BVA303, Activity Centre - Internship Notes

Activity Centre - Internship Notes 2019

reads from latest to oldest posts - 100 hours required as part of my Bachelor of Visual Art

23 October 2019

https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2013/jul/11/inspire-disengaged-students-teaching
link to excellent web article from the Guardian - Engagement with at risk teenagers

 Surprise Assemblage

My favorite place to shop for art supplies was the dollar store when I leading teen art groups. I was always looking for surprising objects to incorporate into artwork. I assembled piles of random items such as pipe cleaners, wood shapes, small toys, fabric scraps, yarn, buttons, screws, nuts, and bolts etc. I would ask teens to make an assemblage using the items in front of them. These kinds of art exercises resemble childhood play and can keep participants absorbed in creating for a long periods of time. 

https://www.expressiveartworkshops.com/how-to-start-your-own-art-program/spontaneous-art-therapy-activities-for-teens/

Activity for today - design a graffiti tag -
https://graffitidiplomacy.com/CreateYourOwnTag.html



16 October 2019

Four students joined in to day, two refused to join and returned to their desks.  One student wanted to do drawing on canvas board, he settled well at his desk using only a sharpie marker, these things are popular with teens.

His street art style was well thought out and although I don't encourage gang figures this was the student's expression.

The three other students tried slime making - a major fail!  The three packs from The Pantry didn't have instructions and there was clearly something missing in the process - in the bin it all went and plan 'B' came into action!  The students ended up decorating masks with a Halloween theme if they wanted to.  The plastic masks were easy to apply acrylic paint to, used hair dryer carefully to dry the layers - if glitter was applied it was best done onto the wet paint.  Each student work well today and they were all pleased with the results (unlike the slime.....)  One student will use a hot glue gun to secure an embellishment with the supervision of a teacher tomorrow.  

Student mixed metallic colours and applied glitter when wet 

Student talked about Bob Marley when creating this mask - the lines representing dreadlocks - acrylic paint and glitter

student painted mask black with two layers, a coating of glitter paint then added wool to make a fringe, red glitter paint for lip stick and a nose piercing.  

On Monday 21 October I will present a power point talk about my year at the Activity Centre 

18 September 2019

Theme 'ourselves' - collage

Collage on canvas board - the idea was to use the magazines that are in the art room - up cycle - remaking.  Five students - some worked better than others - very messy session, results were alright - I joined them and made a mixed collage.  Craft knives have to be carefully supervised - so easy to slip - sharpies have legs and walk - had to go and collect all back - they would be used for tagging by some.  

large clean up - but that's my job and I could have insisted they help.  

11 September 2019

leave - planning at home to investigate ideas for sessions - just about at the stage where some successful sessions could be repeated - students were keen to make slime again - look at other ways to safely make slime - it is not really environmentally friendly and designed for a younger age group than I work with.  There are a lot of magazines that might work for collage work.

4 September 2019

Planning session - tidying and sorting out the display walls to show case the students work.

Students were at a beach trip so worked hours in the morning.

28 August 2019

Slime making 

I was surprised to find the four students enjoyed the session - they got to make and colour their slime and take home if they wished.  

Spent time researching best options for making slime - there are several dyi recipes but thought it was best to go with the Elmers slime kits from Warehouse Stationery - there was money in the budget to get two kits and that could be divided between four students.  The very tactile nature of the making kept them busy for over an hour.  

21 August 2019

classroom tidy and planning day - checked and tidied materials and looked through activities resources to find inspiration and ideas for future sessions.

14 August 2019

Three students and two teachers joined the session today - Rock painting - very interesting to see all participants enjoy themselves - although the staff lasted longer than the children.

It was good to be able to share ideas with adults - a great creative play session for everyone.

Materials

Stones (box full in class room)

Acrylic paints

brushes - pans

pre printed ideas for inspiration 

coated with Mod Podge to protect - some were unsure of the coating until it dried clear!

Use of found object such as a rock can be a cheap source of art material as a canvas.

- students could choose how they wanted to decorate 

lots of experimenting with embellishments

Teachers were more finite with a ladybird and a horse image - one student used loads of glitter and the other stars - I made a couple to show what can be done with a bit of patience and imagination.

Student work - love the colour combination 

my example piece - a dog face

from above - giving a three dimensional look

teacher's work (a gift for a niece)

my piece - creative play 

teacher's work - careful and precise work from a plan 

7 August 2019

Students completed their plaster sculptures - one student not interested in doing any more to their work.  About an hour was enough for students today - very pleased to see them finish a piece.

31 July 2019

Four students today

Started working on plaster cloth figures - I spent five hours at home preparing bases and wire outlines to work on - it was easier than the students trying to make a figure themselves and wire can be tricky to manipulate.  One students completed work - two  will take two sessions to complete - one just sat and stared at the base and did not begin any work - such is life, they cannot be forced to create something.  Some did not like the feel of the plaster cloth.  It is a very hands on experience.

base, wire armature - plaster cloth and wool for hair - student used sharpie for face and costume

making the work

This was one of the best sessions of the year - all three students told a little story about their character and I joined in and made a character too.

My work - Mardigras Rabbit - worked on over three weeks to show some projects take a little longer - I have fallen in love with a new material for me - plaster cloth is awesome.  Fast and unforgiving it is great for my practice and shall use it for my final project work as I was considering papier mache but think this might be a better material. 

24 July 2019

Foam printing using stencils - finished quickly - I tried explaining it was not a race to see who could finish first then cruise around causing mischief!  They would have been better to find an image, trace it onto the foam board or draw freehand.  Two students worked well and completed the task - four were too busy distracting each other - a lively class and decided with Tammie it might be better to split a larger group into two 1 hour sessions - 

Spent time tidying and ordering supplies

10 & 17 July 2019

two weeks break - time spent researching ideas for classroom art and craft activities - look at my own practice for inspiration - especially with the found object and creative play as a form of art therapy.  

3 July 2019

4 students today

Koru design and poster - lesson was to have a NZ theme with a koru at the centre.  

Pastels

Pencil

paper

sharpies

One student joined the group and surprised me - with a little encouragement he made a piece of art (then destroyed it)  

Look Cliff Whiting and Gordon Walters for contemporary artists who work with patterns - two students managed to complete a piece of art - none were really interested.

26 June 2019

Comic/cartoon drawing and storytelling session

Everyone began well, students were asked to draw a character and add some text like a comic strip or short story.  Gerry joined us and some students were not so keen on him being at the table - one student make a quick effort and retreated to his desk.

Two students make an effort and one in particular made a fun piece of art - happy to display this on the wall.

19 June 2019

Students tried painting over a printed image on A4 paper - mixed results.  One student who is usually settled did not work well today - another stuck with it but the others failed to concentrate or would not try it.  A lot of avoidance behavior by some who just wanted to sit and do nothing.  

The trick is not to judge - be patient and help those who were interested.

12 June 2019

Paper craft - 3D and foil art - varied results in this session - one student did his own drawing and continued with a carving project with Tammie.  

5 June 2019

Pop Art painting 

one student did not want to join in, wanted to do their own art project 

Two students joined in - neither of them were very enthusiastic about the session 

Students chose their own images then copied six times and found that repeating the pattern was more difficult than they thought it would be, probably won't try this again but perhaps another class would enjoy it more?

29 May 2019 - 

Teacher strike, joined Mel the administrator and tidied up the art room - time for some planning and reading as well

22 May 2019 - Glue Gun Art - Air Clay modelling - Painting

This session did not go that well - some students settled in well and others just played witht he materials - fair bit of peer pressure to be silly - one boy worked well  - another joined us but was very silly - just played , I  did get him to do a glue gun painting but he was more interested in acting the goat and being funny, playing with the glue - I think this might be how he gets accepted by peers - I think if pushed he could do better - I managed to get him to complete two of the three steps in a glue gun painting.  Issac and other new student didn't achieve much - the new boy is good at art but didn't really try - too busy trying to be cool.......

Next week class might be split into two sessions of an hour each - work in with Tammie as the dynamics keep changing each week.

15 May 2019 - assemblage

this session was a disaster, didn't work well and the students were not into it at all - they quickly disengaged - one worked well, as always and stuck with the task - make a kiwiana board - issues with glue but can repair.

One boy  tried for a while then gave up - another was not engaged - was allowed to watch YouTube with another new student who did not join in - both were not made to join in - I was dissapointed that Tammie let the just let them  play on YouTube and not attempt some art. But not my call.  

Boys are all easily bored and distracted - two hours of art is quite long so they need a break or be split into two groups - this might work better. 

8 May 2019 - Glue Gun Paintings

Two students 

Session went well.  Both Students started well, one settled in and completed two pieces as she is a fast worker.  One  didn't complete his painting - lost interested, switched off and wouldn't come back to finish his work even with encouragement.  

Session was quicker than expected - I can always have more activities but often one is enough for the session - use Tammie and Gerry for support.  There is no expectation to work more than an hour at a time  - give them a break and they can carry on if they want to.  

Materials used:

Acrylic paints including white gesso

brushes

canvas

to do in one session try this:

method:

copy picture, either freehand or carbon paper from photo copy - suggest trees

trace over with glue gun glue

apply layer of white and dry with hair dryer

appy layer of gold or bronze - gold looked best - dry with dryer

apply black over the tree area, dab with paper towel

can finish with a layer of green blue watered down to give antique look

tutorial found on You Tube

https://youtu.be/OqHyt5ULO1w

2 week break for term 

1 May 2019 - away on sick leave - did some planning at home.

10/4/19

End of term lunch and Easter chocolate molding - keep receipts for Tammie.  

$28 to claim back - done

Boys not really into it - one had a go - the female studetn  got busy and made some take home gifts - this activity is apparently much more suited to girls than boys!  One student was not interested - very negative and didn't want to take anything home - hates chocolate!  

Shared lunch which was a good way to end the term - two extra guests attended and enjoyed a lovely roast dinner.  Good for Lois to see some of the art work the students are trying.

3/4/19

Foam board prints -
Two students today,  both worked well and did two completed prints each.  Method - print out an image off Google and trace onto the foam board with biro- one or two colours used of waterbased inks.  I helped with the rolling of ink and generally supervised - they found out about reversing or mirroring printing - not simple but Gerry and Tammie joined in and helped provide a tutorial on how to do this.  Both helped tidy up - good session.

27/3/19
Soap Carving - the Activity Centre had been given a whole box of soaps so plenty of material to work with - I u tubed and Googled methods to carve - potato peeler and vege knife were safe options (not wanting to use craft knives as it is easy to slip and cut ones self)  Both students participated ad one really got into it  and enjoyed the therapeutic aspect of carving soap.  the other student was frustrated and Tammie helped him - I tried to explain slow steps were needed so the soap didn't break off - ended up with a box of bits that Tammie will melt down and mold at some stage.  One student took his pieces home for his Mum's birthday.  Good session - maybe a bit boring for this age group?

20/3/19 - CD cases and CD decorating

Better day today, materials used were blank CD's and cases, Tammie helped with ideas of making a decorated spinning top. two students made one , the other student made a container from the cases with hot glue - worked well today - One student  worked well and made a mobile with three CD's and will complete with Tammie during the week as we ran out of time.

Good session, all three worked well once settled, one student was very kind and helped tidy up without being asked.

13/3/19 paint chips mosaics

Not such a productive day, I went to Resene and gathered some free paint chips and a couple of old wallpaper books with the idea of collage.  This was well received by some , others struggled with the idea.  One did not participate at all, another started to get a pattern going but ones student did put a bit of peer pressure on him and they both gave up.  It is important to realize not every session will go well. I was trying to encourage creative making.   Just make a note and move on.

- silhouette - added background then traced a silhouette cutout from a printed image.

All four students worked well once they settled in.  

drawing and designs

 grid drawing from printed image

street art character - from image

- decorated feather outline

 circle template then created designs from an image and imagination

Week 4 - 27/2/19 
Three students today - another good session, all three worked well.  Wood relief craft, Kaiserwood A4 Board, offcuts from woodwork room, black acrylic paint, PVA glue, oil pastels.  

one student was a fast worker and completed within the first hour. Abstract piece, colourful treatments.

One of the others was not too keen at first, he had a drawing he was working on but put it aside and came up with a good piece of art - Train track in a tunnel, good perspective and balance.  He chose to leave his work plain.

The third student had a slow start, he took a while to work out which pieces he wanted, but ended up with a nice balanced and symmetrical work with black background and two colours for the offcuts.

I was very pleased with how all three worked well.

Student only used one piece of off cut and preferred to make his own artwork using ice block sticks

students example of work with wood relief - bricollage from week four

Lucy (my example)

Week 3 -20/02/19  Two students today - great session, both students worked well at a foam board print.  The found a picture of choice on the computer, printed and traced onto board with black pen.  Rolled ink and tried two or three colours.  Both tried another print and Gerry joined us.  Very happy with first session.  I joined in too as I think it is a good way to get to know students rather than stand back and observing.  

Week 2 - 13/02/19 set up and check cupboards in artroom, discuss with Tammie ideas for project.  Suggest make and take activities and art projects.  Two students who did not want to participate in the first project. Meet the teachers and support staff and familiarize with the room.

Week 1 - Waitangi Day - no class. 2 hours research -

retrieved from The Art of Ed https://theartofeducation.edu/2015/12/24/3-helpful-elements-and-principles-downloads/

Working at level one - the lessons need to fluid and simple - some students will have more interest in art and likely enjoy the sessions.
Do not be discouraged when students are not in the zone, these kids have a lot going on and some will prefer mathematics and English over art!