Creative ID: 244
Most Nelson/Richmond/Stoke schools.
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)
We create wallpaper and murals using digital art and photographs. We focus on New Zealand-inspired design and have murals featuring our designs all over the world. Even in New Zealand house in Shanghai! It is really hard doing that kind of thing here based in New Zealand. I would love to expand this and encourage other young kiwis to have their designs printed.
My track record of experience and success - or the track record of experience and success of the creative or artist that I will partner with
We have been selling wallpaper and marketing it for over ten years. About eight years ago I realised I wanted to be designing my own stuff. It took a further three years to really get a grasp of the digital processes needed and then another year to find a printer who could print to such a large scale with precision and quality. We have been painting wallpapers for around two years now and are growing growing growing.
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes
I taught English in Japan and South Korea on and off for around eight years. I also teach Japanese to two kiwi girls once a week (just to keep my language and teaching skills fresh). Teaching digital art for large-scale print is tricky. If we don't have access to Adobe Illustrator we would need to use hand drawings and I digitise them for reprint. A lot of ways around this but I'm thinking older students from 12 upwards would be the best.
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice
We encourage Kiwi artists to join our group and have their designs made in to wallpaper. This is such a cool opportunity for me to show an even younger audience their capabilities and what we can do when we work together. Art is such a cool medium to join people together.