"Shadow and Smoke" pen on paper (2009)

There are things I like about this and other elements (the bloomin’ repeating eyes and awful butterfly motif) that I despise but think it is worth sharing as it contains a number of repeating ’signs’ that appear in my artwork.

"Reach" Light grey Berol pen and fine-liner on paper edited with Photoshop (2009

Currently in the process of creating more drawings. Not entirely sure of the direction but enjoying the process.

Teaching the Creative Media Diploma at EMS has been extremely challenging. We have two teachers the lead teacher and myself delivering the core learning, other members of staff are teaching the functional skills and the additional specialist learning.

I previously wrote learners were going to undergo an interim assessment. From the evidence they had generated I am pleased with their progress. It took about 1 1/2 hours to mark 12 files using a grid system that showed their performance against the learning objectives designed by myself.

Assessment Grid for Performance Unit

Last week we had students writing letters promoting the  performance;  helping with dressing the stage; undertaking training using the lighting board; creating short films about what everyone has done and elements of particular skillsets and using CS3 Photoshop to make promotional materials promoting Oliver!

I’m so pleased its half term!

We’ve had our fabulous tour of the Theatre Royal Newcastle. Our tour guide Thom was brilliant and gave us a galloping guide!

To try and maximise the benefit of the visit on Wednesday learners were given a brief to write a script to train tour guides (including as much technical language and interesting facts about different theatre careers as possible)… this aims to help enhance and demonstrate their understanding of the following skillsets/areas of principal learning in the Performance unit:
Theatre Technical and Production
Creative Writing
Employer Engagement

Looking forward next week we will be carrying out an interim assessment our learners portfolios.

We will be taking in their:

Learning Diaries (evidencing their PLTS)
Proposal for the unit
Evidence of class based learning activities
Evidence of visits/Employer Engagement
Powerpoint on the historical/cultural context of their chosen areas.
Powerpoint on Oliver Twist relating previous performances in Theatre and Film to their proposal.

These portfolios will evidence how they have met the following learning objectives:

LO1 Understand the development of a form of performance over a specified period of time
(• undertake an investigation into the history of a form of performance over a specified period of time demonstrating an understanding of factors which have influenced change)

LO2 Be able to contribute to the planning of a performance
(take on a defined role and contribute to the planning of a performance • collaborate with others to generate and explore ideas for the performance)

LO3 Be able to contribute to the production of a performance
(carry out responsibilities for own role in a performance operating as part of a team • manage own time in order to work to schedules • follow safe working practices)

LO4 Be able to monitor own contribution to a performance.
(monitor progress throughout the planning and production of a performance in order to refine ideas and outcomes and understand own strengths and weaknesses)

Aside from this I noticed a referal to my blog really interesting site with fantastic resources for C&M Diploma teachers…

http://creativeandmediadiploma.wordpress.com/2008/06/28/home/

A few weeks into teaching the new Creative and Media Diploma.

Learners are currently undertaking the ‘Performance’ unit (we are following Edexcel’s level 2 specification) and we are linking it into our school production of Oliver Twist.

Learners are involved in a wide range of skillsets for their principal learning including the set and costume design, creative writing and journalism (reviewing the performance, interviewing cast and crew), theatre technical and production (lighting, sound and dvd documentation), photography and theatre performance.

We have also watched a musical production at The Theatre Royal Newcastle and are going to a tour and workshop at the same venue to learn a bit more about the various roles professionals play in staging a performance from the producer, scenic artists, head of the prop shop, costume designers, makeup artists, front of house staff and actors/actress.

The course is proving as exciting as I anticipated and I have been impressed by learners maturity and commitment to collaborative working practices.

We are producing digital portfolios using Powerpoint and keeping PLTS (Personal Learning and Thinking) diaries either in Word or Excel.

Over the next few weeks and months things will get really exciting as learners start to plan their own learning goals… working out what they need to do, who they need to work with (other learners and staff) and getting it done.

A gallery visit with Year 9 English Martyrs Students to the temporary exhibition at the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle focusing on oil paints and portraiture.

The exhibition

We began our visit in the New Testament section of the ‘Faith and Love’ temporary exhibition. Our well informed education officer and professional artists asked us some probing questions about the painting on display.
Why is there a landscape in this exhibition of religious art?

“Landscape with Flight into Egypt” by Jan van Amstel (Flemish ca.1500-1540)
We discovered sometimes we have to observe a painting very closely to understand its message- the tiny figures in the foreground explain the paintings religious significance.
We also talked about how artists might depict an unfamiliar environment and decided rather than ‘making it up’ they might use what they can see around them in their everyday life.

What might be happening to a very ill looking man?

“The Miracle of the Eucharist” by Sassetta (Italian ca. 1390-1450) [left]
We talked about who the main subject of the painting a man in black collapsing backwards with his mouth open. On careful inspection we spotted a strange black creature (a demon) rising from his mouth.
We discussed the people around him the men with white capes and shaved heads monks and the man in ornately decorated vestments a priest.  The people were lining up to receive the Eucharist.

This painting was warning people to believe in transubstantiation. The belief the bread and wine of the Eucharist are transformed into the body and blood of Jesus.

This painting shows a questioning monk collapsing after taking the bread (the body) and to prove his doubt wrong the bread has turned into a bloody piece of flesh in the priests hand.

A gruesome warning to people, who were illiterate and could not understand services said in latin, to believe.

Which one do you prefer Raphael’s drawing or his assistants painting?

Painting attributed to Raphael possibly by Francesco Giovanni Penni, one of Raphael’s studio assistants.
Drawing- “Madonna and Child” by Raphael (Italian 1483-1520)

We talked about proportions of the face and other differences between the two. Most year 9s preferred Francesco Giovanni Penni’s painting because it was colourful and clearer… the reason for this lack of clarity in the drawing (or cartoon as it is known) was discussed  including the drawings age, the fact that paint is more permanent and the the cartoon would have been pricked and pounced (more on that later)

Which important person from Jesus’ life is looking so upset at his crucifixion?

“The Tears of St Peter” by El Greco (c1580) [left]

This took a bit of detective work. We thought who was upset after Jesus’ crucifixion who felt bad and why? Someone sensibly suggested Judas, we then thought about the other disciples and came to Peter chosen by Jesus as one of his first disciples. But why would Peter be so upset?

Jesus told Peter that he would deny association with him three times when he was arrested. The three denials were…
A denial when a female servant of the high priest spots Simon Peter, saying that he had been with Jesus.
A denial when Simon Peter had gone out to the gateway, away from the firelight, but the same servant girl or another told the bystanders he was a follower of Jesus.
A denial came when recognition of Peter as a Galilean was taken as proof that he was indeed a disciple of Jesus.

We learned that every saint has an ‘attribute’ or symbol people who could not read wold understand and that St Peters attribute was a key.

How can artists use the background, mid ground and foreground to tell different parts of a story/narrative in one piece?
We examined an altarpiece painting showing different parts of the story of Christ’s life riding a donkey, carrying the cross (his Passion, his physical, spiritual and mental pain before his trial and upto his execution by crucifixtion), and his death.

What did we do…

After our discussion of key works in the exhibition we had 15 minutes to explore the exhibition an make a cartoon (sketch) in the style of Raphael. We wanted accurate proportions, sketchy lines and some indication of tone (how light or dark areas of the face where).

Some students selected paintings we had already discussed others found their own treasures including prints by Nicolas Chaperon who, copied Raphael’s artworks in the Vatican in Rome so more people could appreciate them.

“Leaving the Ark at Mount Ararat” by Nicolas Chaperon (French 1612-1656) after Raphael, Engravings [left]

Our cartoons/sketches were then photocopied and we Nicarefully pricked them. This template was placed on top of specially textured oil painting paper, and coated with charcoal and pounced it… dabbed it through the pricked holes.

After lunch, and 15 more minutes grabbed looking at the exhibition, we joined the dots and watched on oil painting demonstration.

We heard how pigments would be collected from minerals and plants and dried then powered. The pigment would then be mixed with oil (in this case linseed oil) on a marble slab with a glass muller (like a flat bottomed pessel) to make paint

Painting with oils for the first time was enjoyable but challenging. When the images dry we will complete them at school. I was amazed at the sensitivity of the work students produced and was proud of English Martyrs students for working really hard for the entire day.

A while ago… (back when I wasn’t working quite so hard as a teacher!) I made some images in Adobe Photoshop Elements.

Now I’m thinking about gaze and allowing people to see you… masks camoflauge expressionism etc

Here’s my most recent piece- a bit crude but I like that…

I have probably missed some please add any others as comments.
Some of these are suitable for students others are aimed at art professionals/ artist-teachers.

A-N The Artists Information Company

“Exposing the diversity and complexity of artists’ practice, we’re providing an inspiring critical space to research, analyse and debate contexts for practice now and in the future.”

Non-members have limited access whereas members can carry out detailed searched of the archive. I think this website is particularly useful for teachers to find challenging contemporary artists to link into their AS or A2 schemes of work or more able KS4 students.
http://www.a-n.co.uk/cgi-bin/db2www.exe/home.d2w/input

Allenheads Contemporary Arts

“Allenheads Contemporary Arts is an independent art/education organisation that provides opportunities for the development of new ideas and work.”

Allenheads is only a small gallery but present interesting challenging contemporary artists and they are in the process of re-vamping their online presence so even if you can’t take your students you may be able to use their resources.
http://www.acart.org.uk/

Arc, Stockton on Tees

I’ve never been to Arc but their ‘What’s On’ section shows a wide variety of visual contemporary art forms.
http://www.arconline.co.uk/

Artimis, Northumberland’s Art in Eduction Agency

“In April 2000, Northumberland LEA created a partnership with ISIS Arts to establish an Arts in Education Agency for Northumberland. The agency is called ARTEMIS. Three fifths of the funding for the agency comes from the Standards Fund Schools Causing Concern Budget.”

http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/art/imagepie/Artemis.htm

Arts Centre, Washington

“Challenging, surprising and unusual, the Art Gallery’s temporary exhibitions programme includes a variety of different art forms and could feature anything from Picasso to local school children’s work. The gallery is dedicated to supporting the work of local artists as well as showing art of national and international significance.”

http://www.artscentrewashington.com/gallery/gallery.htm

Artworks Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne

“A new and innovative space to see buy display enjoy and talk about art. The Art Works Galleries houses five dynamic galleries where exhibitions change every month.”

http://www.theartworksgalleries.com/

Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gatehead

I don’t need to write anything here if you are an art teacher you will know about Baltic!
http://www.balticmill.com
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=2254137979

Bede’s World, Jarrow

Looking at the life and work of Bede. Beautiful artefacts and a farm.
http://www.bedesworld.co.uk/

Berwick Gymnasium Art Gallery

Resident internationally acclaimed artists exhibit here.
http://www.internationalfellowships.org.uk/host.php?host_id=13

Biscuit Factory, Newcastle upon Tyne

“Welcome to The Biscuit Factory, Britain’s biggest original art store. 35,000 square feet with two floors of exhibition spaces and two floors of artists’ studios. We sell paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, photography, ceramics and glass by artists from all over the world. It’s a fun, relaxed place to buy original contemporary art in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne. Entrance is free.”

A great source of images of work by contemporary artists. I have visited the gallery with students and if you let them know you are coming and with how many teachers/supervisory staff they are great.

http://www.thebiscuitfactory.com/

Bowes Museum,  Barnard Castle

The Bowes has a fantastic selection of fine art paintings, ceramics and textiles. A fascinating place to visit.
http://www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/

Culturelab, Newcastle upon Tyne

“Culture Lab is a unique research infrastructure providing an environment for academics and practitioners working beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries. We promote socially and economically valuable synergies with artists, creative industries, and cultural and scientific institutions, and the development of innovative research with digital tools.”

They have interesting talks and occasionally CPD opportunities. This is more aimed at art professionals and post-graduates.

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/culturelab/

Customs House, South Shields

“Sandford Goudie Gallery at The Customs House showcases the very best of national, international and regional contemporary arts practice.  With a changing programme of nine exhibitions a year, it is the only contemporary gallery space in South Tyneside, enabling the broadest spectrum of audiences and communities to participate and engage with contemporary art. Whether you like figurative or abstract painting, sculpture or installation art, every time you visit the Gallery there will be something exciting, inspiring and perhaps challenging for you to see.  If you would like more information on the Visual Arts Programme, please contact Esen Kaya, Visual Arts Development Officer on 0191 427 8199 or email esen@customshouse.co.uk”

There is usually something fairly interesting on in the Sandford Goudie gallery and there is a nice selction of craft/jewellery for sale in the café.

http://www.customshouse.co.uk/

Design Event

“The North East’s annual design festival is back! DE08 includes exhibitions, walking tours, a fashion show, workshops, talks, a design day out and the opportunity to buy work from the region’s design talent, there’s sure to be something to entice and inspire!”

Not a place to visit but an annual event that highlights design.

http://www.design-event.co.uk/

Designed and Made gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne

“VISIT THE DESIGNED&MADE GALLERY ABOVE LIVE THEATRE FOR A CHANCE TO SEE A DIVERSE, CURATED PROGRAMME OF HIGH PROFILE CONTEMPORARY DESIGN AND APPLIED ARTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY WORK BY THE NORTH EAST’S BEST DESIGNER-MAKERS.”

A relatively new venture located above the Live Theatre so maybe potential for Engliish/Art and Design joint visits/projects.

http://www.designedandmade.co.uk/

Doorman Museum, Middlesbrough

http://www.dormanmuseum.co.uk/

Durham Light Infantry Museum and Art Gallery

Several galleries showing a variety of traditional and contemporary art forms.
The DLI permanent collection focuses on WW1 and WW2. Possibilities for history and art & design joint visits/projects.

http://www.durham.gov.uk/dli/usp.nsf/pws/dli+-+dli+menu+for+art+gallery

Gallagher and Turner, Newcastle upon Tyne

A small commercial gallery.

http://www.gallagherandturner.co.uk/

Great North Museum (opens 2009) Newcastle upon Tyne

“The new museum, opening in spring 2009, will be a flagship visitor attraction showcasing internationally important collections”

Including the Hancock collection and Newcastle Uni’s museum of Antiquities ☺

http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/greatnorthmuseum/

Hartlepool Art Gallery

Quite small doesn’t change that often but sometimes houses little gems.

http://www.thisishartlepool.co.uk/attractions/artgallery.asp

Hartlepool Maritime Museum

There is a bit you pay for and a free bit last time went they had a fabulous exhibition on of children’s drawing.

http://www.hartlepoolsmaritimeexperience.com/?p=Home

Hatton Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne

Curator Emily Marsden is very helpful and keen to engage with more schools.

http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/hatton/

Horsley Print Makers, Northumbria

http://www.horsleyprintmakers.co.uk/index.htm

Imagine-Tyne and Wear Museums’ Collections Online

“Discover 15,000 images of objects from Tyne and Wear Museums’ collections with IMAGINE. Enjoy interactive access to these extensive collections. Search and explore objects from Archaeology, Art, History and Natural Science.”

http://www.imagine.org.uk/index.php?p=popups

Isis arts, Newcastle upon Tyne

http://www.isisarts.org.uk/

Kielder Partnership

http://www.visitkielder.com/visart.htm

Laing, Newcastle upon Tyne

http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/laing/

Lazarides, Newcastle upon Tyne

A contemporary commercial gallery.

http://www.lazinc.com/
http://www.lazinc.com/exhibitions/newcastle/

Lime Street Studios, Newcastle upon Tyne

http://www.36limestreet.co.uk/pages/main_pages/news.shtml

LocatorArt

http://www.locatorart.org/

Locus Plus (site specific art)

http://www.locusplus.org.uk/

Maltings Art Centre, Berwick

http://www.maltingsberwick.co.uk/

Mima, Middlesbrough

http://www.visitmima.com/

Mushroom Works, Newcastle upon Tyne

Studios for artists…

http://www.mushroomworks.com/

National Glass Centre, Sunderland

http://www.nationalglasscentre.com/

Network Artists in Northumberland

The art tour.

http://www.networkartists.org.uk/index.php

NewcastleGraft

If you are a practicing artist a useful email group that can sometimes be quite colourful/controversial and sometimes quite mundane.

“NewcastleGRAFT was established in 2003 by artist Cathryn Jiggens as a ‘creative community network’ for the Northeast. Between 2003 and 2007 she actively developed the network including the fundraising and organization for: A weekend networking event with artists from Newcastle, London and the SW on the theme of Complexity Theory; A weekend networking visit hosted and supported by Allenheads Contemporary Arts, Northumberland; Visiting artist speakers and events including Maf’J Alvarez, Irene Brown, Hetain Patel and Peter J Evans; An international Women’s Day event, applications workshop and peer review sessions for work in progress.

Administration, management and development of newcastleGRAFT is now undertaken by Pete Hindle. In 2006 Pete organized a newcastleGRAFT birthday BBQ; in 2007 he organized a group visit to the Transmediale festival in Berlin, supported by Arts Council England NE. He also delived a web design course for newcastleGRAFT members.

Members use newcastleGRAFT to share information about exhibitions, opportunities, ask questions and any thing else that crops up, and are invited to make creative use of the many possibilities opened up by the resource.”

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/newcastlegraft/

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, Sunderland

Excellent archive and really helpful education officer in my experience.

http://www.ngca.co.uk/home/default.asp?id=141

Northern Print, Newcastle upon Tyne

Really great teacher go on one of their print making courses if you haven’t already they are fabulous.

http://www.northernprint.org.uk/

Northumbria Uni gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne

http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/universitygallery/

One North East

Development agency- has some interesting info particularly if you are doing applied art and want to think about art for different purposes e.g. redevelopment.

http://www.onenortheast.co.uk/

Opus art Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne

http://www.opus-art.com/

Oriental Museum, Durham

I went here on my teacher’s recommendation when I was 17 and fell in love with Japanese painting, prints and ceramics.

http://www.dur.ac.uk/oriental.museum/

Picture House, Belsay Hall

Last years Picture House was amazing and the grounds are spectacular too.

http://www.picturehousebelsay.co.uk/home/

Queens Hall, Hexham

http://www.queenshall.co.uk/

Rednile

Rednile don’t have a permanent space but help recent graduates and professional artists take part in innovative projects. Michael (one of the founders) is a trained art teacher so I imagine he would be great speaking to kid about Rednils work.

http://www.rednile.org/

Reg Vardy Gallery, Sunderland

Small but often really interesting shows. They’ve just lost their curator Rob to Baltic so expect the unexpected.

http://www.regvardygallery.org/

Segedunum, Wallsend

http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/segedunum/

SevenStories

Often has shows of original illustrations. Next to Limestreet studios and Mushroom works so perhaps you could organize a whole day visit?!

http://www.sevenstories.org.uk/home/index.php

Shipley Gallery, Gateshead

New improved display of the Craft collection. Been on several CPD courses here and they have been superb.

http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/shipley/

Side Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne

http://www.amber-online.com/sections/side-gallery

South Shields Museum and Art Gallery

http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/southshields/

Star and Shadow, Newcastle upon Tyne

http://www.starandshadow.org.uk
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=2254137979

Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens

A temporary gallery space and permanent collection. Excellent selection of Lowry paintings.

http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/sunderland/

Tees Valley Museum Single Point of Access

“The Tees Valley Museums Online resource has been developed with funding from the MLA’s ‘Renaissance in the Regions’ and Middlesbrough Council. The site gives access to the museum collections of Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland & Stockton-on-Tees authorities.”

AMAZING!

http://www.teesmuseums.com/middlesbrough.htm

Tees Valley Arts, Teeside

http://www.teesvalleyarts.org.uk/

The Globe Gallery, North Tyneside and Newcastle

“Globe Gallery is an independent contemporary art gallery showing the work of emerging and established artists. The gallery’s two venues are spaces of cultural exchange providing a welcoming, informative, challenging and accessible dialogue between artist, artwork and audience .Globe Gallery is committed to building and maintaining audiences through exhibitions, events, and opportunities to participate in projects.”

http://www.globegallery.org/

The Art House, Middlesbrough

http://www.theart-house.co.uk/

Tyne and Wear Museums

http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/

Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle upon Tyne

http://www.tynecine.org/

Vane, Newcastle upon Tyne

The directors are really friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about getting kids to see contemporary art. Its one room but their website contains detailed info on all their artists.

http://www.vane.org.uk/index2.php

Waygood, Newcastle upon Tyne

http://www.waygood.org
http://www.waygood.org/boutique.php
Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=6550628668

Workplace Gallery, Gateshead

Workplace is amazing and is helping raise the profile of North-East artists on the international stage.

http://www.workplacegallery.co.uk/artists/