Demonstrations

Colin discusses the arts with students: drawing, painting, sculpture, music, dance, poetry, etc. Arts are the most important subject to study because art is communication and every day of our lives we need to get along with other people. By developing an understanding of the arts, students grow to understand themselves and their environment.

With their awareness, students can create a life for themselves, which allows them to best achieve their potential. The way we dress, walk, talk, write a letter or arrange our room is all a part of each person's creative, artistic potential.

Using bird calls, antique tools and utensils, "magic" illusions, natural and found objects, Colin demonstrates the concepts of communicating an idea with a single sound, shape or gesture, and leads this into problem solving, creative thinking and the importance of being observant.

Colin demonstrates a wide variety of drawing and painting styles and subject matter. He prepares on site a series of drawings / paintings of dogs, horses, cats, figures, cartoons, caricatures, and usually some student portraits. Colin uses crayon, pen, pencil, charcoal, chalk, watercolor, etc. He encourages all students, even those not interested in the arts for careers to use the arts to develop their senses...by this means students can better learn whatever subject they choose, and experience (enjoy) the world around them.

Workshops / Projects

Colin coordinates the construction of a large mural, sculpture, mosaic, collage, series of masks, etc. Usually the art teacher suggests a theme to Colin, and he returns ideas, sketches, and a materials list. Together they coordinate ideas with the students doing the work, the project is completed. Most projects take 2 days to 2 weeks to complete, the duration depending upon the size of the creation, the number of students involved, and available funding. Themes involve school mascots, local history, the rainforest, famous Americans, diversity, brotherhood, endangered species, etc. Together with Colin over the past 18 years, students have prepared murals, sculptures, tigers, elephants, giant insects, giant masks of Presidents George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and other famous Americans. These large projects are an excellent means to teach teamwork and cooperation. Colin emphasizes that each workshop produces a monumental cooperative effort.

The finished work of art often culminates in a final unveiling before the entire school, often including parents, and members of the local media. These projects give parents, teachers, students, and staff a feeling of pride in community, and foster school spirit and togetherness.

Gifted Classes / Teacher Workshops

These classes are for students / teachers especially interested in an intense artistic experience. Colin has instructed classes in life drawing, figure, portrait, animal drawing, portfolio preparation, landscape painting, etc. These classes are often done as 1, 2 or 3-day projects in a large studio with 70-80 students, however they can follow any format as dictated by time, space or interest. Teacher workshops stress the importance of art as a form of communication, and assist teachers in planning both small and large scale projects with students, and provide useful techniques to achieve desired outcomes.