Jennifer Tan:
The Story of An Accidental Artist
An Accidental Artist
Jennifer Tan never intended to become a full-time artist, although painting had always been a hobby of hers. As a young girl growing up in Kuala Terengganu on the east coast of Malaysia, her biggest dream was to travel and see the world. In pursuit of that dream, Jennifer became a flight attendant after completing her tertiary education, to get away from her life in Malaysia and Singapore as far as possible. For the next 14 years, Jennifer flew around the globe, visiting places she had never been before.
Taken in Malaysia, Jennifer here was just a few years old
Jennifer posing in a Cathay Pacific aircraft wearing her red junior uniform
Jennifer wearing her blue senior uniform
Though occupied with her newfound career, Jennifer’s love for art remained. During her flight stopovers, she would always pay visits to the local museums of the cities she stayed in. Some of the most memorable were Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, as well as Tate’s museums in the U.K. Little did she know that her exposure to the global art scene was leading her to something else…
A Season of Retirement & Discovery
After many years of flying, Jennifer resigned from her work as a flight attendant. She settled in Hong Kong with her family and became a stay-home mother. With a lot more spare time on her hands, Jennifer decided to pick up painting again. Deep down, she felt a beckoning to dedicate herself fully to this pursuit.
Taking Her First Steps and Becoming an Apprentice
Without any formal training in art, Jennifer had to start from scratch. She started out taking watercolour lessons with an English artist who was adept at painting landscapes with profound detail. After a few months, she also started learning to do acrylic painting with a South African artist, expanding her knowledge of the various mediums. Filled with a passion to learn, Jennifer always did more than what was assigned to her in class.
While seeking to improve her artistry, Jennifer met Mr Wong, a Chinese artist who graduated from a Fine Arts University in Beijing. He owned a shop at Stanley market, close to where she lived in Hong Kong, selling replicated oil paintings. Eager to pick up a new medium, she asked to become his apprentice. Under Mr Wong’s tutelage, Jennifer learnt to do oil paintings and refined her artistry.
At one point of the apprenticeship however, Jennifer found herself reaching a plateau. There was no creative process involved in making replicas as they were just imitations of the original work. She wanted to move on and create her own works instead. Seeing that she was ready to leave the nest and fly on her own, Mr Wong began the process of establishing Jennifer as an independent artist.
Coming Into Her Own
Though Jennifer started out painting portraits, she stumbled upon Jackson Pollock’s works and immediately fell in love with his unconventional artistic style. Deeply inspired by his practice of dripping paint without form or restraint, Jennifer sought to do the same in her original works.
“I love the feeling of losing myself in painting. It is when I am truly myself.”
Dancing with Joy 2
80 x 80cm, Mixed Media on Canvas
2018
When Jennifer paints, she starts with simple lines and dots. In the process, shapes begin to appear and she fills them with colour while adding movement and flow with the stroke of her brush. Her technique is deeply emotive and full of personal expression.
“I need to be moved by something and once I get that feeling, I’ll keep going until the piece is done. Sometimes I even get out of breath once I’ve completed a piece. I invest a lot of emotion into my paintings.”
Nature provides the backdrop for many of Jennifer’s paintings. In Hong Kong, she often goes hiking in the mountains. Being surrounded by the vastness of nature brings restfulness to her soul and renews a sense of joy and wonder in her heart. This further inspires her to bring the same spirit into and through her creations.
“I'm inspired by the beauty of the natural world, and strive to capture its essence in my pieces. My goal is for the audience to feel the emotions I put into the artwork.”
More Than A Conqueror 1
80 x 80cm, Mixed Media on Canvas (Framed)
2018
Evolving Her Style
For the longest time, Jennifer identified herself as an artist who paints abstract expressionist works. She rationalised that like many others, it was best to produce one distinct style of art. With one look, people would know that a painting belonged to her. Yet, a part of her longed to experience new genres of art that she had never tried to paint. She began exploring new styles of painting and it opened a sense of newfound freedom in her artistry.
“For a painting to fully express itself, the artist must be free to create without constraint. Painting is like giving birth, the full emotion of the creative process takes over as I yield to the birth pangs of expression.”
Over the years, Jennifer has become a dynamic artist that is unhindered by convention, much like the nature of her story. She has since painted with various mediums such as acrylic, oil, watercolour, coffee and mixed media. Her artwork series titled “BeLonging” from the year 2022 is her most recent project.
Top Left & Right:
Abundance 1 & Abundance 2
51 x 51 cm, Hand Embellished Giglee Prints
2022
Bottom Left & Right:
Pastel Dew 1 & Pastel Dew 2 - 2022
45 x 55 cm, Hand Embellished Giglee Prints
2022
“My art, like my life, has evolved from one of energetic spontaneity to calm intentionality.”
The Impact of Her Art
Every time Jennifer sits before a blank canvas, a wave of excitement rushes over her as she begins to imagine the possibilities it carries with it. She believes that just as art has been a space of healing for her, that it would be the same for others when they encounter her paintings.
“When I paint, I am overcome with deep joy, surpassing peace and loving patience till the work is complete. It’s truly an honour to co-create with the One who gave me the ability to paint. Just think of the impact art has for good, for healing, for expression, for richness—and it all starts with a blank canvas.”
