Singaporean artist, Tan Khim Ser is noted for his contributions in developing artistic talent and promoting greater awareness in the local arts. Besides teaching Chinese ink painting for the past 50 years after he graduated from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1966, he founded Life Art Society in 1972. The society is involved in numerous art activities and exhibitions, including live art demonstrations by Tan. While he is trained in both Chinese and Western painting and techniques, most of Tan’s works are Chinese ink paintings and calligraphy.
The above Plein-air figure drawings by Tan were part of his Western foundation training with the Academy, where students could experience drawing outside the studio. Tan has managed to encapsulate the quiet atmosphere of his subjects deep in concentration. Such sketching exercises has equipped Tan with the practice of quick sketching and an understanding of illustrating the human figure in an anatomically accurate manner.
