come in 15cm hoops, and prices start from $150, with each piece taking two to six weeks to complete.

For Christmas, she does family portraits, decorated with a festive holiday wreath. She can add cheery text such as "Fa La La", "Open Me" or "Jingle Bell Rock". The hoops can be placed on coffee or dinner tables as part of a decor theme, or simply hung on the door like a Christmas wreath.

Ms Tan, 41, a former fashion merchandiser, has always liked working with her hands. "Embroidery is therapeutic and meditative, a canvas that I can express my emotions and imagination on," she says.

She adds that she likes the challenges and flexibility that embroidery offers. "You can't mix the thread colours as you would with paint. So I create the illusion through thread colour gradations, which is very satisfying."

inez-designs.com

MELISSA TAN | Paintinks by melt

What's a Christmas tree without baubles? Even if your tree is heaving with store-bought decorations, a personalised bauble illustrated by Melissa Tan will no doubt have pride of place on it.

Ever since Ms Tan - better know as Paintinks by melt - painted a West Highland terrier on a bauble for fun and posted it on Instagram in early November, she's been inundated with requests to do them as Christmas presents.

"They came in like a storm and I've done about 60 dogs and cats so far, each based on photos sent in by their owners," says Ms Tan, a pet owner.

Send her a few pictures of the pet and a clear headshot, or a link to its social media page, and she can draw the pet on the bauble. The baubles are painted with acrylic paint, and cost from S$15. You can order as few as just one bauble.

The full-time behavioural therapist for children with special needs has been illustrating and painting part-time for five years. Her largest artwork is a 15m long mural at Duxton Plains Park underpass - a monochrome piece full of hidden animals and creatures within a doodled jungle.

The 43-year-old's artistic journey began when she painted a few animals on magnets for sale at a fund-raising drive for the animal shelter where she volunteers.

"Surprisingly, people bought them and requested more paintings," she says. She has since done two Christmas card series, took part and sold her artwork in over 15 exhibitions and held her own solo exhibition.

Describing her style of illustrations as whimsical, she says she paints "happy things". She is mostly known for her illustrations of cats and dogs but likes painting chickens and dinosaurs as well.

"It makes me happy to see people enjoy what I've done," she says.

For Christmas, she sometimes gives her artworks as gifts, but for those who don't appreciate her art as much, she usually has a stash of pecan-cranberry cookies. "I only make these during Christmas and drive up my popularity index among friends," she says.

paintinks-by-melt.com

NATALIE KWEE | Festive Folks

Can't draw to save your life? Illustrator Natalie Kwee is here to help. She has set up Festive Folks, an online store that lets you create and buy your own artwork.

First, you pick a background for your artwork, from about 30 choices.Then select the number of people you want in the artwork. Next, customise each person's hairstyle, skin tone, and outfit. Drag and drop the person onto the background template, write a personalised gift note, and wait for it to be shipped within seven working days. All artworks come framed, and are priced from S$45.

While working as an architect in New York in 2014, Ms Kwee ran a customisable illustration service. Back then, she was customising each piece based on pictures given by clients. The business did well, but Ms Kwee wanted to find a way that would allow customers to take home an art piece faster and at an affordable price.

"People always think that design and art have to be exclusive and expensive, but I think there is much more joy in democratising the process and involving people in its creation," says Ms Kwee, 29. The options for character customisation took Ms Kwee four months to do, and at last count, there are 600 billion permutations. The final artwork tends to be playful and quirky, which is Ms Kwee's style.

Currently, only framed prints are available, but Ms Kwee intends to widen her product range to include stationery and greeting cards. Ms Kwee has worked with corporate clients such as Uniqlo, and has also illustrated three children's books.

"As a visual thinker, illustration has became a way to express and remember things I've dreamt about or imagined. With illustrations, one is able to quickly create things that would never be able to exist in reality - there's a great sense of adventure when you let your imagination run free," she says.

festivefolks.com

CARLYN LAW | Eat To Draw

Most of us see fruits and vegetables as food. But to Carlyn Law, they are a source of inspiration for her illustrations.

Once, she was cooking a pot of lotus root soup with black-eyed peas, and the black dotted beans reminded her of a leopard. So she grabbed some beans and drew the big cat, using the beans as the leopard's spots.

Another time, she drew a picture of Donald Trump, and used a bundle of wonton mee to recreate his hair.

"My friends tell me they cannot see a sweet potato or peach in the same way again - and that's a good thing," says Ms Law, 42. Her artworks can be found on her website Eat To Draw, which she started in 2016.

Ms Law has always loved art and drawing. Besides coming up with the quirky artwork, she often writes stories, invents characters, interesting commentaries and satire based on newsy topics and happenings.

"I find art is a very therapeutic way to relax, to express one's imagination, and for people to connect with others and have fun being creative," she says.

She uses ink pens, acrylic and gouache paint for the bold lines and vibrant colours. She finds inspiration through food and cooking. An artwork can take five minutes to an hour to complete, depending on its intricacy. She photographs the artwork, and sells them, priced from S$50.

For Christmas, she is creating Christmas-inspired card designs in her whimsical and playful style, featuring Christmas dishes, characters and food ingredients with quirky messages. She will also be holding a workshop to teach people how to illustrate their own Christmas cards centred around food.

Eattodraw.com