WEEK 9
Artists in attendance 11
Abstraction quite a difficult thing to get your head around if you’re over 60 and have very rigid ideas of what ‘real’ art is. Most of the group said they didn’t see the skill in abstract, until I mentioned artists such as Miro, Kandinsky and Barbara Hepworth. I think the fact that these artists were famous gave their work value.
I have to remind my self that growing up in the 40’s and 50’s was very different than growing up in the 70’s and now. Society was very rigid and people did practical things and gender roles were very specific, people weren’t encouraged to use their imaginations or even to dream. You ask a 70 yr old what were there dreams when they were young adults and I bet you get such answers as “I didn’t have any dreams” “having a job” “owning a house” and “having a family” all things very achievable in those days. Lots of our older generation only sees watercolour or oils as art. They may not even consider sculpture, textiles, or photography as art as “there is no skill to it.
So i’m up against it, trying to open there eyes to abstraction, i’m trying to get the pint across that art should be personal, fun and for them, not for the viewer. If you have don’t have confidence in your art works the viewer can give you that but then you are just making art that other people have to like to make it good. Where’s the fun in that???
I gave each artist a small paper frame and asked them to choose an image that they liked, and then to frame a part of it and draw or paint that part. Within minutes the group had stopped looking at their original image and were off creating shapes and colours from their own imaginations. Hurrah!
I talked to individuals and pointed this out “oh well I just seemed to get carried away”, “it’s just so relaxing”, “I thought that this shape would look better here so I did it” were some of the comments I received.
The general consensus of the group was that they didn’t feel so pressured because it didn’t look like anything so no one could judge it against the real object. (Always going back to what other people think aaarrrrrrrrg!
The abstract theme will be carried on for the next couple of weeks at the end of it hopefully they will have many sketches and will have completed a final large piece on canvas.
Next week we have our first guest artist coming Ria Roberts who will be facilitating a workshop in collaboration ‘MUSICAL CHAIRS’.
29th November 2014
WEEK 8
Artists in attendance 11
Who doesn’t love a bit of life drawing? Who doesn’t find life drawing difficult?
Who is scared of life drawing? Who worries about what the subject will think?
All of the above for me, and most of the artists this week. There were lots of comments like “I can’t do it, it won’t look right,” “sorry it doesn’t look like you,” “i’ve made a mess”. In the end every one had a go some people were pleased with what they did and some felt very cross with themselves. All this is to be expected for maybe your first go at it. It was really interesting to see the internal struggle that some people were going through, worrying that the subject would be offended by what they had produced. We all talked about this and came to the agreement that people would just accept the images and not be offended by them.
next week ABSTRACTION
SourceURL:file://localhost/Users/Trae/Desktop/dgmwk7:22oct14.doc
WEEK 7
22nd October 2014
Artists in attendance 13
Origami! Now up to this point I have struggled with origami from books and you tube so when a couple of ladies from our group said they knew a bit I was most excited. I asked the ladies if they would like to run a little session for the art group.
This is the result of that little session.
Firstly we learnt how to make a crane this was quite tricky and some of the group were reluctant to join in, but in the end they did and realized it was actually fun. We then made nuns how fun! I spent the whole day making cranes because someone told me that I make a thousand it would be good luck.
One gentleman in the group remembered making flapping birds as a child and was determined to remember how to do it, I watched him fold and unfold his square of paper many many times. Finally he got it!! He was so pleased with himself that he had remembered something from so long ago. After this success there was no stopping him he made planes and hawks and really enjoyed himself flying his planes across the room. It was so fantastic to watch.
Next week NO PENCILS OR RUBBERS
Week 6.
In attendance 15 artists.
Collage collage collage! I love a bit of collage! The members found this a little hard. “I don’t know what to do?” this seems to be a bit of a continuing theme. We talked about using the cut images to make new images using colours to build up a picture, making an abstract picture amongst other things. After this they all got their teeth into it and created some wonderful pieces. “I’ve not done this since school” “I feel like a child again” “how is this art?” were some of the comments. I love the fact that art is such a brilliant catalyst for conversations we had so much fun talking about our childhoods.
This week I asked the members of the group what kind of art workshops/ new things to try and idea-generating things would they like me to organize for them this is the list they came up with.
Stained glass
Mixing colours
Watercolour techniques
Ideas hat
Pass the parcel art
Origami
More lucky dips
Abstract art
Oil pastels/ pastels
Lino printing
Sculpture
Mixed media
Photography
Willow weaving
Acrylic
Water based oils
Air-drying clay
Collective artwork
Now I need to find some other artists to provide some of these.
Next week origami! One of the group says she know a bit so I am letting her teach the group (and me). Paper sculpture for the people who don’t fancy origami.
Week 5
In attendance 13 artists
This week we explored the exciting experience or an art lucky dip. The members didn’t know what they were going to get when they put their hands into the art lucky dip. Some pulled out something they were familiar with and some did not, if they didn’t like their dip they could negotiate and swap with another member. All the members enjoyed the lucky dip one said “if I’d been asked to choose something different to use, I would have spent an hour choosing and worrying about it!”
Short and sweet this week.
Collage next week, at last I have found a use for that mountain of magazines my mum has given me. Recycling at its best!
p.s i cannot get the picture to turn round!!!!
