Junkies Feature_Autumn

I am so proud and so overwhelmed at the same time.
Thank you to all at Junkies Magazine, especially Lisa Zee, for the wonderful photos and presenting my art and my workshops.


Here are scanned images of the article in the magazine.

Junkies Magazine is for people who are "reThinking our consumer habits and reDefining what is beautiful." It aims to "share ideas, inspire thinking and creativity in sustainable ways with an emphasis on ReUsing and ReCycling."
http://www.junkiesmagazine.com

A year of Life Drawing

It's been a good year of drawing. What made it even special was the people who attended the sessions. Their talent and enthusiasm to art and life drawing made facilitating the class so enjoyable.

For all of 2014 (and part of 2013) the classes were held in Upwey and Belgrave of the Dandenong Ranges. Art students, art teachers, established artists and fellow lovers of art participated in life drawing.

Throughout the year we did various exercises and drawing techniques to capture the look and exact proportions of the body. Mostly the emphasis with my life drawing class was for students to express their art and express creatively what they see. I introduced exercises that raised awareness of: composition, observation, colour and tone, form and depth, and enhance drawing skills.

    

    

The funnest exercises for me were the quirky warm-ups. For example, drawing in character where the charcoal is an extension of your character and the model joining in too. Or drawing on each others easel, moving round the room. Everyone has a good laugh and it becomes a relaxing start to the class.

Students thrived every session, it made me desire to spread my techniques and knowledge with younger aspiring artists. In July 2014 I held an intensive life drawing session for VCE students. Dedicated, willing and talented in their art practice. It was great preparation and skill awareness for their tertiary studies later on. The Intensive focused on producing a series of work that demonstrated skill in close observation of the human figure and sketching the proportions and natural movements. It was a great art day and I am pleased with the drawings.

The regular life drawing class celebrated the end of the year with a student exhibition in the local area. Various styles of artwork hung to present the many talents and trials in life drawing. Freinds and members of the community came to visit where the day kicked off with a lively performance and support from Full Circle Drumming student ensemble. It was a rewarding way to celebrate the end of the year. Thank you everyone and looking forward to more drawing.

Leigh, Lauren, Monika, Ron, Teresa & Guy

Photos by: Monika Poray and Leigh Wicking

Artwork by students

Collaborative Basket Making

On Friday May 30th 2014, St Augustine’s College, Kyabram, had coordinated a range of activities in celebration and acknowledgement of National Reconciliation Week. 

I was asked to participate in this amazing event by facilitating a weaving workshop. The art teacher and I discussed to introduce COLLABORATIVE BASKET MAKING and for students to experience and learn that by working together - ANY GOAL CAN BE ACHIEVED!

The program layout was unlike I am used to. Each classroom participated in each activity for 20 minutes. Weaving is fun, but difficult to do in a short time like that. So what’s the best way to offer every child the opportunity to participate? 

Before the workshop, I assembled 3 base structures of baskets, around 60cm high, as a starting point and prepared two large, large bags of materials. I’ve done the hard part. The kids get the easy part.

In the beginning of each session I talked about the goal for the activity which was to complete the basket and I demonstrated the weaving style. Because the pre-assembled baskets were so big, it became enough for each class to contribute.

Demonstrating and engaging with the students was fun and it excited the children. During the workshop they were introduced to big words: 

‘Indigenous Australian Grass,’ 

‘Collaborative Basket Making’

‘Ephemeral Public Art.’ 

The biggest challenge for me, which I realise was part of the creative process all along, THE MESS. Grass and raffia everywhere! 1 or 2 kids finding the process difficult! 1 or 2 kids running away to play with the bundle of grass and raffia making an even bigger mess. On carpet. The hardest to clean. Why did I agree to do indoors? 

 

The greatest joy from the whole day was creating those large baskets and observing the progress. Of course its messy, it’s basket weaving and its art. Every student in each class still got exposed to the process of weaving and collaboration and had fun. I am so pleased.

The day ended with 3 Foundation classes, and I instructed to add the final touches - secure the basket and add a handle. Decorated with scentful plants it was a great end to another successful workshop and proudly displayed at Kyabram.