My Selection: Could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

James Tan: I am a freelance illustrator and prior to it, I worked as a creative director in an animation studio.

MS: What does your job entail exactly?

JT: I do illustrations for picture books, as well as other illustration related projects… It can be a storyboard for an advertising agency, or an editorial illustration for a magazine. The work itself varied. I also do works for publishers and had one of my work published in “The World Is So Big: An Artist’s Sketchbook”.

MS: How long have you been living in Singapore and what brought you there?

JT: I am a local and, as a Singaporean, life can be a little bit stressful as there are no wide open lands and nature.

MS: With work done, how do you like spending your free time in the Lion City?

JT: I usually try to go for a nature walk in Bukit Batok nature reserve. It’s not a big area but it’s close to nature as much as I can find it. Otherwise, I will usually be at some cafes drawing people as I bring my sketchbook everywhere.

MS: Singapore is famously a melting pot of cultures and, as a result, also of multiple cuisines. What are your favorites?

JT: I guess I am drawn towards more spicy cusine so Malay food like Nasi Lemak, and Chinese food like chicken rice are my favourites.

MS: Where do you like to have dinner in Singapore? Could you name your Top 3 picks among restaurants, bars & cafes in Singapore?

JT: I usually go to Jem / Westgate near Jurong East MRT interchange to have my dinner. There are alot of food options there and always something to eat. I prefer Japanese food and ramen at Ippudo is nice. Cafes and bar wise, I don’t have any favourites and will pop by to any cafe I happen to be nearby. As for bar, I am not a drinker, so I hardly go there,

Styled and shot by Aburi Sushi Heishirou @Westgate

MS: Selecting wine depends very much on the occasion. When do you like to drink wine? On its own / with a meal / alone / with company?

JT: I don’t drink much wine.

MS: Are there any wines that you particularly like and would recommend to our readers? Or maybe you have your favorite pairings with the food you mentioned before?

JT: I am not a drinker but I do have a preference for white wine rather than red wine-on occasion that I drank it. I liked the flavour better. As for art, I suppose as for all things-art should get better with time, just like wine.