Welcome!
I am a Teacher of Art currently living in Hong Kong since 2023. Prior to that, I spent 5 years teaching in Bangkok, Thailand. This blog is to document my own work, what my students get up to and the art I see around Hong Kong, Thailand… and beyond!
TEAM WORK IMPRESSIONISM
Year 7 - Year 7s working together to create either a famous Impressionist or Post-Impressionist painting. Each student started with their own small section, then worked as a four joining their pieces together. Next, the whole image will be connected and students will all work together to make sure the lines, textures, colors, and shapes flow from one square to the next! They have worked excellently together, taking on different responsibilities within their small groups and sharing colour mixes between them to make sure the artwork blends together seamlessly!
CERAMIC FISH: WORK IN PROGRESS
Year 8 - The Year 8s have been working hard on their ceramic fish! These are a few shots of work in progress, almost ready to be dried out before going into the kiln. Wish them luck! Afterwards, the students will be able to apply glaze to finish off their pieces.
SURREAL VIEWS
Year 9 - After studying 1 point perspective and applying this to a circular worms eve view of buildings, the Year 9s were challenged to then develop their work further by incorporating a surreal aspect. They came up with some interesting ideas based on dreams, nightmares, thoughts on society and global issues!
CORAL IN PAPER
Year 8 - As part of their ‘Under the Sea’ project, students were given a homework challenge to further develop their sculptural skills. Using only paper, they were tasked to create a small section of a coral reef using a variety of paper manipulation techniques. The results were fantastic, some students had really gone to town creating multilayered colourful coralscapes with such intricate detail. I was so pleased to see the huge array of shapes and forms they had managed to create by cutting, twisting, folding, curling, and layering paper!
A HANDMADE CHRISTMAS
I had to share these incredible Christmas cards made by one of our Art Technicians, Doaw. Me and the rest of the art department were so thrilled to receive these beautiful hand-cut layered artworks that captured our characters so well! Thank you, Doaw!
MACRO MOLD
Year 10 - As a starting point for some experimental painting, students had been set the challenge to grow mold in a petri dish over the October break. They were tasked with trying to develop interesting textures, colours and forms that could be photographed close-up or in macro to begin working in a more abstract way. These images were then cropped, edited and turned into artworks using a variety of media including colour pencil, oil and acrylic paints. Below are a few of the photographs as well as some drawing and painting in process - enjoy!
CORAL & CLAY
Year 8 - In preparation for their ceramic fish the Year 8s were introduced to clay techniques by first creating small coral pieces inspired by artist Courtney Mattison. Mattison helped to bring an environmental awareness into the project and open the students eyes to the impact art can have in raising awareness for both local and global issues. This resulted in some interesting discussions on the topic of coral bleaching due to rising sea levels. During these sessions, students practiced rolling, cutting, forming, joining, carving, imprinting and texturising clay - developing all the key skills they will need for creating their upcoming ceramic fish.
‘INKTOBER’ COMPETITION
The winners of our yearly ‘Inktober’ competition. I was responsible for the competition this year and the theme chosen was ‘RESPECT’. We had so many fantastic submissions, it was very hard for the department to select the winners! It was lovely to see how each student chose to represent the theme and there were some incredibly touching stories behind some of the artworks. I have also included images of the beautifully presented prizes, certificates and exhibition that were put together by our wonderful Art Technicians.
DRYPOINT ETCHING
YEAR 10 - After a few sessions on photography based on the theme of ‘Surroundings’, the Year 10 students were ready to use their own images in a new technique called drypoint etching. After initial experimenting, reflecting and trouble shooting, the students began work on their A5 etching plate. They needed to make sure to incorporate a range of textures and values by using different tools such as nails, scratch board pens, sandpaper, electric etching tools and scouring pads. The students loved this process and many went on to try out printing on different papers and even on material to test the boundaries of this beautiful process.
EXPLORING COLOUR
YEAR 7 - Year 7s are off to a good start, learning all about Colour Theory through the use of acrylic paints. This also serves as a great way for them to gain control over their brush techniques and to play around with some more experimental ways of applying paint.
UNDER THE SEA
YEAR 8 - This week the Year 8s visited the Bangkok aquarium as part of their ‘Under the Sea’ project. The aim of this was for students to gather visual information - drawing & photography - that will feed into their upcoming ceramic fish designs. The students were fab and enjoyed seeing the fish up close. Prior to the trip they had prepped some pages in their sketchbooks with watercolour washes and created small colour blocks for their aquarium drawings. This really brought their pages to life and gave them a starting point for their drawings. When we got back to school, students then had the opportunity to work into their drawings as well as selecting and editing their best images from the day. Next step, designing their very own fish to be transformed into clay!
SURREALIST COLLAGE
YEAR 9 - A fun class introducing Year 9 students to the Surrealists! Collage is an excellent way to do this as it allows for endless uncanny (and hilarious) juxtapositions to play around with.
MAKING PAPER
YEAR 7 - I have recently started a new after school club for Year 7s. I wanted to do something with an eco-minded theme. I decided on paper making - working in an art department we have lots of paper that is ready and waiting to be reused and recycled. This was the first session of actual paper making as during the first session the students helped me cut up recycled fabric (for soaking up water) and tear up paper that was then soaked and blended. The students loved the process and especially enjoyed adding colour with water based inks. At the end of the session we went outside to pick some leaves and flowers to press which we will experiment adding them to our paper making in the following weeks!
VIEW FROM A WINDOW
YEAR 7 - Year 7 students have been studying Colour Theory and the wild painters of the Fauvist art movement. These images are the results of a combination of both these. Under the theme of ‘Through the Window’ students planned and painted a personal Fauvist style painting. They needed to make sure they used their own primary resource (their own photograph of a view from a window) and to include a Fauvist inspired colour pallet for their A3 painting. Below is a selection of some work in progress, planning and some finished pieces.
TEAM WORK FAUVISM
YEAR 7 - After a long period of home learning and the students having to work separately due to Covid restrictions, it was exciting for them to finally work together as a class. To practice their colour mixing and matching skills, each student was given a small section of a either a Henri Matisse or an André Derain painting to complete. These wild and colourful paintings also allowed the students to hone their control of painting media and tools.
COLLAGRAPHS
YEAR 8 - As part of their ‘Natural Forms’ project, Year 8s have been experimenting with creating and printing their own collagraphs. Using images of seedpods as their inspiration, they used card and thick paper to create a relief of their image. Students built their collagraphs up in layers, with the understanding that the upper layers would be those that take the most colour when printing. Students then added textured backgrounds using masking tape and pencil imprinting. The final step was printing their collagraphs onto a variety of backgrounds and experimenting with mixing and rolling colour printing inks. Some very delicate and intricate prints were produced!
COLOUR AND COLLAGE
Year 8 - Some examples of our fun extension tasks for the Under the Sea project. Students were challenged with working only in colour pencil - no rubbing out! As well as using recycled acrylic paint pallet paper (students use old magazines pages as paint pallets and we keep the pages for collage!) to create fishy collages.
NATURAL FORMS / MIXED MEDIA
YEAR 8 - As part of their ‘Natural Forms’ project, Year 8s are now experimenting with using mixed-media. A combination of bubble wrap printing, tissue paper, watercolour and fine liner pens were used to create these pieces. Preparatory studies of natural forms were done - quick timed studies of shells & seedpods. Students were encouraged to keep to a colour pallet that references the current theme of ‘nature’.
BANGKOK BIENNALE
A snippet of my visit to the 2021 - 22 Bangkok Biennale. This is a fantastic art event that happens every year all over Bangkok. Art is displayed across the city in galleries, temples, shops, the streets and even on boats!
