AS the Covid-19 pandemic is raging like never before, it’s important to stay focused and calm to reduce the stress level during this tormenting time.
Many people from all walks of life and various age groups have been significantly affected by the ongoing pandemic. The hardship, coupled with a series of lockdowns, has brought mental and financial distress to some people.
There are nevertheless various ways and avenues for those affected to ‘let go’ of their stress.
Aside from the usual sweating out at their respective workouts or exercises, or even meditating, art is considered one of the ways to soothe one’s soul.
If you think it’s too good to be true, then it’s time to explore the beauty of Pastel Nagomi Art!
In reality, not many people have ever come across Pastel Nagomi Art, which originated from Japan. This unique art is said to have a therapeutic effect.
A 39-year-old primary school teacher in Butterworth gave Buletin Mutiara an inkling of what the craft is like and how to do it during a virtual interview session yesterday.
During the hour-long session, the soft-spoken Teoh Hui Sien shared her journey and experience of picking up the skills in 2014.
Teoh, who teaches Mandarin and Art, said she was exposed to Pastel Nagomi Art at Wing Art Centre in Butterworth seven years ago.
“When I began to learn it, I found it to be so fascinating that the art can help you relax your mind.
“It’s really fun too as you can choose whichever colour or sketch to express your feeling.
“One can create a beautiful and heart-touching artwork through all these simple yet unique ways of painting techniques.
“I would say that it really helps people to release their anger and eliminate any negative emotions.
“Hence, after learning it for a couple of years, I have started to open a class in 2020. I hope to expose more people to the art,” she said.
Teoh said she ran her class on weekends for one and a half hours in each session. Her students range from five to 70 years old.
“In fact, a lady, who is 70 years old, is passionate about the art so much so she has awesome skills!
“For most of the kids in my class, I would advise them not to be engrossed with the colour or even sketch.
“What you need to do is to motivate them and they would easily come out with their art pieces. There’s no right or wrong when producing art pieces. It’s a matter of enjoying the process.
“I would say that the parents play an integral role as they need to be supportive. They must be encouraging their kids.
“My motto that I have been championing all this while is simple, which is ‘Everyone Can Draw’. There’s no boundary!”
Teoh said while it was important for kids to do well in the academic field, it was also important to nurture their passion and hone their artistic skills.
“During this lockdown period, we can all find something worthwhile to spend time on and we can also improve our ability,” she said.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Law Suun Ting