Virtual Gallery Tours Feature in Online Art Lessons
Girton Grammar Junior School students have been visiting art galleries and speaking to notable artists during lockdown, helping to hone their art skills and draw inspiration from real-life artists who have spoken to students live from their studios.
Junior School Art teacher at Girton Grammar School, Ms Nic James, said that students were relishing the opportunity to do some artwork from their homes during remote learning.
“While we would all prefer to be doing Art classes face-to-face with the usual resources at our fingertips, our students have been doing some wonderful work from kitchen tables, bedroom desks, back decks and front veranda’s.
“Art classes allow students to work away from their screens after some initial instruction, which is valuable when students are reliant on digital learning in their homes.
“There is nothing quite like seeing the professionals at work and hearing about their journey into making a living out of painting or drawing. So far, we have had visits with three notable artists, and the children have been hugely inspired.
“Our Year Four students had a session with illustrator Sarah Gabriel, who showed them around her Kyneton studio “Lauriston Press”. Sarah talked about what inspires her and how she commences an artwork. Students asked questions via a chat function which I facilitated, which worked very well.
“Sarah even gave four lucky students a small piece of her artwork, which they will receive when we return to school.
“Year Five and Six students have done a virtual tour of the Brett Whitely exhibition at Bendigo Gallery, hosted by Education Officer Margot Feast, and completed a drawing activity based on the display, using their non-dominant hand.
“These same students also virtually visited contemporary landscape painter, James Lai, who is based in Sydney. Students completed a work based on a landscape after his art lesson on representational artwork featuring figurative abstract style.
“Year Three students enjoyed chatting with Corina Hazlett in New Zealand who has written a book of children's illustrations called When the World Stayed Home, documenting our bubble worlds through the eyes of young New Zealand school students.
“Other artists like Rona Green have generously provided artworks for student reference in a range of our art classes, again, giving students a connection to the art world beyond their homes and an understanding of the connectedness of the art community.
“There is lots of inspiration in and around Bendigo where most of our students live, with natural and man-made features. Both Sarah Gabriel and James Lai taught our students how to appreciate their surroundings and capture a moment, while evoking a feeling and telling a story.
“I hope that in some small way these virtual gallery visits and discussions with professional artists support the natural love of creation that most young people have, especially at a time when they are spending a lot of time on screens,” Ms James said.
Student Response
On Friday, We were fortunate enough for Mrs James to organise a zoom with artist-Sarah Gabriel. She showed us around her studio and told us what inspired her like the flora and fauna on the farm and intricate objects like birds’ nests.
She showed us some of her creature drawings and even gave three pieces away to the Year Four raffle prize winners. Sarah started drawing at the age of five and she followed in the footsteps of her Grandma who also did art.
Sarah likes to take her notepad and pencil around with her so that when she is not in her studio, she can just get out her notepad and capture something in the moment.
Sarah likes to keep a messy studio because it helps her to be more creative.
She likes to use pianola rolls, and do etchings as well as drawing portraits of people , animals and plants with her own little touches.
Sarah is an amazing artist; I recommend checking out her work! Sarah Gabriel has a studio and gallery at 37A Piper Street Kyneton.
Saige Armour (4 Jenkin)
I didn’t use any colours but my lines are rough and dark in some lighter in others, what I like about the paintings is that it is free and not like precise and also the colours, I don’t dislike any of them. I like Julian Twigg because I love how there are no bold lines just free. I learned that it is very cool doing it pough and that you can change your work to become something else.
Sophie Mahony (5 Frew)
Our experience with Julian Twigg was amazing. He showed us his sketch book and some models he made. After he left school he did a Commerce degree and started working in banking and economics but he didn’t like it so he did an Arts Degree and went on with sketching, painting and making boats out of clay. He started with drawing boats from out the window. He said he has from 60 to 70 sketch books in a closet. Overall we had an amazing time learning about him and asking him questions.
Campbell Bowen (5 Jenkin)