THE MOBILE ART STUDIO

I conducted a pen drawing of a church window during a trip to Coventry Cathedral. The trees breaking up the sky captivated me and I liked the linear aspect. This is why I used a ballpoint for the drawing. I had taken HB pencil, ruler, A5 sketchpad and a couple of ballpoint pens (not the cheap sort that fade or blotch). I used Bic. This ink drawing was not intended to be a draughtsman’s finish, but loose and expressive. Close up of church window drawing Adding Weight and Texture to the Window Slats I took a quick measurement of the window’s proportions and transferred a grid onto the page. The lines were then used as a guide to ensure the drawing did not end up wonky or lopsided which can easily happen when working close to a drawing. The rectangular part of the window drawing measured 10cm by 12cm, adding an extra 4cm for the arch at the top. Grid used as a guide for the drawing 1 and 2 As can be seen in the first image, I had divided the rectangle in half and the...

Drawing from life becomes easier when using the grid method. In this demonstration, I show how a simple four‑quadrant grid helps place key shapes accurately while sketching a statue at Coventry Cathedral. Using HB and 2B pencils, this exercise focuses on proportion, tonal balance and confident shading. Using a Grid for Drawing Practice A tip for drawing is to use the grid technique. Here, I have simplified the grid into four sections. Drawing from life is made convenient and easy. This drawing demonstration requires HB and 2B pencils, ruler scalpel, A5 sketchpad and eraser. The head fits into left quadrant of the grid  Measuring Proportions and Setting Up the Four-Quadrant Grid I set myself up in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral where an interesting statue happened to roughly fit into a grid of four. This was ascertained by holding the pencil to eyelevel and measuring width to height proportion. The head and torso of the statue was twice as high as it was wide. The photograph...

Classroom management includes motivating students in art lessons otherwise the students may not reach their creative potential. According to Reece & Walker’s book Teaching, Training and Learning – a Practical Guide (Business Education Publishers , 2004) a student of low ability but high motivation can experience greater success than a student of high ability and low motivation. For this reason, motivational issues should be treated with equal gravity as a learning need or a disability. Common Causes of Low Motivation in Art Classes Before tackling this problem, the causes of low motivation must be identified. The following might be worth exploring: A messy art studio The learning environment looks unwelcoming, messy or uncared for. Paint spills and dirty pots full of unusable art brushes can be visually off-putting. The area might also appear impersonal and clinical with strip-lighting and insufficient natural daylight. There is insufficient differentiation in the les...

What happens at the end of an art course? The answer is the end of course assessment. How is such an assessment conducted properly? Students may be given an allotted time to attend the assessment with all the work as set out in the criteria requirement. The agreement as set out in the mock assessment may be referred to if necessary or appropriate. Again, praise whenever the opportunity arises. The final marking should never be a surprise and the student should be informed on exactly why a particular marking has been awarded. This will prevent nasty surprises. What Happens at the End of an Art Course? Criterion for Assessments The teacher may write a short feedback on the student’s work, relating to the creative use of materials, the painting style and willingness to try new ideas. How to Evaluate Art Work The student has the opportunity to write a feedback on the learning experience, which might include the teaching, the resources or the institution’s policies. The tea...

How does the teacher grade artwork properly? The summative assessment must be fair or it will not be valid. Assessing artwork objectively may seem impossible, but a fair system of conducting the final assessment of any art course can be done. This involves using the same criteria from which to judge all art students’ creations. How to Grade Artwork Fairly in an Art Course Making Art Marking Fair At the beginning of the art module, the teacher may provide a brief for each student. Not only should this outline the theme or topic of the art course, but also the requirements to pass, get a merit or a distinction. Each criterion should be clearly outlined and the final work measured only against these criteria. Below is an example of the requirements to pass a single painting module. A creative diary evidencing self-evaluation. This might be in the form of a reflective log of the student’s aims, problems encountered and how solutions were found during the creative process. ...

Painting on stones is an easy and cheap way of creating ornaments for the garden, gift ideas or dedications. Here is a demonstration on painting red pansies onto stone. Pansies possess punchy colors and bold shapes. I prefer smooth stones or those with interesting shapes and nodules. Avoid porous stones like pumice or those that are liable to erode such as limestone or sandstone. I go for granite, slate or marble. Smooth pebbles are ideal. Gift ideas: The Painted Stone Choosing the Best Stones for Painting Art Materials needed are: several tough sables that have worn or grown a little stiff through use. They can withstand the surface of the stone, particularly when it comes to getting paint into the crevasses. Reserve separate sables for dark and pale colors. No.s 3’s or 6’s are good for detail. A number 6 flat bristle is suitable for the background. Black acrylic paint, then oil colors of the following: white, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, black and viridian green. Artist...

What is Behaviourism and how can it be Utilized in art schools? Well, Behaviourism is a tenet based on the idea, that behaviour can be learned without involvement of the mind. But how can this principle be used in art education? Highly directed class for Behaviourism Behaviourism is a theory expounded by the psychologist B F Skinner, who argued that cause and effect is what controls behaviour, not the mind or reasoning. The keyword to Behaviourism is “conditioning” or “training.” The story about Pavlov’s dogs illustrates this idea. All About Pavlov’s Dogs Pavlov noticed that his dogs salivated at feed time at the smell of food. He decided to explore this reaction and accompanied feed time with the ringing of a bell. This he did over a long period, which is what conditioning requires. One day, he rang the bell but did not bring food. The dogs continued to salivate. Through this, Pavlov learned ...