Came home last night feeling amazingly content. This is worth writing.
The AIR program was only half way, or may be less. All
participants in the life drawing sessions were no longer clouded by
their self-consciousness. They loosened up. They set new goals in
every single drawing ... everyone surprised him/herself. What did I
do? I facilitated the sessions, gave specifications to the model to
pose, and instructions to students to draw. I taught, shared a few
tips here and there. I walked to individual students to discuss their
work with them. My observations were appreciated, I felt. At one
point, I recalled my internship at SCAD - as if Prof Joy was watching me
- the moment was sweet. And I initiated peer critique sessions! Offering some
lead questions, I made them talk about their own art and processes. I
invited feedback from the floor. Each critique session ended with a
round of applause - a culture I so learned from Prof Sam which I
successfully implemented here - artists learn to respect, receive and
appreciate themselves and others - this I think is best.
Beep beep beep ... the timer went off at the last 15-min pose which
everyone said was the hardest. Time was long enough for a lot of
information to go into the picture planes. While everyone was
diligently drawing, studying, exploring with different medium, marks and
gestures, I suddenly saw a bigger picture of the future of these young,
fearless, uncompromising, artists emerging. Seeing all complete pieces of
artwork on the easels, we all felt a strong sense of achievement. The
art room was instantly filled with joy, I mean real joy!
I dwelt on the thought of what the successful and well respected
portrait painter/master at AAU,
Dr Sherrie McGraw, talked in her
video about how her teaching has been such a vital feeder to her own art, to
which she has devoted her life. A voice within told me I was on the
right track. Nice.
I smiled all the way home, enjoying the night scene of HK along the Eastern Corridor.
