Shoma Sen-Jiang Ya (Age 4)

The student did the colorful African painting on cloth, after learning about Africa.

Dudu Tang (Age 4)

“I can make orange color on my own!

Akinas Zhang (Age 5)

The student used paper crafts to present one of the most important traditional holidays at the school – the Saint Martin’s Day.

Xiao Tao (Age 5)

“I like green, yellow, and orange, and I want to make an Air China airplane with these colors.”

Thomas Zhang (Age 5)

“There are so many big white teeth, inside this big and fierce shark!”

Emma Chai (Age 5)

“The fish must like making friends a lot. Look! He has swam here for a day trip to make new friends.”

Aiden Zhang (Age 4)

“I can write my name! And can draw myself using wooden sticks and color pens.”

Vincent Tian (Age 5)

“I dropped the ink, then blew it, then I made a tree for it.”

KEEP READING: British School of Beijing Shunyi Students Capture the Spirit of Vacation

Images: Courtesy of HoK

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 October issue

Every parenting book says that a child’s first teachers are their parents. As babies, we learn social cues from our parents and their behaviors are the first social interactions that we pick up on and will keep for the rest of our lives. Everything that our parents do on a daily basis is observed and learned.

Meet Marianne Daquet

American author Ursula Le Guin once said, “The creative adult is the child who survived.” So what’s it like to grow up in a family where creativity and art remain a part of adult life? We sat down with two families where art plays a major part in the parents’ lives.

Meet Marianne Daquet, former director of Atelier Art School, who originally came to Beijing on holiday and fell in love with the city that she and her daughters now call home. “In my family, creativity was encouraged, and it naturally guided me to an art school where I studied for five years. I wanted my voice to be heard. I was educated with free speech encouraged, a strong cultural background, and openness on every kind of art, literature, cinema,” Daquet tells beijingkids.

Marianne Daquet and her girls

Now a mom of three, Daquet’s kids explore their creative side at Atelier. With a mom who shares a similar passion for art and creativity, the Daquet household is never short of art supplies and the girls take full advantage of that! “At home, they have full access to art supplies and even cooking, sewing or whatever supplies,” says Daquet. “They have everything that kids need to make their own creations.”

Like in every parenting book ever written, Daquet says that her kids mimic her behavior. This artistic mom has never tried to cultivate a love for art in her children but “it’s part of our lives. They see me drawing, so they draw, they write, one of them is a great chef! The idea is giving them all the possibilities of making and guiding them if they need it.”

Guiding — not teaching. That seems to be the key here. “Art education leads to self-confidence, autonomy, and creativity. Creativity is not an explosion of abstraction — it is an ability to react differently to things. It is powerful not just for artists but for anyone: lawyers, doctors, parents! Art must be taught with guidance and space for experimentation,” Daquet explains.

Artwork by Ma Ke

According to Daquet, kids as young as four or five can be given the chance to start art classes. Before that, they can play with materials, colors, shapes, or any other supplies they can get their hands on to nurture their creativity. While a career in art is still up in the air, Daquet says “I wish for them to do what they want, whatever they desire, whatever makes them happy every day. This is the only thing. Art or not.”

Meet Ma Ke, a professional artist originally from Shandong and a dad to two boys aged six and eight. Ma fell in love with art at a young age. ”When I was around seven or eight years old, I remember watching the neighbor’s kid draw. I raced home to find a pencil and paper. I had a single thought in my mind: ‘I bet I could draw better than he can!’ It seems like this was just yesterday. From then on, art has always been part of my life,” Ma tells us. And true to thought, his passion for art and creativity never stopped, and he was accepted into the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2000.

Art by Ma Ke

Ma draws on inspiration from all around him to create his works. “I think the root of all growth is love. First, it’s your parents’ love. Then it’s your curiosity for the world. Every time I see something I like, I’m always inspired to make something just as good.”

Meet Ma Ke

So with a professional artist for a dad, does that mean Ma’s boys will follow suit? Not necessarily. “I don’t make my children take art classes outside. If they really want to go, I won’t stop them. If they want to learn about art history, I can teach them all I know. But I think the best teacher is a great work of art,” Ma tells beijingkids. “Sometimes I bring them to my studio to play and draw. The older son sometimes likes to copy my paintings. They both hate going to museums. Maybe it’s not time yet.”

Similar to Daquet’s parenting beliefs, cultivating an artistic interest in children lies in supporting them rather than teaching them. “You can teach yourself how to make art. What other people teach you can sometimes get in the way of your own creativity. Art needs freedom. Free spirits need to grow naturally. Therefore, there is no ‘proper way’,” says Ma.

KEEP READING: How Beijing Teens Use Makeup as a Form of Artistic Expression

Images: Courtesy of Marianne Daquet and Ma Ke, Unsplash

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 October issue

Online shopping is so convenient, but after a while, all those cardboard delivery boxes start to pile up. In this month’s Maker’s Corner let’s upcycle them into a beautiful birdhouse that will invite some new feathered friends to your balcony in no time. You just need a few everyday household materials and a bit of patience to do this fun afternoon activity for the whole family.

Showing us how to turn ordinary cardboard boxes into beautiful birdhouses are Isabella Cao, a grade 7 student at AISB-Hope International, and Secondary Art Teacher Tammy Sapp.

What You’ll Need

• Cardboard boxes
•  X-acto knife or a large pair of scissors
• Cutting mat (or thick cardboard if you do not own a cutting mat)
• Ruler
• Dark marker or pencil
• Glue
• One 30 – 32 cm long pencil or stick, birdseed, and other recycled items you want to use to decorate the birdhouse

Step 1:

Cut out the pieces of cardboard into the following sizes:
● One 19 x 19cm square. This will be the bottom of the birdhouse.
● Two 18 x 20cm rectangles. These will be for the roof. Draw 2cm tabs on the right side of each rectangle. This is where the glue will go later.
● Two 18 x 22cm rectangles. These will be the right and left walls. Draw one 2cm tab on each side of both rectangles. Draw a 3cm circle using a bottle cap, in the middle of the right and left side panels.
● Two 18 x 27cm rectangles.  Draw an 18 x 18cm square within the rectangle. Mark the middle of the rectangle at 9cm and draw a vertical line following the 9cm mark from the bottom of the rectangle to the top making a 27cm long line. Draw a line from the top of the line to the corner of the 18 x 18cm square to make rooftop peaks. This will be the front and back sides of the birdhouse.

Step 2:

Draw an 8 x 10cm rectangle about 4cm up from the bottom of the front of the birdhouse and cut a small hole under the triangle. The hole will be for the long stick to go through. Then cut an identical hole on the back side of the birdhouse in the same place.

Step 3:

Using the X-acto knife and metal ruler, cut out all the walls, bottom, and roof. Make sure to ask for help from a parent if you have never used an X-acto knife or just use scissors if the corrugated cardboard is not too thick. When using an X-acto knife, lay the cardboard onto a matte board or another thick piece of cardboard so you don’t end up cutting into the tabletop.

Step 4:

Glue all the wall pieces together.
● Apply glue to the tab of the left wall and press it to the inside area to the front wall. Allow to dry, then repeat for the right side.
● After the glue has set, attach the bottom to the main feeder and allow to dry.
● Finally, glue the roof tabs together and allow to dry. Finish by gluing the roof to the top of the bird feeder.

Step 5:

Insert the stick into the small holes located under the rectangle and push it through the back.

Step 6:

Punch two small holes through the top of the roofs tabs and add a string so that you can hang the bird feeder. Decorate the bird feeder using other recycled objects. Add bird feed to the bottom of the birdhouse and find the perfect branch to hang it on.

KEEP READING: Painting with Pens: Making DIY Watercolor Pens with Maestro Giosuè

Images: Uni You

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 October issue

It’s early fall, school’s in full swing, but now that you finally got out of the house? It’s not too late to pack in family bonding time before summer’s gone for good and your kids are bombarded with assignments. So if you want to squeeze a little arts and crafts into your weekends, we’ve found some fabulous places to go, and best of all? It’s all right here, in Beijing.

798’s Arts-and-Crafts Corner 慢时光手作体验馆

We’ve all heard of 798 Art District, famous for its galleries and street art. But did you know that it also holds a spectacular place for DIYs? The most popular activity there is oil painting. Don’t worry if you’re not a big fan of the canvas. You can also weave dream catchers, make keychains, phone cases, and more. With over ten choices of DIY, there’s bound to be one right up your alley.

If your kids are fighting over which craft they should make for the afternoon, fear no more. There’s a variety of items for each family member! And after you’re done, why not go explore the 798 galleries and the art district? Turn this solo activity into an adventure-packed day!

Address: Next to Qixing Middle Street Ying Gallery in 798 Art District (Southern Area of 798 Art District), 798艺术区七星中街映画廊旁(798艺术区南门)
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 10am-6pm
Approx. Price: RMB 185/per person
Ph: 159 0130 1605

Leather Making 磐刻·鳄鱼皮·皮具定制·DIY手工坊

Have you had your eye on a designer handbag but thought it was missing a bit of pizazz? Then you’ll no doubt fall in love with this place. With different leather patterns and DIY choices, you’ll have something cool and unique to add to your accessories. And if your kids think handbags are for grown-ups? Don’t fret, with different choices like keychains, wallets, and watch add-ons, your kids will be cutting up leather in no time. With different difficulties of leather making, both your big and little ones can have fun. After you’re done, why not head over to China World Mall for a rewarding ice cream cone, knowing that the new handbag on your arm is one-of-a-kind and out-of-this-world?

Address: 1720, East Tower, Wangzuo Center, No. 1, Jinghua South Street, Hujialou Street, 呼家楼街道景华南街1号旺座中心东座1720
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 10am – 9pm
Approx. Price: RMB 256/per person
Ph: 183 1085 5886

Opening Oysters Pearl DIY 相蚌汝生珍珠开蚌DIY首饰体验馆

Okay, so maybe quarantine has ruined your plans for going to the beach. But let me tell you a secret, Beijing can be turned into a seaside trip in a second. That is, if you know the ways of doing so. We all know oysters holds pearls and pearls equals the seaside. (Okay, maybe we don’t, but let’s not break that to the kids yet.)

With this DIY, you get the full experience of opening up an oyster, picking out the pearls, cleansing, and finally jewelry making. Beats the stores any day. Get your kids to pick out their oysters and pluck out the pearls. Better yet, do it with them! Who knows what color you’ll find inside? And when all the washing steps are done, get them to choose the pearls and make it into a quirky statement piece. Whatever is made, your child’s got a piece of the ocean. And you just saved plane tickets and hotel fees.

Address: Room 616, Lisheng Office Building, No.201 Wangfujing Street, 王府井大街201号利生写字楼616室 
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 10am – 8pm
Approx. Price: RMB 178/per person
Ph: 135 2166 6207

Enamel Making 凝蓝珐琅工作室

Enamel is one of the traditional Chinese handicrafts passed down from our ancestors. I know it sounds intimidating and hard, but what’s bonding time without a little challenge? It’s also the perfect way to get your teenagers (who’ll probably refuse to bond with the little ones or bond at all) to join in the fun. While the older kids can make a difficult design, the younger ones can do something much easier.

Scared that your kids might not get the hang of it? The staff members are there to help, encourage, and give advice to your kids so they’ll end up with a piece of jewelry they won’t want to take off. Instead of just sitting there and scrolling on your phone, you can also make one. And when everyone’s done with their piece of enamel jewelry, snap some pics and head out onto Gulou, where you can award your hard work with some delicious cuisine.

Address: No. 28, No. 18, Tofu Chi Hutong, Old Gulou Street (Intersection of Gulou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Anding Police Station), 旧鼓楼大街豆腐池胡同28号院-18号(鼓楼中医院与安定门派出所交接处)
Opening Hours: Monday, Wednesday to Sunday 10am – 9pm
Approx. Price: RMB 948/per person
Ph: 166 0104 3680

Woodworking 大小木作

Don’t you just love the smell of wood? Too bad the design lab at school isn’t open for the entire family. Guess you’ll have to miss out on the fun, right? Wrong, and if your family are all woodwork-aholics, you’ll love this place for sure.

With choices such as nutcrackers, spoons, and tiny carousels, you’ve got a lot of choices. Accompanied by endless sawing, sanding, measuring and painting, your entire family will stay busy. While the little ones might have a blast painting their nutcrackers (and maybe themselves), the bigger ones will be focused on perfecting their ukulele. And if you’re scared of your kids getting injured while working with tools, there are always employees watching them, making sure they’re safe (but there’s no harm in bringing a few band aids just in case). What’s more exciting than carpentry? Exploring Qianmen and its Chinese street food after you’re done, of course!

Address: No. 1, Wutiao, Xiangxiang, Dongcheng District (in the courtyard of Hanting Hotel, Qiandong Road) 北京市东城区长巷五条1号(前门东路汉庭酒店院内)
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am – 5.30pm
Approx. Price: RMB 435/per person
Ph: 158 1011 1301

Pottery & Painting & Pets 有间陶&画&宠

Pottery and painting are the two most popular activities when it comes to art. But in a city as big as Beijing, you can hardly find them at the same place.

Don’t worry, I’ve got you! This art studio offers both pottery and painting! No more listening to your kids squabble over which craft to do for the weekend. If that’s not enough fun, this store has cats! So if your children get tired painting, they can play with cute little kittens. But if you are afraid or allergic of animals, don’t worry, the cats are caged in their little playpen. You can always choose the table furthest away from them.

The staff members are there to help and assist your kids, so no worries about confusing steps, tools, and techniques. With two awesome activities, it’ll be a busy afternoon for all ages. And best of all, after you’re done, you can check out the restaurants in Sanlitun, taking this family bonding afternoon to the next level.

Address: Room 5515, 5th Floor, No. 5, Sanlitun SOHO, No. 8 Gongti North Road, 工体北路8号院三里屯SOHO5号商场5层5515室
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 10am – 7pm
Approx. Price: RMB 163/per person
Ph: 185 1973 7060

KEEP READING: Mommy and Me Yoga: Bonding and Health in Movement

Images: Unsplash

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 October issue

It’s widely believed that for someone to be a true creative, a legitimate artist, there must be a calling. A calling that can come in different ways, and it is the job of the artist to listen for it lest they miss it. For an artist like Pablo Picasso, it was the simple draw of a pencil as a child which marked the start of his expansive and dynamic artistic legacy. Some people also rather wrongly believe that artistic ability can only be innate: guided and shaped rather than taught. But many established artists and current art students and lovers would beg to differ with that statement. So would Riley Seager, the art teacher at the House of Knowledge International Kindergarten (HoK).

Seager’s start in art is as colorful as it is sentimental. “Every British person born in the ’90s will remember a TV show called “Art Attack.” This was a show dedicated to children to teach them how to make different art projects. It was easy to follow and the presenter was energetic and passionate about art,” the UK native offers on her formative experiences with art, adding “I would watch this show religiously and give my mum weekly lists of materials I needed to make the projects. “Art Attack made me feel like I could accomplish any art project and was the stimulus that ignited my passion for art.” It was this early foray into an artistic expression that would also provide Seager with a means of entertaining herself, as a child who lived on an isolated farm. Despite claiming she wasn’t exactly a child prodigy, she stuck with her passion for art, finding innovative ways to express herself. As Seager puts it, “I was very creative and had great attention to detail. I remember one project I used a large bottle and covered it with aluminum foil and designed it into a rocket ship. After that, I had cut out a small photo of my face and glued it to a hand-drawn astronaut who then suspended inside the rocket via string.” How does one go from a child on a far-flung farm in rural Britain to being a lead teacher with a special focus on art in a Beijing international school? Seager points to her parents’ own nurturing of her artistic hopes which ultimately encouraged her to give to Beijing’s brightest what her parents gave her. “I love to create and use my art to express myself. However, my creations are never perfect, there are flaws, imperfections, and mistakes. But my parents never pointed out my errors, they appreciated my art and understood that it was a representation of me,” recounts Seager, adding, “This is an idea that influenced me to become a teacher. There are no mistakes in children’s art, it is an extension of who they are, how they feel, and what they want to communicate. This is an idea that I wanted to teach others, to create a classroom environment where children can create without judgment or negativity.”

A teacher whose sole purpose is to be patient and nurturing with her students, however,  is just one part of the equation to success. The next crucial piece is not only a scholarly environment that encourages artistic exploration but also has pedagogical systems and facilities conducive to artistic exploration. According to Seager, HoK ranks highly in this respect. “Artistic subjects have a daily influence at HoK. Our curriculum is Reggio Emilia influenced so there are a lot of opportunities for creation. Inside each classroom, we have an art area where children are free to create during playtime. It has a variety of materials and loose parts,” explains Seager. HoK’s approach to education lines up with Seager’s pedagogical style, the main one being a strong belief in a child having three teachers in his or her life: the child’s school teacher, parents, and environment. Seager adds, “I think it is very important for children to learn from the world around them and enable their environment. I heavily encourage children to decorate the school. Last year children decorated our classroom into a jungle. They would bring in leaves, sticks, and flowers to stick to the walls and it was beautiful.”

Despite admitting she sometimes feels lonely in Beijing at times, as do all foreigners at some point in time or another, Seager still says she is having a blast here. She also believes the future of creativity is bright, saying “I think the future of art and expression greatly depends on how we support it presently. I hope that artistic expression can become a daily habit for children by implementing and encouraging it in more classrooms and at home. This way children will grow into adults who can express themselves with confidence in a healthy way. Art is always changing, and new mediums are constantly being created. I think the future of art will be diverse, accepting, and exciting if people continue to produce art that challenges us and the way we think.”

On what she believes her legacy in Beijing among her students will be, Seager put it simply, “I just hope I can help my students express themselves and have good self-esteem.” It is safe to say that a few years from now, as the new crop of Beijing’s elite artists takes the world by storm, Seager will be far more than an anecdote about a teacher’s artistic origins, and will be remembered with as much fondness and gratitude as she does her “Art Attack” start.

KEEP READING: Exploring Virtual Reality and The Future of Tech with Tomorrow’s Creatives

Images: Courtesy of Riley Seager

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 October issue

Most kids today participate in some form of “mommy and me class” prior to a more structured school. For some parents, it’s a rite of passage to spend Saturdays snapping pictures of their child shaking a maraca or covered in finger paint! These are incredible memories shared with grandparents and friends and make great additions to both baby books and Instagram feeds.

It’s also an opportunity. The first five years form your child’s educational blueprint.  Everything they learn after that will be retained and utilized or discarded and forgotten based on how their brain is developing right now. Yet every year, without fail, there is at least one parent in my class who will utter in consternation, “But they are just playing!”

This is so much more than just playing! Your toddlers’ brains are a miracle of human evolution and what they are learning in that music or art class may be the most impactful lessons of their lives. So allow me to be your personal Willie Wonka as we tour the magical chocolate factory that is your child’s mind on art and music!

Shake Baby Shake

I personally love music for music’s sake. I believe it is incredibly important for social and cultural understanding and frankly, it’s just fun! But as an educator, music is absolutely essential. Hundreds of studies have been done that tell us several things about how the human brain responds to music.

Actively interacting with music, not just listening to it but singing, dancing, and/or playing an instrument does something very unique: it lights up the entire brain at the same time. According to an ongoing study from the University of Central Florida, when you sing, dance, or play an instrument you are “improving cognitive and motor skills, spatial-temporal learning and neurogenesis.” In other words, music classes actually help your child create neurons and then allow those neurons to connect, forming neuron networks which are the building blocks for future learning. This is why interactive participation, instead of a teacher simply playing the guitar and singing to the kids, is so important. By playing and singing with us, the kids are building these neuron clusters.

But it goes even deeper than that. At a certain point, usually around age eight to 10 years, the brain does a neuron dump. It gets rid of any neurons that have not been used enough to form strong neuron networks. Different genres of music actually help a child’s brain form different neuron networks across multiple brain regions. So, by exposing children to lots of diverse complex music, we are naturally helping their mind form and strengthen so they hang on to more of these mental building blocks. That is going to help them learn, retain, and access more information later in life.

Don’t believe me? I can explain how a bill becomes a law, name all 50 states in alphabetical order, and recite the top six New York Times headlines every year from 1949-1969 but I had a hard time remembering what three things I needed at the grocery store this afternoon…why? Because School House Rock, Ray Charles, and Billy Joel don’t write anthems about my need for milk, eggs, and spinach.

The best part about all of this? You can start this learning process as early as six months old! So, crank up the classical music but make sure they are also getting reggae and Celtic and jazz and show tunes… oh, and stick a maraca or a rhythm stick in their hands!

Now Get Messy

Ok, remember all those neurons we made in music class? They need a place to go! They need neural pathways, and art can help form those! Every time your child has a new tactile experience, like playing with playdough or finger painting, their brain forms a neural pathway. Repetition of that experience makes the pathway stronger and wider. So, if you think of a neuron like a car, the pathway is a road. The more roads you have, the more places the car can go and if more of those roads are concrete six-lane highways instead of dirt paths, your cars can move faster and more efficiently. By letting your child get messy in art you are actually allowing their mind to build a state-of-the-art information superhighway.

Art is also fantastic for fine motor skills and creative problem solving, which is another article’s worth of information. But I think my favorite thing about watching young children in art is it gives them a sense of agency and an opportunity to express themselves.

Our smallest students have opinions but their lack of language at 14 months or two years means all too often they don’t get to tell us what those opinions are. And that is frustrating for them. But in art, if they want their duck to be purple or their fish to have seven eyes or their snowman to be a puddle, it’s ok! I’m constantly reminding parents it’s about the process, not the product. We don’t correct a child’s art because there is no “correct” way to create it. Can you imagine if someone had told Picasso the nose doesn’t go there?!

Once children get a little older, we can also start working on the idea of collaboration and cooperation through art. Large group projects teach children they can work together as a community to make something bigger and better than any one of us could have done alone. That ability to recognize you can be a unique individual within a group that works towards a common goal is a hallmark of successful people all over the world.

Thus, Concludes the Lesson

I’m not trying to take the fun out of your baby classes. Just the opposite! Both music and art release dopamine in the brain so they make the process of learning pleasurable. Education should be fun and engaging and you should absolutely revel in every moment of this special time with your child. But don’t sell these experiences short because they are entertaining. They are vital to your child’s health and well-being and are setting them up to love learning for the rest of their lives.

So next time you see your children keeping a steady beat to your Spotify station, or scribbling faces in their pasta sauce at dinner, remind yourself, they are not “just playing”, they are building their brains!

KEEP READING: Is It Ever Ok to Discipline Someone Else’s Child?

Images: Unsplash

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 October issue

Would you ever get a tattoo? The idea of puncturing your skin to create intricate designs has been around for thousands of years and ingrained in the traditions of cultures all around the world. But it hasn’t always been as socially acceptable as it is today. In fact, in many cultures, they used to signify gang association and crime.

Today, tattoos are a common sight. It can change the way people view you. It’s often more than an aesthetic choice; it’s a way to pay tribute to the person you were and express who you are now.

We spoke with two parents in Beijing who are both deep in the world of body art as they share their views, advice, and the stories behind their ink.

Tattoo artist Belle Gui and son

Something to Honor a Period of Your Life

My high school, Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), is known as a place that values self-expression. It’s not unusual to see teachers – and even students – proudly displaying their tattoos. But for something so personal and obvious, few of us actually bother to ask questions about them.

English teacher David Jordan didn’t get his first tattoo until his mid-thirties. It’s a traditional Māori tattoo, called a moko, which stretches from his shoulder and down his arm.

“As you can imagine,” he says, “as a foreigner and someone of European descent, that can be a little problematic. Some might even call it cultural appropriation.”

Until you hear the rest of the story.

In 2010, Jordan was living in Christchurch, New Zealand when the city was hit by a massive earthquake. He remembers the aftershocks that kept going and going and the screams of his students as they rushed to get them to safety. “We as a community were completely debilitated,” he tells me.

In the wake of the earthquakes, Jordan attended a major community event where a Kaumātua (Māori spiritual leader) introduced them to the concept of “whānau.” In Māori culture, whanau means family, and the larger community of people who make home, home.

“Whānau looks after whānau,” he tells me. We’re in this together. It was the idea of whānau that helped the city and himself get through the disaster.

That’s when he decided to get a moko, which tells a story of heritage and commitment. He says “It’s an expression of your relationship with your spirit and the people around you, [and your ancestry. It’s knowing who you are, and where you came from].” Jordan knew that if he were to get it done, he’d have to do it right.

He was conscious of Māori traditions and had multiple discussions with Māori teachers and students on how to do it and whether or not it’d be okay for him to get one done. When he did, he chose the traditional way. Unlike regular tattoo parlors, the artist doesn’t sketch the tattoo out. There’s no knowing what the finished piece will look like. The artist listens to your story and inks it directly onto the skin.

His tattoo is a tribute to his family history and the sacrifices they made to allow him to leap into the world. Jordan says it’s “a story of what makes me, me.”

A Form of Beauty and Self Expression

Belle Gui is a Beijing tattoo artist and mom to a beautiful little boy. She’s among the first generation to embrace the novelty since tattooing became socially acceptable in China.

Despite the growing popularity of tattoos, it’s still unusual to see someone display as many as she does, all over her arms and legs, on her neck, and down her back. Gui admits she gets a lot of attention for them, though she likes to think it’s because people also consider them beautiful. She doesn’t mind their curiosity and says it’s normal for people to stare. She’d stare too, if she saw someone else with tattoos like hers. What bothers her is when people quietly judge her out of the corner of their eyes.

Gui got her first tattoo at 18 with her boyfriend. The tattoo in question is a barcode on the nape of her neck with the words “made in China” below it. At the time, she said, it had seemed cool and patriotic. Even though she admitted to considering a cover up tattoo, she does not regret getting it, she just doesn’t consider it as “beautiful” anymore. In the end she kept it, after her boyfriend passed away in an accident, as a way to remember him.

When Gui began her career as a tattoo artist in 2007, her parents were very much against it. But after many explanations and discussions, they are now more supportive. She says that her parents are traditional, but as the years go by, she’s beginning to see more and more older people and parents come in for tattoos. As a form of art and self-expression, she believes tattooing will only become more popular.

Advice to Parents and Young People on Getting Tattoos

With the stigma around tattoos decreasing, more and more young people are getting tattoos themselves. Which sparks the question – at what age is it acceptable to get tattoos? And what would you do if your kid wants them?

Jordan says his son already wants tattoos. Granted, he’s only three and marveling at the tales his father tells him about the koi fish jumping to become a dragon on his father’s leg.

His best advice is to have an honest conversation with your children and listen to why they want the tattoo. It’s okay to disagree, and like anything else, the child will grow up and one day decide for themselves. He’d much rather the child understands his point of view and feels listened to.

His worry isn’t of young people not being mature enough, but the credibility of the artist. If someone is willing to tattoo underaged kids, what other safety steps would they be willing to skip?

According to Jordan, kids don’t get enough credit for their ability to make decisions for themselves. He says the moment a young person is able to think of themselves as their own selves, know what they want to do with their own bodies, and acknowledge the sacrifices they will need to make – such as the pain, time, money, and the possibility of regret – he would consider them ready.

Similarly, Gui says she’ll definitely support her son if he grows up to want tattoos. But only if she gets to give him his first one. After that, she’ll recommend him tattoo artists based on his personal style and preference. She also discourages getting tattoos before 18, but not for the same reasons as Jordan. A  child may not have fully developed their own sense of beauty yet and they should consider all options and learn as much as they can about tattoos first. After all, it’s a lifetime commitment.

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Images: Uni You, Unsplash

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 October issue

The sun peers through tinted windows, as the melody of birds chirping stirs you awake. No, this is not Snow White, it’s a scene from a Chinese painting. Atop this misty mountain lies your small cabin, endless streams, fairy waterfalls, blooming petals, and sky-tall trees. The moss-covered rocks shimmer under the sun’s glow. Overflowing streams of purity exist only for attainable peace. I used to live through that world, every weekend. For the past five years, I took Chinese painting classes every week, immersing myself in the world of water and paint.

Olivia Li in class

Chinese painting has various forms and types and is also closely tied in with Chinese calligraphy. When it comes to types of art, it is split into gōngbǐ (工笔) and xiěyì (写意). Gongbi paintings tend to be highly detailed and meticulous, often with long, smooth lines of flowers or birds. Xieyi, on the other hand, is much more abstract. Instead of going through every line and color, the painting will have broader shapes, and certain aspects of objects, such as mountains, will be exaggerated to a recognizable degree. There are two main forms for Chinese painting: Shānshuǐ (山水) and Huāniǎo huà (花鸟画). Shanshui paintings mainly involve drawing landscape sceneries. They will usually always contain mountains, trees, and a form of water. More advanced paintings also have misty clouds, giant waterfalls, villages, and one or two people. On the other hand, Huāniǎo huà focuses on animals and flora. Paintings of a specific flower will sometimes be accompanied by a cute bird or two, and it’s much more zoomed in on the main focus than landscape Shanshui. While it is still up to debate, I consider Rénwù (人物) as part of Huaniao. Renwu paintings mainly portray humans often in dynamic poses. They will be accompanied by decorations such as small animals or flora, and thus is considered as a part of Huaniao by some people. They can also stand alone as a new category because of the many characters to explore.

By Olivia Li

I initially approached Chinese painting as a kind of project to complete. My good friends had been painting for four years ahead of me, and their products looked amazing, thus compelling me to try it out too. Admittedly, the base level techniques and paintings were rather ugly and boorish, but it was those fundamental skills of how to draw the simple shapes and strokes that allowed me to evolve my art into what it is today. What’s more is that the message behind Chinese painting has inspired me to become more creative, and less hung up on perfection. Although the ideals may vary for Western art depending on the medium, the art form that I liked the most, realism, heavily emphasized having every detail down to touch and recreating the world we inhabit. On the other hand, Chinese painting focuses on understanding the spiritual meaning behind the painting and creating that same energy. I used to be hyper-fixated on making every detail perfect, blindly recreating what my teacher had drawn. Although I thought they looked pretty, I learned that the paintings felt lifeless because I could not understand the bigger concept behind it. It took some time to finally grasp how the twist of a tree could seem free, how a few dabs of water could let clouds float, and how to make a painting that had meaning in it. Soon, I was able to improvise more than before. An accidental drop on the canvas could be changed into some pine thorns. An additional stroke made the painting more vibrant. The small things that once bothered me, and drove me to desperate perfection, became more ways to improve myself.

Chinese painting used to make me feel small and imperfect, like the mistakes I made. However, after I took more time to understand the greater aesthetic behind it, that close link of acceptance of oneself and the natural world, I was able to obtain a better mindset not only when it comes to art, but also life. Some day I would love to travel into one of my paintings, living free, feeling good.

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Images: Courtesy of Olivia Li

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 October issue

Artist dad Johannes Nielsen is originally from Sweden and has lived in Beijing for over ten years. He spends his days creating art and playing games with his five-year-old daughter Shiloh along with their dog Luna and cat T-Rex.

Does art play a large part in your life?

Yes, I was born into an artistic home and grew up with paint and clay in the living room. As a teenager I hated art but now it’s my passion, my language, my joy… and now it’s me bringing clay and paint to the living room and probably sometimes traumatizing my daughter with an overwhelming passion for art.

Were you encouraged to explore the arts as a child?

Yes, in fact, it was the only thing I was really encouraged to do. Looking back I sometimes wished they had encouraged me to also take other things more seriously, like school. I learned to be a great dreamer but the journey to make my dreams real and pay tax has been a long and crooked journey. It was also that journey that took me to China.

Do you (or will you) encourage your children to explore the arts in or outside of school?

Yes, but I will also be careful not to overwhelm her or put any expectations on her.  Also, in some way, I don’t think I know more about art than my daughter. She has shown me how playful it can be. She has in that way helped me to reconnect with something I had lost on the way as an artist, and maybe take it a little too seriously and to focus on the result. This lead me to create a drawing workshop for adults titled Rediscover Drawing.

Do you think it’s important for schools to offer kids a wide variety of arts programs? Why or why not?

I think for some kids it’s more important, almost essential. I was a kid like that myself, I did not feel like I fit into the school system, and had difficulties in following directions. But I remember in the art class how I got to shine and find my strength and way of expressing myself in the class. However, for other kids, it seems to be less important. I think art should never be something that one is forced to do. I believe creativity is a very delicate and intimate space. A space that needs to be seen and acknowledged within each of us both by ourselves but also by the people around us. Therefore it needs to be guided and explored within a space without right and wrong, good or bad… and that’s very hard to create and facilitate, therefore we should do it. Especially in times like this, I believe as technology gets more advanced, creativity will be more and more valued within all fields. Not only in art but also in business and science.

Is there a form of art that your child(ren) really enjoys?

Recently acting, dancing, and singing. Often to Disney’s “Frozen” where I get the role of a prince or monster and I love it, It’s an opportunity for me to play and reconnect with the child within me. I see it as my daughter does.

Do you think it’s important for your child to at least experience every form of art?

Yes, but I also know from my own experience it’s not a straight path. You need to go back and forth, up and down a lot… never throw the baby out with the baby water just because there was no magic the first time.

Would you encourage your child to pursue a career in the arts?

Definitely, but also if she chooses to be a banker, I would encourage that too. I think it all can be creative and an expression of our inner voice.

Do you think art contributes to a child’s mental development?

I know it does, not only because I have seen it in children, I have seen it in my parents, and I have experienced it within myself. Recently I made an exhibition titled “The Quarantine Collection.” It’s the artwork I created during the time of isolation in my home/studio. These artworks I have created during this time are very special to me because they have helped me find purpose and joy in this strange time. Instead of using words to explain how we feel I believe in the power of manifesting it to a picture, form, or object. We get distance, we can see it, we can touch it, and more importantly, share it with others.

Sometimes when my daughter finds it hard to explain something, I ask if she can draw it for me instead. And I’m always surprised by what comes out.

Dad Fango Huang is an avid photographer and designer, and Mom Grass Chen is an owner of specialty homestays, who strives to bring beauty into life. She lives by the mantra “You can be slow, but you can’t stop.” Together, they have two daughters: 14-year-old Martina and nine-year-old Phoena. Martina is gentle and quiet, has tenacity, and strives for perfection. She likes to listen to music and immerse herself in a world of paintings and artwork where she can create stories one stroke at a time. Phoena is lively, energetic, and imaginative. She loves doing handiwork and collecting gemstones.

Does art play a large part in your life?

Art is all things “beautiful” for us. As a family, yes, we have an innate pursuit of “beauty.” Art is not just present in lavish palaces and buildings but rather exists all throughout our daily lives. Beauty is all around us, and as long as we are willing and able, we can explore, discover, experience, and enjoy.

Were you encouraged to explore the arts as a child?

I was born in the 1970s. When I was a child, art materials were often very scarce and hard to purchase. I vividly remember the words my mother often used to say: “Be fortunate that you can at least stay warm in the winter and have enough food to eat. Don’t even think about anything else!” so, art was a luxury when I was young, and I wasn’t really encouraged to explore the arts.

Do you (or will you) encourage your children to explore the arts in or outside of school?

Most definitely. Whether it be in or out of school, we encourage the children to explore. I remember once in their music class at school, the teachers had asked the children to try to make musical instruments from different arts and crafts objects. They tied a rubber band to a paper box to make a harp. Another one of their assignments was to design and make a dress, so they cut, glued, and sewed out a set of dresses from old curtains. Once also, the two girls had a whim and wanted to paint on one of the walls in our house. After much deliberation, I cleared a wall and let them play freely. I guess you could say I got an abstract art wall for free.

Do you think it’s important for schools to offer kids a wide variety of arts programs? Why or why not?

Our school provides Western and Eastern art courses for the children, and there are also various art clubs after class, such as theater, orchestras, choirs, oil paintings, and calligraphy. We put great importance on the art courses provided by the school because they not only improve the children’s artistic abilities and their understanding of aesthetics, but they also cultivate the children’s teamwork abilities.

Is there a form of art that your child(ren) really enjoys?

Phoena can talk for hours on end, and I found that once you give her writing utensils and a drawing book, she will immediately quiet down. When she was five and a half years old, she made a decision to draw at least one picture every day. Over 500 days later, she’s still sticking to her promise and continuing to draw. Many parents are dumbfounded when they find out, and they ask us how we kept Phoena to continue drawing. But it’s not us, it’s a matter of persistence from Phoena.

Martina likes music, and when we watch the opera, she can be moved to tears. She likes doing choir music and playing the piano. She started learning when she was less than five years old. While she found it boring at times and almost gave up on a few occasions, Martina has truly fallen in love with the piano and enjoys it. She’s been through ups and downs, but as long as you persist, you will eventually experience its beauty.

Do you think it’s important for your child to at least experience every form of art?

Absolutely. I think it’s important to let the children dabble in various art experiences. On one hand, I hope that the children can find their artistic interests. On the other, I hope they can broaden their artistic perspectives and integrate different forms of art together.

Would you encourage your child to pursue a career in the arts?

If they can turn their artistic interests into a career, I will definitely support it. Of course, if the professional pathways they choose have nothing to do with the arts, I will wholeheartedly support that as well. I believe that the experiences you have in life are never in vain, so their interactions with the arts will definitely stay with them wherever they go.

Do you think art contributes to a child’s mental development?

Learning art is not just about developing children’s drawing skills, nor is it just about being proficient in making and creating music. Art is a means of spiritual fulfillment for children and is a lens through which we can view the world and understand the dynamics of life. I feel that art is an effective means of encouraging children to understand the world.    

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Images: Courtesy of Grass Chen and Johannes Nielsen

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 October issue