My previous blog introduced the medium of clay as an old
medium which was illustrated using still photographs but I also filmed Thomas
Haskell actually doing a demonstration on the potter’s wheel. This demonstration
is being used as a tuition aid in my classroom and since Thomas explained the
techniques so well I thought the video could be used to inspire creativity in
young potters.
Sunday, 23 November 2014
Friday, 21 November 2014
Creativity in Photography
Photography preserves memories of images from the past. Light is one of the most important elements of
design in the art of photography. Effective use of light creates the illusion
of depth, contrast in value and texture as well as mood and atmosphere. Creativity
in manipulating composition and lighting insures a memorable photograph. Globally renowned photographers like Yousef
Karsh and Annie Leibowitz were creative at mood and atmosphere whilst Dorothea
Lange had creative compositions.
I did a photography course in my first year of my Bachelor’s
degree programme and whilst it was very informative it was also very
frustrating. As a fine artist it is a
lot easier to move a tree in a painting to improve my composition than it is to
find a natural view with the perfect lighting to create the atmosphere in a
photograph.
In Trinidad we have bright natural light which means taking
photo is best suited to early and late in the day. The diverse subject matter available to Trini
photographers allows them to be very creative in their compositions. A
photographer’s dream world is the diversity of cultural activities, architecture,
natural landscapes and foliage all found in Trinidad and Tobago. So the creativity
of photography is much more than a ‘selfie’, it is the art of capturing a
moment in time and making it memorable through effect use of the elements and
principles of design.
Thursday, 20 November 2014
Everyday Creativity
When an artist is able to take an everyday scene and creatively
turn it into a work of art you know you are in the presence of talent. Dermot
Louison is indeed talented; he is a renowned Trinidad painter who paints images
of rural lifestyle and landscapes. I
grew up seeing Louison’s depictions of landscapes with their flowing brush
strokes and sharply contrasting colours.
At 81 years old Dermot Louison is still avidly painting. His
current exhibition at Horizons Art gallery showcases 42 acrylic paintings on
canvas board. This body of work is shows the creativity of this artist in the
wide selection of subject matter ranging from seascapes to animated back yard
scenes. His effortless use of colour ranging from harmonious colour schemes
that contrast sharply with bold dark almost black tones makes these paintings
full of vitality.
Ironically Louison is
depicting lost images of rural Trinidad as well as the epic journey of his own
life. While there is nostalgia in the subject matter the boldness and
liveliness of Louison’s brush strokes creatively brings these scenes into the
21st century.
A lot can be said of the mark you leave on this world and at
81 years old Dermot Louison’s creatively
scrawled signature says he is definitely making his mark and he obviously has
more to say.
Monday, 17 November 2014
Creativity with an old medium.
The medium of Clay is as old as the earth, you can’t get any
older. Clay was used to make many functional objects associated with food
preservation in the time of the Amerindians such as the monkey jars and coal
pots. Clay vessels such as deyas were
made for religious rituals and ceremonies like Divali, the Festival of Light.
Clay was also used as a binding material to construct tapia houses.
Creativity with a particular medium comes from an artist
having a natural affinity or skill with that medium. I am more creative with acrylics than water
colours, I can use both but I am just much more comfortable and happy with
acrylics. However I was taught to use all different types of medium to be able
to teach technique to my students.
Teaching is a two way
street, as a teacher I pass on knowledge
and technique and students return the favour by responding to the teaching and
surpassing my expectations. One of my
past students, Thomas Haskell came to visit my school last week, he was a
student who I can say I taught him two dimensional art and I in turned learnt
about three dimensional design from him. He definitely had a gift for working
with clay; he started off working with polymer clay and is now most comfortable
with different types of clay. Thomas is currently studying for his masters in
ceramics at OCAD.
Thomas’s visit was indeed a pleasure to see him passing on
his creativity and skills to younger students. He worked on the potter’s wheel
and the 4 and 5 year olds were enthralled in very much the same way as the 15
year olds later that day. You can always tell how skilled a craftsman is by how
easy they make it look. Mastering a potter’s wheel takes a lot of practice
especially when you want to create a unique piece of pottery.
Thursday, 13 November 2014
Personal expression of creativity
Gran Riviere |
Balandra |
I have been an art teacher for more than 28years during
this time I have exhibited as a student and a teacher alongside my students. It
is very difficult to produce art pieces for your own pleasure and expression
when you are continuously correcting and guiding students. However I made a
conscious decision a few years ago to produce at least 2 or 3 art pieces per
year for myself as well as practicing in the field will make me a better
teacher.
Balandra |
Blanchisseuse |
Although I live and work in the city I am happiest near
the ocean. My childhood vacations were always spent by the sea. I have an affinity
with the ocean which goes back to my ancestors; I learnt to swim before I
learnt to walk. This trait was passed on to my children who will still declare
that a holiday is not overseas travel but a couple days spent by the beach on
the North East coast of Trinidad.
Blue Devils |
Stanmore Ave. |
My favorite subject matter is water, its translucent
nature and the effect of light on water has always influenced me to paint it.
My favored mediums are acrylics and chalk pastels. This year’s paintings are
from the North coast, Gran Riviere and North East coast, Balandra. They are currently on exhibit at the Trinidad
and Tobago Art Society annual exhibition in Federation Park. This exhibition
runs until 20th November, it is an exhibition of the creativity of
T&T artists featuring well over 170 pieces of work, a worth while visit.
Bamboo Canyon |
La Regalada |
Family Portrait |
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