One to One Session Amber

At just 8 years old, Amber is the youngest of my students. She also happens to be my sister! Perhaps this is an extra challenge for me when teaching one of my siblings.

Amber, like me is a very keen artist. Drawing characters is not new for her at all. She spends much of her time drawing various girls and Monster High Characters. This time around she created an Ice Queen who wears Polar Bear Slippers and likes ice-cream and hot chocolate. 

We undertook this workshop from the sofa! 

Positives

Followed my instructions well. Seemed very focused on her tasks. Although Amber is the youngest of my students, her character is definitely the most elaborately drawn and was probably the hardest to outline. However, she did very well to complete it.

Negatives

Didn't seem to enjoy it. Needed some help completing some of the tasks. Was rather slow and took a few attempts to fully complete the tasks.

Here's what Amber had to say:

"I liked to outline my drawing because I liked using the pen. I didn't like rubbing out the pencil because it takes ages!"

One to One Session with Callum

Another one to one session today. This time with Callum and it was his turn to learn from me how to outline his drawing in pen. As with Melissa, I sent him home with homework to colour scheme his character. 

Callum's character is Hiro Katsu meaning generous Victory. His alter ego is Leek Boy! He has green hair and is an assassin. 

Here's what I thought about the outcome of this particular session:

Positives

Callum seemed to enjoy it. He did his best on the task he was given and followed my instructions to the best of his abilities. Again I could focus on one person so it was easier. He wasn't as distracted and was able to pay more attention to what I was saying and I was able to pay more attention to my student.

Negatives

He didn't always listen and was still sometimes distracted and maybe that was because the session went on too long for him.

One to One with Melissa

Had my One to One workshop with my first student, Melissa. This session was about outlining her character in pen and then being set homework to colour scheme her character.

Melissa has created a character with the same name as herself. She is basically an ice girl with special ice and water powers.

Positives

She seemed to really enjoy it. She paid attention and followed my instruction. We finished in a good time. I could focus and so could she so everything was nice and simple instead of confusingly rushing back and forth between others.

Negatives

There weren't really any. Everything was nice and simple and rather fun.

Here's what Melissa had to say:

"I liked doing the pen and the rubbing out. My character looks a lot better now. Summer did very good at showing me how to rub out the pencil lines. It was a very useful lesson"

New Plan for Workshops

On reflection, I decided it would be better to continue on with individual workshops. The big workshop went well but didn't work as efficiently and effectively as it could have done so am moving to Plan B.

I plan to hold one to one sessions with each of the students. Hopefully, students will be less distracted and I will be able to give focus to their individual needs.

In these sessions we will be learning to outline the drawings that they created in the first workshop and then I will set them some homework in readiness for the last session which will be a group session again.

1:1 Workshop Plan

• Welcome them to the workshop and explain what we will be doing.

• Demonstrate what they are going to do

• Get them to do it themselves and give them help if needed

• Assign them homework

• Questions and Answers

• Ask them to write some more  feedback

Arts Leadership Workshop 1

OK so I ran my first workshop ever today as part of my Arts Award. I survived!

Table of Equipment and Resources

Me before they arrived

Starting out, introduction to the workshop

Interested student!

Me explaining and showing them my work

Helping and teaching

 

Student Drawing

Mid workshop, more teaching and biscuits!

Positives

Everyone seemed to enjoy it. They all said they really enjoyed the drawing part of the workshop. The kids seemed keen to learn and did as I instructed them to. They all completed the tasks nicely so we could move on to the next task. With just 3 kids to teach it wasn't too noisy and they sat there patiently which was very good. They all gave good and bad feedback to the workshop and they made some great characters following my instruction. They were very good throughout the workshop in general.

Writing Feedback for me

Negatives

The workshop didn't go exactly according to plan at all really. First we all sat down and I immediately didn't have a clue what to say and I just rather awkwardly said hello. I had to keep looking over at Ami for help and looking at the book for guidance. I didn't really get into the flow of speaking either, people kept talking over me or asking me things while I was trying to tell them something.

Another big problem was, there was only me and Ami so I had to go back and forth between 2 kids while she dealt with one which was hard enough.

This was my first workshop so a big learning curve for me. Flexibility and adaptability are going to be necessary to move forward with the workshops and to counter the negatives I have decided to carry out single tutoring sessions for the next phase.

Arts Leadership Plan

I have three students confirmed to attend my workshop so I've been working on a project plan so that it will run smoothly. The idea is that I show them now to create their very own Manga character.

Workshop Plan

Equipment

• Camera
• Computer (with Photoshop)
• Comics
• Example manga's and anime's to help students with ideas
• Pencils, pens, erasers
• Rulers
• Paper
• Printer (for scanning and printing)
• Sharpie Markers

Itinerary

• Introduction. Start workshop by sitting down and talking through what I have been doing and learning during the comic making process.

• Give students a copy of my comic and hand out some of my manga and anime drawings to help give them inspiration.

• Talk about inspiration from the moment I thought up the characters and show them my portfolio.

• Demonstrate some techniques on how to draw characters.

• Ask them to make a mind map and create/draw a character of their own.

• When finished demonstrate how to trace over them in a nice black pen.

• Demonstrate how to scan them into computer for digital colouring

• Show them Photoshop software and tools and how to use them. Everyone can complete their characters and print out.

• Questions and Answers

• Ask students to complete feedback forms

Planning ahead/Contingency

There are of course many things that could go wrong in the workshop. Here are some potential problems and how I might deal with them should they arise.

Students

In the event that everyone finishes drawing their characters in pencil at the same time here are some activities to do in the meantime.

• Draw kawaii doodles

• Read my manga’s
• Put an anime on
• Listen to some anime intro’s or japanese songs
• Practice drawing your character or try making a new one

Equipment

There is always potential for computer equipment to breakdown. Hardware, Software, Internet issues. Also, one of the children could get frustrated with their drawing, they might get upset that it didn’t go to plan or they may just get a bit bored and become disruptive.      

      

If such happens here are some ways to solve it:

• Get my brother to fix the computer

• Use an alternative computer (I have the use of my dad's mac which has Photoshop)

• Help the kids draw and fix what they don’t like

• Try keeping them engaged in the workshop and keep it nice and fun

• Keep them doing something interesting

Forgetting

I may forget what to say or what to do next, I may stutter and lose what I am saying or I could just get distracted by something and get off subject

      

If I do I can always:

• Look at my workshop plan

• apologize and try again

• ask Ami what I should do next

• I can move on to something else then come back to it later

Arts Leadership Skills - Unit 2

Unit 2 of the Silver Arts Award is "Arts Leadership". I need to come up with a list of leadership skills that I want to develop. So here goes....

• Presenting and speaking to a group
• Listening and being able to respond
• Demonstrating my skills
• Teaching in a fun way
• Being a fun teacher
• Being able to take control of a group situation

I've also come up with a plan to demonstrate my Arts Leadership skills.

I plan to invite people to a workshop to teach and share the skills I have learned during my Arts Award Challenge. I've created an invitation to email to potential students.