Every project and assignment is interesting as it is different. Each requires a different sort of preparation work involved before and during lessons. I really appreciate this sort of diversity in fine arts. I deliberately painted all these artworks of Winslow Homer beforehand in order to show to the students in class so that they have a good idea of the finished artwork. I will then re-paint them again in front of the class as live demonstration so as to impart to them the necessary skills and techniques required to accomplish their assignments. Hopefully also to make them feel encouraged and motivated. It’s important to impart to them not only techniques but, equally as important, the trouble shooting skills in correcting those weakness areas which they have and the mistakes which they made and sometimes even wrong mind sets they have acquired on certain areas which can possibly lead to wrong decisions and/or incorrect application when they are tackling their assignments. I always try my best to offer them simplified specific solutions via critiques and demonstrations directly on their works and on how to correct the mistakes and showing them specifically how troubleshooting should and ought to be done (not just providing solution–but providing sure fire solutions that can work for them rather than against them base upon their various different skill levels) which can sometimes be the most fun, albeit challenging, task in managing the art works of so many students altogether at the same time
Thru direct sharing and live demonstrations, they will also become more confident, motivated and possibly even inspired. A lot goes into really walking thru the little details with them rather than just merely providing visual simulations and/or stimulation via visual aids, impressive screen shots of famous artists’ works or related references googled from internet while letting them go about on their own thru sheer excitement and a lot of trial and error making bad decisions which could have been avoided which can result in totally uncertain, possibly even undesirable outcomes which can end up frustrating them or even discouraging them, worse in the end some of them would just tell themselves “Thats it, i give up!”; losing interest in the subject altogether which can be a very sad thing. It is imperative to be clear on the things which serve and work for us so that we can continue to build upon that as we quickly try to filter out whatever things which neither serve nor work anymore and streamlining and leveraging upon the momentum from there so that even if its a a steep learning curve, it will not turn into a “learning curse”
Hence I feel it’s necessary to not only understand but apply correctly the necessary skills, concepts and techniques because this will and can greatly determine and enhance the outcome and quality of work hence it’s important to not follow the crowd and work towards becoming unique.
When I was a student during the school days, I always aspire to be a good teacher who will take the initiative, time and effort to purposefully prepare the lessons and anticipate students’ real learning needs and meeting those needs spot on and also making information easily understandable, digestible and useful for them especially when the expectations may be very high and when there was tremendous pressure for them to perform well
In a way, I also believe in leading by example which is something I always try my best to do before and during all of my lessons as much and as far as possible because at the end of the day, I know this will and can only enhance their learning experience as well as my own –in return, while becoming a better educationist, i will also become a better artist 😊
Every student required first to learn to paint the colour wheel based upon primary colours red, yellow and blue. Then from there, they will blend to create the secondary colours and subsequently tertiary colours. Then they will practise colour blending and the different water colouring techniques
5C1
After first layer before adding values as outlines, tones, shadows, textures etcetcetc
Students’ works.. 5c2 being first to complete lesson 4..
Class 5C1
Last lesson for class5c1
Class5i2
Last second lesson for class 5i2, left with toning, outlining and texturing
Toning, outlining, texturing and shadows left to be done for next lesson which is last lesson…
Today for their last lesson for class 5i1, I taught them now to outline, tone and texture
5i1 completed
Lesson 3, class 5r1&5i2
After toning and outlining, class 5r1 and 5i2 completed. Actually in retrospection, I find most apprehensive whenever asked to teach paint, be it acrylic or water colour or poster paint, becos paint art is something that can be extremely subjective. One student may feel for instance their fellow classmate’s piece of paint work is nicely done whereas another can actually have nothing good to say about that same piece of artwork except horrible things. Even if it’s not that bad, the perception can become warped until it perceives it as bad. Basically it turns almost everyone into like a sort of “nerve wreck”. It can be extremely difficult to control this wave of emotion reverberating thru the class when they start critiquing on one another’s work. But over all, this time round, I am still pretty please with the outcome of most of their artworks.
Class5c3
5c3, last second lesson, one more lesson to go..
This last piece has a lot of texturing to do
End of last lesson for class 5c3
ngjoseph 