Singapore artist Teresa Lim didn’t think that she would be looking to make a living off of embroidery, which was a talent she picked up while attending art school in Singapore. But she is now a talented embroidery artist who works both with brands and on commission through her many social media followers.
After she graduated art school, Lim decided to take an entire year to devote to her new passion: embroidery. She didn’t want to get a job she hated just so she could stay afloat. It was more important to her to do something she loved: art. She experienced a lot of pushback for that decision, including significant criticism from her parents, who were concerned that she wouldn’t be able to support herself. During her yearlong exploration of what she could make with embroidery, Lim decided not to accept monetary support from her parents to prove to them that she could be independent. In the end, and down to the very last of her own money, Lim was forced to start giving music lessons in order to earn money to continue funding her embroidery.
It might have been a sacrifice, but it taught her a valuable lesson: Sometimes, something that is worth doing is difficult. Lim stuck with it and started selling her embroidery works.
Her embroidery is intricate, detailed, and colorful, and inspired by her worldwide travels. But instead of snapping quick pictures and posting them to social media like many of her contemporaries might do, Lim recreated the sights she saw with needle and thread. With incredible patience and painstaking detail, she has amassed nearly 50 scenes from these travels. It is this series that helped launch her into visibility.
Now, she accepts portraits and other commissions from followers and fans. Lim is also experimenting with telling stories through her embroidery, inspired by some of the comments she has come across online. She has been addressing everything from a child’s experience of their parents’ divorce to body image issues of teen girls.
This success has translated into relationships with big fashion brands and other companies interested in using Lim’s talent and artwork in their various advertising and marketing campaigns. Sticking with her art — even when times got tough — ensured that Lim was eventually able to make a living doing the thing she is most passionate about.
Have you always been curious about discovering your true artistic passion? Visit SGArtClass.com to learn more about all the options there are available to you. From textile arts to assemblage art, oil painting to charcoal drawing, and everything in between, you are certain to find a new hobby — or even a new stream of income. Once our expert teachers have helped you to master anything from nail art to portrait drawing, you could easily begin making artwork to help support you and your family — or simply to give as gifts to loved ones.
To read more about Teresa Lim’s work and life, go to https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/teeteeheehee-teresa-lim-embroidery-artist-10277992.