Meet your instructor!
Rachel (@studio_ruiimake) is an artist, art teacher and works as an art advisor at a Japanese art gallery. With over 16 years of experience in watercolour painting and five years of teaching experience working with children and adults, she enjoys sharing her passion for art with others and believes in self-expression through art. Rachel graduated with a Bachelor of Visual Arts in New Zealand, won a City College art award in painting (2015) and was shortlisted for art awards in New Zealand multiple times.
She had her first solo exhibition in 2016 and has been part of over 30 exhibitions since then. She is currently a member of the Botanical Art Society Singapore, where her illustrations were recently displayed at Gardens by the Bay and Woodlands Botanical Garden.
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Theme & Focus
- An expressive workshop on illustrating cats using the dry brush technique.
- Main medium: black ink (calligraphy ink) with optional watercolour washes
Structure - Warm-up exercises: loosen up hand, experiment with brush pressure, strokes, and cat silhouettes.
- Skill-building: creating lively lines, fur textures, and capturing feline gestures.
- Final work: progressing to complete cat illustrations, with explorations of personal style (bold/graphic or soft/subtle).
Why with Calligraphy Ink First
- Focuses on form, line quality, contrast (without the distraction of colour).
- Ink’s natural flow/unpredictability brings life to the drawings.
- Builds confidence in brush handling & mark-making.
Who It’s For
- All levels welcome:
- Beginners curious about ink illustration.
- Experienced artists wanting to loosen up and experiment.
Takeaway
- A collection of lively cat studies.
- At least one finished piece to take home.
Materials provided for in-class usage:
- Calligraphy ink
- Watercolour paints
- Watercolour paper
- Drawing materials
- Watercolour brushes
- Water containers and mixing palettes
- Cat Illustrations for reference and watercolour note
Remarks:
- Location is not wheelchair accessible.
- The studio is home to 3 calm resident cats. If you have allergies or fear of cats, do take this into consideration before booking.