Here are examples of special projects and collaborations between students and practising artists.
2020- Digital collaboration with artist Stillo Noir.
Due to travel restrictions caused by Covid-19, I facilitated a digital collaboration between grade 6 students (aged 11-12) and the artist Stillo Noir. Students researched and responded to the work of Stillo Noir before collaborating in groups to plan and conduct a virtual interview with the artist. Inspired by their experiences and artist feedback, students produced large scale fungi inspired drawings.
Below is a PDF document which details the process of the project.
Below is a PDF document which details the process of the project.
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2020- Artist in residence, Merryn Trevethan
As part of an artist residency week, Australian painter Merryn Trevethan worked with a group of students from both years 3 and 6 (ages 7 to 8 and 10 to 11) to deliver an extended painting and drawing workshop. Inspired by the artist's own practise of exploring the urban built environment , the workshop focused on the local cityscape of Singapore as inspiration.
After finding out about the artist's ideas and explorations inspired by cityscapes, students began the workshop by working in collaboration to build a 3D cityscape inspired by the cityscape of Singapore. The cityscape installation built by students was used as a stimulus for a series of direct observational drawing activities including blind line drawing focusing on developing student's understanding of line, shape and negative space.
Students experimented with a range of drawing media including pencil, pen, colour pencil and inks. The collection of observational drawings were further developed to create a series of collaborative acrylic canvas paintings and colour theory workshops.
The older students taking part in the workshop were able to develop student leadership skills through supporting the younger students and sharing their skills.
After finding out about the artist's ideas and explorations inspired by cityscapes, students began the workshop by working in collaboration to build a 3D cityscape inspired by the cityscape of Singapore. The cityscape installation built by students was used as a stimulus for a series of direct observational drawing activities including blind line drawing focusing on developing student's understanding of line, shape and negative space.
Students experimented with a range of drawing media including pencil, pen, colour pencil and inks. The collection of observational drawings were further developed to create a series of collaborative acrylic canvas paintings and colour theory workshops.
The older students taking part in the workshop were able to develop student leadership skills through supporting the younger students and sharing their skills.
Artist talk and presentation
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Collaborative sculptural installation
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Experimental blind line drawing workshop
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Students experimented with working on a range of different formats to create abstract compositions
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Colour theory painting workshop
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Students explored complementary colour theory and colour mixing techniques.
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Collaborative canvas painting
Canvas panel paintings created by year 3 and 6 students
Part of a pop-up exhibition showcasing the artist residency.
2020- Artist in residence, Ian Murphy
The British artist Ian Murphy returned to the Junior School for a third year to take part in an artist residency week, working in collaboration with forty year 5 students (aged 9-10 years) and the Mandarin teaching department.
This year the artist's residency coincided with Chinese New Year and the opening of a new Mandarin teaching centre therefore this was a wonderful opportunity to produce a series of collaborative paintings inspired by Chinese culture. Teams of students worked together to research, design and paint a series of four large painted panels with elements of input and support from Mandarin teachers. The finished paintings created by students were permanently installed in the newly built Mandarin language centre to celebrate its opening and showcase student artwork.
Working in small teams, students learned many valuable lessons about effective teamwork and collaborative working practises.
This year the artist's residency coincided with Chinese New Year and the opening of a new Mandarin teaching centre therefore this was a wonderful opportunity to produce a series of collaborative paintings inspired by Chinese culture. Teams of students worked together to research, design and paint a series of four large painted panels with elements of input and support from Mandarin teachers. The finished paintings created by students were permanently installed in the newly built Mandarin language centre to celebrate its opening and showcase student artwork.
Working in small teams, students learned many valuable lessons about effective teamwork and collaborative working practises.
Artist talk and showcase of artwork
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Students were given the opportunity to engage with the artist's work and explore preparatory studies and sketchbooks as well as view examples of final pieces.
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Group development of ideas and collaboratively designing painting compositions
Aspects of Chinese motifs used by students to inspire their painting composition designs.
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Students worked in groups to select motifs and feature designs for their collaborative pieces. After working on their designs individually, students came together to select and synthesise the most successful elements to create a final group painting design composition.
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Working collaboratively to enlarge designs
Students worked in collaboration to scale their 10cm designs up to fit on 4 foot boards.
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Painting workshop- exploring negative space and layered painting techniques
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Students received feedback about their design compositions and use of Mandarin characters and Chinese symbolism from their Mandarin language teachers.
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Students explored the use of warm and cool colours and experimented with the effects of using a limited colour palette.
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Development of layered painting techniques- underpainting and layering
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Final large scale collaborative paintings celebrating Chinese culture
The final series of paintings (each painting measuring four foot by four foot) were installed permanently in the Mandarin language centre as a celebration of both Chinese culture and a showcase of student artwork.
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2019- Visiting artist Chris Riddell
Members of the Creative Ambassador art student leadership group (ages 9 to 11) had the opportunity to take part in a workshop with author, illustrator and political cartoonist Chris Riddell, OBE.
Students were able to view examples of the artist's sketchbooks and drawings as well as watching live demonstrations of his illustration techniques. Students also had the opportunity to take part in a question and answer session with the artist in addition to a drawing workshop inspired by the poem The Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll.
Students were able to view examples of the artist's sketchbooks and drawings as well as watching live demonstrations of his illustration techniques. Students also had the opportunity to take part in a question and answer session with the artist in addition to a drawing workshop inspired by the poem The Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll.
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Student artwork created during the artist led illustration workshop- fantastical illustrations inspired by Lewis Carroll's poem The Jabberwocky.
Student responses to the artist workshop-
'I think Chris Riddell is very creative and funny. He illustrates, sketches, writes and even creates political cartoons. The workshop was very fun and interesting. Chris Riddell even got an OBE from The Queen. We learnt all about Chris Riddell and he inspired me to always use my imagination!'
Creative Ambassador (aged 9)
'I felt really inspired by what Chris Riddell said about his life and I got tips from him about how I could bring my drawings to the next level. He is an amazing author with an amazing talent for art. I would love to have more time with him'
Creative Ambassador (aged 10)
'I really enjoyed the workshop with Chris Riddell as we got to use our imagination to draw creatures. It was really fun and interesting. I was surprise to hear that he was both an author and an illustrator. I feel being an illustrator is such a cool job to have. This was an amazing experience.'
Creative Ambassador (aged 10)
'I asked Chris Riddell if there were any moments when he felt like giving up. He said there were lots of moments when he wanted to give up. He said he draws himself feeling and looking like he wants to give up which makes him think about why he is feeling that way and to think about how he can continue'
Creative Ambassador (aged 9)
2019- Visiting artist Jennifer Lim
Inspired by annual theme 'our heritage, our home' I organised a visit from the artist Jennifer Lim. Jennifer Lim is a Singapore based artist of Australian and Peranakan heritage, specialising in printmaking. An expert in Peranakan culture and aesthetics, Jennifer worked with students to demystify the design and block printing process.
Students from Year 5 and 6 (age 9 to 11) took part in a one day workshop with Jennifer in order to gain better understand the Peranakan culture of Singapore through the making of art. Students learnt about the symbolism and colours used in Peranakan artefacts such as sarong kebaya, Peranakan tiles and Nonya kueh.
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Student artwork created in collaboration with the artist Jennifer Lim.
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2019-Artist in residence, Ian Murphy
Following the 2018 artist residency, the British artist Ian Murphy made a return visit to work with groups of year 5 students (aged 9-10). Ian Murphy is a UK based fine artist of 30 years, known for his passion for journeys, Asian culture, drawing and his use of expressive surface texture.
Students had the wonderful opportunity to see first-hand a variety of the artist's sketchbooks, preparatory studies and final pieces. During this residency, students were able to engage first hand with Ian's new works, including sketchbooks, preparatory studies and final pieces.
Inspired by the monumental scale of Ian's new works, students took part in extended drawing workshops, taking creative risks with surface texture and scale.
Students responded to imagery related to the theme Our Heritage, Our Home, including architectural details from the school building as well as imagery inspired by the diverse cultures represented by the student body.
Students had the wonderful opportunity to see first-hand a variety of the artist's sketchbooks, preparatory studies and final pieces. During this residency, students were able to engage first hand with Ian's new works, including sketchbooks, preparatory studies and final pieces.
Inspired by the monumental scale of Ian's new works, students took part in extended drawing workshops, taking creative risks with surface texture and scale.
Students responded to imagery related to the theme Our Heritage, Our Home, including architectural details from the school building as well as imagery inspired by the diverse cultures represented by the student body.
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2018- Artist in residence, Ian Murphy
The Junior School art department hosted a two day visit from the artist Ian Murphy as part of a week-long residency.
Ian worked with groups of students from year 5 (age 9- 10) to deliver whole day extended drawing workshops. Ian introduced students to the range of drawing techniques and processes that he specialises in, leading to ambitious large-scale experimental work.
Students who took part in the workshops subsequently shared their knowledge with their peers during their art lessons to further embed learning. To create their artwork students took inspiration from imagery of classical architectural details from around the world.
The Junior School art department hosted a two day visit from the artist Ian Murphy as part of a week-long residency.
Ian worked with groups of students from year 5 (age 9- 10) to deliver whole day extended drawing workshops. Ian introduced students to the range of drawing techniques and processes that he specialises in, leading to ambitious large-scale experimental work.
Students who took part in the workshops subsequently shared their knowledge with their peers during their art lessons to further embed learning. To create their artwork students took inspiration from imagery of classical architectural details from around the world.
Students exploring Ian's sketchbooks.
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Student artwork created both during and after the collaboration with the artist Ian Murphy.
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2016- Visit to artist Cathy De Monchaux's studio
A group of GCSE and A Level art students (aged 15 to 18 years) had the unique opportunity to visit the London studio of the Turner Prize nominee, Cathy de Monchaux. Students were given a personal tour of the studio by the artist and gained valuable insights into Cathy's working practises, ideas and techniques, including exhibition preparation.
The visit was a valuable experience which benefitted student's own artistic working practises through increased understanding of idea development and exploration and learning through experimentation.
The visit was a valuable experience which benefitted student's own artistic working practises through increased understanding of idea development and exploration and learning through experimentation.
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Response from the artist-
'Dear Jenny,
Thank you so much for bringing your students to visit me. I thought they asked brilliant questions and really engaged with the particularity of the experience. I really enjoyed it. Your students really did feel appreciative, engaged and genuinely curious so I soon felt comfortable with them. They were an absolute credit to your School.
I would happily do it again.
Thank you so much for the images of their drawings. I am really touched and they are excellent and really way better than I could draw my own things !!
Very best wishes from Cathy '