Sometimes it can be the artists/teacher that can learn from the students and this was definitely the case with the students at this school. As a complete stranger, walking through the school for the first lesson, I was amazed by how friendly every student was: polite and welcoming with offers to help carry my gear to the room.

It is a humbling experience to work with a group of eager young artists in a room void of the luxuries of many other schools and all they wanted to do was create. Sitting around the single desk was a diverse group of young people, each with their own abilities with the aim of completing a new painting over the 5 weekly lessons.

We began with the idea of creating an oil painting but the chance to broaden that task soon had us exploring a variety of mediums. The first layer explored oil crayons and ink washes to prepare an abstract background. We then looked at oil paints and experimented with colour mixing and shading techniques. With a little research each student had selected their imagery, with flowers, parrots, cars and skulls becoming the starting point for their work. After a few lessons of tonal painting the final paintings were topped off with a little Posca Marker detailing.

After 5 hour long lessons these amazing artists had all completed their paintings ready for the disabilities fair in December.

This was an amazing experience for me and my arts practice. Although I fell back into the classroom environment with ease, it was watching the different ways these young artists learn that had me learning just as much from them. We didn’t have the all the mod cons students now expect in an art room, but we had the most important things: a passion for creativity.

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Mixed Media Painting Classes

School – Ipswich
30 October 2015 – 27 November 2015
Mark Paddick – Flying Arts Artist

Flying Arts’ Touring Artist Journal is brought to you monthly thanks to Art Shed Brisbane.