Creative ID: 761
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)
I am a multi-discipline artist that specialises in printmaking, digital artwork and painting. I have also made a lot of murals over the years which involve schools and local communities, where we workshop ideas to tell stories of local history. My themes have been about identity, the environment, and now I'm looking at popular science, which I think encompasses the previous two concepts. I have been a Professional Visual Artist and Workshop tutor for over 25 years, tutoring mainly in printmaking.
The workshops which I have designed, yield an incredible quality of output and reward. I direct students into learning things fast and direct. Once they see a new and effective way of making art they start to use their initiative, and the natural instincts kick in. It’s a real hands on process of learning. I also am a very accomplished digital artist that makes artworks using photography and manipulation through software such as photoshop and after effects. I am always looking at new apps and old tech to make a blend of styles and techniques . Experimentation is the key to breaking new ground and connecting young minds. I am also experienced in digital marketing for visual artists Links to my website profile with my CV and photos from my Facebook profile and all the different projects I have worked on recently are available on request.
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
I have done numerous successful projects with schools and communities to deliver high quality art workshops/ murals and exhibitions. A detailed list is available on request.
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes
I love working with young minds as they learn by doing, and I learn so much from them as well. Recently I was at a Wellington school as their Artist in residence for six weeks, where I did numerous workshops with all the students. I had to quickly adapt to doing 90-minute workshops with 30 children @ 3 classes per day while making work for a small group show, and designing and making a mural for their playground. It was a an amazing experience to getting everything done but it really made me think about how you can work with young children in an art workshop context in a short amount time and produce good work.
I have worked with all age groups from 5-year olds to 18-year olds. I found the found object printing without a press and mono printing to be a very good connection with the environment and artmaking. I work well with students; I feel great when someone else is learning something I designed. My workshops centre around relief and intaglio printmaking which is water-based, chemical-free with an eye on sustainability and the environment. My latest workshops were hatched during the first Covid-19 lockdowns from where I collected leaves and feathers from local parks and brought them home to print on the kitchen table without a press. The thing I love about printmaking is that the class is creating together sharing the tools, leaves and objects to make similar art with their own unique twist. It is a collective experience where the results come fast and are very dynamic. The aim is to mentor students into the philosophy and techniques of found object printing, where the theme of recycling/ sustainability will be explored in this process of making art. Soft flat materials are sourced from home, op- shops, walking to school, to explore their printing capabilities when applying ink and running through a press.
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice
I want to help young minds develop a sense of art appreciation and problem solve contemporary issues within an art context. It makes me a better artist to share all my knowledge and techniques with young minds. I am especially keen to bring astronomy as a subject or theme for a project, where they can understand/comprehend some education about popular science and how it relates to our contemporary lives.