Teens Art Club
This post is all about my Teens Art Club. I have one space available from September, so if you have an interested teen this post is for you!
I love this club! I love the random conversations, the strong opinions, the radical acceptance, and of course the creative ideas of my little team of teens!
I’m so happy that the teens love it too! I asked them for reviews, and alongside some chat about the things they have enjoyed, I got:
“It’s not about the size of the ninja (artist) in the fight, but the size of the fight in the ninja (artist)”
Darcey
“10/10 - very kind, welcoming and a great teacher.”
Niamh
Thats some great stuff already, but what actually happens at Teens Art Club?
I run in-studio sessions twice a month, where we get busy with a variety of activities that change depending on the young peoples' current interests and needs:
We spend time learning about artists, their lives, the context in which they were working, and the kind of work they produced. This usually involves some discussion about what the world was like at the time an artist was alive, as well as conversation on what the teens think of their work.
We explore new materials for art making, or try out a new technique. Over the last year this has included a range of 2D and 3D media from acrylic paint, graphite, plaster of Paris, and clay.
We take on more substantial projects, sometimes based around an area of interest, sometimes based around an exploration of an art form. We discuss plans for future projects as a group, and the young people are encouraged to make suggestions and express opinions about what they would like to do more of. Over the next few months, taking us to Christmas, we will be using Autumn as a theme to explore illustration and simple animation.
During the in-studio sessions, I usually prefer parents to stay, at least for a few sessions whilst their young person is getting settled in. Right next to the studio is a cosy living room full of books, access to WiFi, and I’ll even make you a hot drink! ;)
As well as the in-studio sessions, membership also includes a range of at-home suggestions:
I provide each young person with a sketchbook, which I encourage them to bring to each session. These sketchbooks can be used for whatever the young person is interested in, whether or not it is related to our current project. I don’t mark or critique sketchbook work unless the young person asks me to. I don’t even expect to look at it if they prefer I don’t. This is a place for them to store their ideas, and it is fine for this to be a private process.
I post a monthly Sketchbook Challenges page with ideas for exploring creating in different ways. (This is available for free on the Craving Creativity blog as well, but I post it on the Teens Blog as a reminder!)
<<< from the Teens membership pages
The membership pages on my website includes a growing bank of resources, including PDF booklets about various artists both historical and contemporary. (I am also in the process of developing an interactive artist time line!)
The Teens Blog includes additional ideas and areas of artistic research that might be interesting or inspiring, usually related to our current project or something we have discussed in the studio.
If all of these seems like something your teen would like to get involved with, complete the waiting list form below. I will then get in touch with you about having a trial session before you commit. Or head over to the Teens Art Club Page for more information and to sign up.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon, and for another young person to join our group!