Born to Create

Some people quite simply, are born to create. Ghislaine (Yr 8) is one such person.

Resourcefulness, innovation, and a high degree of independence is her ‘modus operandi’. The stage was set with drawing from a very young age and then over time, her curiosity expanded to the world of 3-dimensional art. Ghislaine reflects, “Once the pandemic arrived, I found myself stuck at home with time on my hands”. For many people the lockdowns were a difficult time, but for Ghislaine it was the perfect conditions to fan into flame her creativity. 

Ghislaine explains, 

“I make a whole variety of things, puppets, cardboard constructions, and lots of things from polymer clay. But my favourite things to make are miniature dioramas featuring forests, streetscapes, and Japanese houses.” 

With real life learning at her fingertips, Ghislaine explored her entrepreneurial skills during one of the lockdowns and sold her dioramas out the front of her house to passers-by.

Ghislaine’s resourcefulness is at the heart of her desire to create. She explains, “I use whatever materials I can find at home, and over time I build up a collection”. Equipped with natural artistic talent and a sense of curiosity, the sewing skills her Mum taught her when she was younger, verbal encouragement from her parents and the use of online tutorials to master relevant techniques, all culminate to help facilitate her ideas to come to fruition.

“I always have a project on the go”. She describes, “I am currently making dragons with a flexible body”. Starting with a wire armature to form the shape of the body, the armature is wrapped in wadding, and she creates her own pattern using fur fabric which encases the armature. She says, “The head and feet are the most fun to make, they are made using polymer clay”. Ghislaine’s innovation is highlighted as she made her own stamps in order to give the clay convincing, scale like texture. The highlight of this creation is the detail and realism of the eye. At first glance it appears to be a commercially made glass eye, but she interprets, “I draw the eye with pencil on paper and attach a glass pebble over the top to give it the appearance of a realistic eye”.

Ghislaine is a permanent resident in the art room every recess and lunch, and her desire and curiosity to explore, experiment and create is inspiring. 

Thank you, Ghislaine, for sharing your talents and creations with us to enjoy. Keep on creating!