The Journal

Stories from the studio

Watercolour tips, life's moments and stories worth slowing down for — a little peek into painting and teaching in Singapore.

Sandy Jam's well-used watercolour palette, with warm tones in the mixing wells and pan colours arranged by hue

Teach & Guide ·

Why I Love Mixing Colours (and How You Can Start Playing With Them)

How Sandy sets up warm and cool tones before every painting, and simple tips for mixing watercolours as a beginner.

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Illustration of a woman in an orange dress painting calmly at a table by a sunlit window
Image generated with AI.

Teach & Guide ·

Why Watercolour Painting Is One of the Best Things You Can Do for Your Mind

Why a focused, hands-on creative act like watercolour has become a reliable way to quiet a busy mind — no talent or fancy supplies required.

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Framed watercolour painting of a pink Japanese Anemone with Chinese calligraphy, beside paintbrushes

Behind the Brush ·

The Japanese Anemone: Ruthlessly Strong Yet Gracefully Grounded With Poise

A commissioned painting, a Chinese phrase about blooming at your own pace, and what a stubbornly resilient flower can teach us.

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Watercolour painting of a blue wooden arched door with red flowers and stone steps

Behind the Brush ·

A Door, Some Flowers, and a Lesson I Didn't Expect

A reference found in a library book, a painting that didn't go as planned, and why the imperfect parts are the ones worth keeping.

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Illustration of a person scrolling on their phone at a desk, surrounded by books and plants
Image generated with AI.

Teach & Guide ·

Signs You Might Need a Digital Detox (And Why a Watercolour Workshop Actually Works)

The signs of screen overstimulation, and why painting works as a reset in a way another app or productivity hack doesn't.

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Box of Pentel Arts Watercolours, a 12-colour beginner-friendly paint set

Teach & Guide ·

Beginner vs. Artist-Grade Watercolour Paints: What Actually Matters When You're Starting Out

Why the paint tier you start with matters far less than whether you actually pick up a brush at all.

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Illustration of a watercolour instructor guiding three students painting at a shared table with palettes and brushes
Image generated with AI.

Teach & Guide ·

How to Choose the Right Watercolour Workshop in Singapore (An Instructor's Honest Guide)

What to look for in a beginner class, group vs. private lessons, what actually happens in a session, and the questions worth asking before you book.

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Flat-lay of watercolour supplies including Bao Hong watercolour paper

Teach & Guide ·

Watercolour Painting for Adult Beginners in Singapore: The Complete Starter Guide

Everything a first-timer needs to know: supplies, core techniques, common mistakes, and how long it really takes to see progress.

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Paintbrush drying, bristles pointing down, suspended from a shelf, with a small potted plant beside it
Image generated with AI.

Behind the Brush ·

Health Is the Foundation for Everything Else

How does a back scare teaches us to care for our paintbrushes and why balance matters more than perfection.

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Oil painting of dancing red-crowned cranes in warm coral and pink tones
Image generated with AI, for illustrative purposes — not an actual painting by Mr. Tan Kay Nguan.

Behind the Brush ·

The Crane Painter Who Started It All

I was ten years old the first time I watched someone paint with water and pigment and make it look like breathing. Here's the story of Mr Tan Kay Nguan, and how a childhood lesson became Sandy Jam Art.

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More stories on watercolour, teaching, and life in the studio are on their way. Check back soon 🌸