Fun with the Art Department at Dinnington Primary School

On Thursday 24^th October myself, Bev and Abi from the Art Department packed up the very heavy printing press and took 5 students to make some beautiful artwork with the children at Dinnington Community Primary School.  Georgia Keyworth, Rebecca Nichols, Hannah Zahir, Bronya Roberts and Chantelle Hillman took charge for the afternoon, inspiring the children and producing a piece of Artwork each for both TRC and Dinnington to keep.  Georgia has kindly written the piece below about our day out;

‘On Thursday the 24^th of October we went to Dinington Primary School to do an art workshop with children in years five and six to hopefully make them enthusiastic about art. The work we decided to do was lino printing to show the children you can produce art work by using many different materials and how to experiment with different colours and fabrics. We wanted the end result to be a quilt in style of Tracy Emin with words stitched on it that the children have thought of when they think of art.

We were going to produce two quilts so that the school could keep one and so we could take one back to keep at college. We got the children into small groups so they could have one TRC student to help their table. Together each group came up with interesting words such as ‘phenomenal’ and ‘fabtastic’.  One of the aims of going to Dinnington School was to find out if the children enjoy doing art and if not we wanted to see if we could change their opinion as being creative can help in many aspects in life, so it was good to see them come up with such ambitious words.

Lino cutting can be quite dangerous so before starting them we gave clear safety demonstrations and instructions. Throughout cutting we made sure the children were being careful and to correct them when needed as well as this we made sure they felt confident and comfortable to ask questions. As well as this we ensured that all the children got involved as team work is also a very important skill.

 After having a small chocolate break and finishing cutting the Lino blocks it was time to start printing. While working in the groups we made sure everybody had a job from choosing the fabric, inking up the lino prints and rolling the press. We also made sure the children experimented with the colours as we took primary colours however once mixed they could make many new ones. We had two teachers alongside us helping with the press and with the quilt. Once all the letters were printed we allowed the children to choose were they would like the words to be placed as this was their work and we only gave our ideas when needed. After this we were able to show the children the end result and we took them back to college to stich on the words.

Once both quilts have been finished we will invite the children involved to come into college so we can present them with their fantastic and imaginative art piece they produced.‘

We would also like to say a big thank you to Abi Panozzo, an ex TRC Art student who is currently volunteering in our department for all her hard work preparing the materials and help on the day.

Where are they now? - Miranda Jones, Fine Art 2013

Guest blog post written by Miranda Jones, all images appear with her permission.  Thanks Miranda!

University: University of Leeds

Course: Art and Design

My name is Miranda Jones and whilst I attended TRC I completed the Fine Art A-level in 2013.

After leaving TRC I went straight to the University of Leeds to study Art and Design (my first choice).

The program at TRC definitely helped prepare me for my University course. Once I arrived at University I was amazed at actually how much TRC had offered in terms of techniques and mediums and how lucky we were as students to have the opportunity to try out these things. I have met so many people who were stuck doing paintings for their entire A-level. TRC and especially the teachers helped so much in pushing me creatively and forcing me out of my comfort zone. At the time this felt hard but it has been very rewarding and means that now I can adapt to any brief or situation and come up with creative ideas that aren’t just the obvious – great for university!

Within the Art and Design course there are practical modules and then more academic modules. For the first year the practical modules include studio based work (self-explanatory), and a project based off campus at a place called Armely Mills.  At Armley mills we do a different challenge every week such as a photography challenge or a sculpture challenge. These challenges help us work towards a final piece that, at the end of the semester, will be exhibited at Armely Mills (a bit like the journal and final piece process at TRC). The academic modules include Fundamentals of Imaging and the History and Theory of Art. For these subjects you write essays and read a lot of books! It is intense but extremely worthwhile. The knowledge that you gain from the academic side adds so much to your practical work.

Personally, I chose this specific course because it had a mix of practical and academic elements. I describe myself as an academic artist and enjoyed the structure that this degree had to offer.

At the moment I do not have any specific career aspirations. I believe that University will help me explore my options in the visual arts career area. Though I do know one thing, I don’t want to be an artist. It may sound strange but I’d much rather work as a gallery curator or a pattern designer. With the course I’m on it gives you the opportunity to take an industrial year, this is where you find work placements (paid and voluntary) with companies. I am hoping to take this industrial year as it is extremely successful in getting students jobs or at least getting them contacts.

Here are some pictures from a life drawing class I attend every week and some lino prints I created from a workshop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In terms of outside projects, I am now a volunteer for a Visual Arts organisation called Pavilion. Pavilion is based in Leeds and deals with contemporary art and its politics. As a volunteer I help out at the exhibitions they put on (and therefore learn invaluable skills about curatorship), get to meet their visiting artists, help with school groups and give talks about the art on display. It is a great opportunity to be part of the Leeds creative arts society and looks amazing on my CV!