Dawn Tan is a painter, illustrator, sculptor, crafter,
blogger, teacher and all round inspirational lady! She also loves food. She's melded her foodie inclination with her art to become an incredible illustrator of recipes. You can even commission her to make your favourite recipe into a drawing.
Dawn let us into her studio for a poke around.
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Describe your studio/working space:
It is nice, airy and light. With lots of plants, foodie bits and random pieces of paper, notes everywhere on my table. Oh, and there's lots of cookbooks in there too!
What unusual things happen in your space?
Kids come into my studio and I end up playing little imaginary character games with them! My studio space is a result of a residency at Harvest Workroom for the month of March. The ladies who own and run Harvest, are three young mothers and their kids often come visit. I watch cartoons with the kids while working. We play 'postman' and 'pirates' on random days. It's a really fun place to be in, given the fact I love being around children! (I teach little kids art as my part-time job!)
What would you recommend to others when setting up a studio?
Find a studio that's nice and airy. You wouldn't want a studio that gets too heated up during summer! Oh and it should have nice lights coming through in the day too. Makes it so much easier for taking photos!
[Go to our gallery of images above to relate to what Dawn is discussing below with the corresponding question and image. - Ed]
1 - How nice is the light in your studio?
Rather nice! It's not too crazy sunny. Just the right amount of light comes in, so some days when I feel like it, I actually just switch off the lights and work in the natural light. It gets a bit dark but it's workable. My camera loves it too, the light helps me to take good photos!
2 - Are you addicted to a special type of paint? What is special about this paint?
Oh yes! I am in love, head over heels with my watercolour paints. This set has been with me for about 10 years now. I love it so much and use it so often. I find it the most versatile paint ever. Portable, light to carry around, easy to wash off, easy to work with. Quick drying, hassle-free. See! So many positive points about it. How not to love it?!
3 - Japanese masking tape! What is it NOT good for?
I love Japanese masking tapes. They are super cute and they instantly make a boring piece of paper more colourful. I like that it's quite 'weak' so it doesn't tear out bits of my paper when I remove it. But at the same time, because it is weaker compared to normal masking tapes, things tend to fall off the wall easily!
4 - You found these flowers?! Wow! There is something poetic about lost n found flowers! What's the story?
Actually, I didn't really 'find' these flowers. They were collected by the ladies at Harvest. And I just spotted them while doing the dishes. So yes, in a way, spotting equates to 'finding'. I think so! Haha. I love them cause they make the entire space smell lovely.
5 - Are you one to subscribe to the theory that creativity springs from chaos?
Oh yes. Funny though, because I like being really neat, with things placed at a right angle. I know, I am crazy. But then, sometimes when things get a bit busy, my table becomes like a war zone. In a way, it's good because it kind of pushes me to work harder, faster, knowing that if I do, I will be able to clear my desk again for starting on new projects new ideas. Sometimes while looking at my messy desk, I actually get inspired. I see things in a different way! So yes, I'd say creativity does spring from chaos!
6 - Maiden Hair Fern? Have you ever met someone with green hair?
Erm... No??????? Hahaha. I'd love to meet a maiden with green hair though. I bet she'll look a hell lot like MEDUSA!
7 - How important is it to have plants around you?
VERY! VERY! VERY! I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH. Okay, don't mind the caps. I love plants and I think plants keep me calm. I feel like whenever I am too stressed or I can't work anymore, I take a break to water my plants. And that keeps me sane. Ok. I think I sound like a mad crazy plant woman right now.
8 - Do you keep your pin up board fresh?
Actually, the pin up board is just for show. For now at least. I got a bit too busy and forgot about it. i just like the pops of colour and well, it adds to the room I suppose. I usually just like sticking things to the wall. It's only a once in a blue moon, or maybe even purple moon, that I actually bother changing the pictures on my little board.
9 - 11 - Are you the sort of artist who has a sketchbook with them all the time?
Umm. Nope! I am definitely not. I used to! But nowadays I don't. I actually stopped sketching in my sketchbook already so I stopped carrying one. I usually just use scraps of paper. You know. I like an organized mess. I find that because of the way I work, I need to keep my sanity levels at check. So I try to give my brain and hands a break whenever I am not in the studio/or in working mode. I look at things like nature, people, the environment.. and make mental notes instead. I think if I keep my hands working all the time, I will go crazy first before anyone else does. Well, that's just the way I work I guess!
12 - What are you knitting?
A nice scarf! Winter is coming.. ooh yeah!
13 - You're such a foodie in so many ways! What are you eating here?
Coriander scrambled chilli eggs!
14 - What do you love about painting and drawing food?
I think it is such a happy thing to do - working with food. Not to mention, funny too! I like doing it! I love food. You love food. Everyone loves food! That's what makes it fun! PS: I get to eat the food I make too. So that is just awesome!
15 - What's your most referenced book here?
Hmmm. Must be the Stephanie Alexander cookbook! Have you tried her lemon cordial recipe? It is soooo good!
16 - How did you become a specialist in depicting food and recipes?
I don't really know actually. I just started and never stopped. I'm addicted to it!
17 - What has been the weirdest recipe you've illustrated?
Hmmm. I haven't gotten any weird ones yet. But well, one that caught my eye was this chocolate chip cookie recipe. It has coconut in it?! I think that's weird. But my goodness, those cookies are AMAZING. I baked them and love them! I am not even a cookie person to begin with! Oops!
What are you looking forward to this autumn?
Knitting, scarves, crispy leaves and nice paddington coats! I really really want that Gorman Pom pom jacket!
What artists have got you inspired?
There really is a whole long list. But I like artists like Martin Creed, Michael Landy. I think they are crazy. But that is what makes them SO SO SO good and amazing. Designers like Kate Miss, Jenny Gordy, Arabella Ramsay also inspire me a lot.
What exciting projects do you have on the boil right now?
I did a little Pop Up Shop last weekend. It was an outcome of a collaboration with the ladies at Harvest Textiles, as a result of my little March residency. We have created an entire range of kitchen goodies! Things like tea towels, market tote bags, aprons, recipe box sets, posters, etc! They are online to buy too.
Solo show scheduled for August 2011, at Carbon Black Gallery.
Dawn's adult watercolour classes are here.