Here is the news programme that my S2 classes made for their ‘Disaster and Emergency’ unit. The project was part of an ‘Integrated Learning Challenge’ which every subject took part in. The animations were created by making moving paintings that were either stop animated or by way of puppets. I’d also like to thank Kerry and Scott that were kind enough and talented enough to present the programme.
I’ve been posting some submissions from my school’s Art Department to TESS (Teaching Supplement), to feature in their Art Section. I couldn’t give up the chance of letting you see some of the pupil work my colleague, Mrs Hull (OLSP), has been supervising across the corridor. These submissions were pre-lim examples for the S4 Standard Grade expressive exam last year. Pupils usually sit the exam with objects in front of them, or a photo along with a pre-trial version of their exam composition. This gives them the biggest chance to succeed, as it is asking a lot for a pupil to be at their artistic best on the day. Lots of things can go wrong and the pupil could have artistic block or an ‘off day’.
At the very top Emma H and Patrick McC (S4, OLSP) show off their painting skills with beautiful studies of fruit, bottles and a basket. Mrs Hull’s still life resources are very luxurious, it makes the pupils’ work look a lot more mature, even professional. Her teaching methods help the pupils focus on capturing pockets of colour in an expressive, yet controlled manner. If you can observe and record the right reflections and perfect your eclipses in your work, like Holly McP‘s (S4, OLSP) pastel study below, you can produce impressive work, though this would be a lot easier if you have a great mentor like Mrs Hull.
A few months ago I asked Art Classroom readers to vote on the best artwork ever featured on the blog. The polls (blog poll, twitter poll, Facebook poll and email suggestions) are now closed and the votes have been counted. It was a close contest for the first few weeks, but in the end, Anna C’s ‘Fail’ (Oban High) topped the polls by over 23 votes and showed itself as the clear winner. It is very rewarding seeing the talent and quality of the work that has been displayed on the blog in the past two years and I love the ironic twist that a painting named ‘Fail’ is the winning piece. Congratulations to Anna, an iTunes Gift Card will be on its way to you this week.
This week’s chosen artwork is a sneak peek at the piece that Sammy M is entering into the Aesthetica Creative Competition. Sammy spent around two months of lunch times planning, painting and pencilling the work above. Those in the know will remember her from a few posts ago, she won a ‘Design a Superhero’ competition. I’m sure you’ll agree that it is a beautiful and emotive piece of work. I’m wishing her luck on behalf of all that visit the blog.
Kayleigh M (S2, OLSP) adds finishing touches to her modern Guernica inspired painting. Based on 9/11 and the attack on the the twin towers, it’s no lighthearted piece of work. She has researched her painting by working on an investigation drawing, then developing her ideas into a small plan which was enlarged to create the layout for her large painting. Kayleigh has obviously paid attention to lots of Picasso’s methods like the pattern windows, which is typical Picasso. She has also used dark contrasting greys to make her lighter greys and whites stand out, drawing the viewers eye to those areas. Nice work.
My S1 Pupils (11-12 year old) from OLSP have been working on a ‘fit for life’ project that involves them using colour theory to convey health. Looking at the work of Franz Marc (a German Expressionist who gave meaning to the colours he used), pupils had to paint a strong or weak animal using these colours. I found it really hard to choose one of them for ‘artwork of the week’, so I’ve decided to go for four choices this week.
Jean M has painted a very weak and hurt horse. She has done an incredible job on the tone and texture of the animals skin and it’s eye shows so much emotion.
Emily M has also painted a weak horse, though has gone for using brighter tones of colour. The animal still looks fragile due to the way Emily has painted the horses legs. I really like the intense reds she has added to show the dark tones on the animal.
Jodie B has created a beautiful painting of a little weak lamb. It’s impressive how she has used comforting reds to surround the lamb and make it look like it is protected by the background.
Rebecca D has painted a strong Flamingo. Although it looks like a weak animal, she has used strong blue hues and vivid oranges to bring out the strength of the animal. Though, it’s not that clear cut, the same blue makes the bird look very sad and lonely.
I have just finished editing the ‘As I See It…’ short film created by pupils of Ladywell Learning Centre and their family members. The short talking head films focus on an aspect of the artist’s views on things around them. Each piece was created by painting (acrylics) a portrait on card and then adding moving mechanisms for the eyes and mouth to animate it. There is no digital editing in any of the pieces themselves, they are created and manipulated by hand in front of a flip camera while the artists’ audio is played in the background.
I was very happy that the adult family members were as willing to take part as much as the pupils and their younger siblings, it has made the selection of views varied and very interesting to watch. It’s definitely a project I’m very proud in being part of.
Over the weekend, myself, Mrs Lyons and Mrs Longmuir, from Notredame High School, attended a life painting class held by Andrew Radcliffe. Andrew has painted many important people including Prince Charles and Neil Kinnock. He can paint photographically, almost hyper-real (too real).
For 4 hours we painted, I have to say, it was such a daunting task for me, those who know me will know that I’m not a patient man, I have to have things done and they have to be done yesterday. I suppose that I should have found the whole task relaxing and rewarding, though I found myself becoming very frustrated and unhappy with my own progress. Something that I would usually pick pupils up on… now I know how you all feel.
I am still fairly happy with my work, though I find that I didn’t get enough ‘work’ for the effort that was put in, maybe that’s why I work with digital media most of the time. It’s quick to use with a virtually instant output.
The piece above is what I finished the workshop with, below is the piece 20 mins in.
It contains no starter guide lines or pencil layouts, it’s just straight painting. Below, Mrs Lyons works colours into her piece at 20 mins in too. Her style is frustrated angular lines like mine, though she layers her paint as if it is a sculpture. This gives her figure more form and life. I was so amazed by all the different styles created by the handful of art practitioners.
I really like Mrs Longmuir’s piece below (20 mins in), it’s a style of painting that I wish I could do… flowing, curving lines. She shows off Kelly’s (the life model) femininity, while capturing the colours perfectly.
Gary Baseman, the son of Polish Holocaust survivors did not train as an artist, but gained his experience through his Communications Degree. Heavily influenced by Disney and Mad Magazine, Baseman has called his art ‘pervasive’. Painting naive characters, usually Mexican influenced, in bright colours, his paintings are usually shockingly graphic even though they look like images from a children’s book.
Baseman has illustrated many magazines and designed toys, including the game ‘Cranium’ and Disney’s animation series ‘Teacher’s Pet’. These projects have built his fame, though it is his presence within the fine art exhibition circles that keeps his audience interested and helps him to push his work further.
Those interested in seeing more of Gary Baseman can follow him on his website:
This week’s chosen artwork comes from Saara A from Notredame Secondary. Her project was to take a famous painting and adapt a story to it using four re-drawn panels. Saara had decided to go with ‘Christina’s World’ by Andrew Wyeth, a famous painting about a crippled girl crawling across a field. I was interested to see that Saara went for a different story focusing on the drama of running away rather than the actual reason for the painting, it really was quite refreshing. She originally wrote the story in her native language then translated it to English. It was then edited and typed into her A4 folded book.
Click to see larger readable version.
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