If you were one of our current AoC students, you’d now be finishing up the 4th of 12 classes. (Each group – 50 students per class – meets one day a week for 3 months).
Team AoC tries to set a lively pace. We’re ambitious and have lots to share with each group, but we also need to move at the right speed – not too fast. We want the learning and exploration process to be a pleasurable one.
Here’s an idea of what each class has covered so far:
Our first class meeting is an introduction to the project. We explain what we will be doing and learning and sharing together. We also spend a fair amount of time setting up the class list and recording everyone’s names.
Class No. 2 includes a free drawing exercise. For example, we might ask the students to draw wild animals INSIDE and OUTSIDE of the forest with pencil. This lesson helps Team AoC assess the interest and skill level of the students. We also want to make certain everyone feels comfortable using paper and pencil, working right- or left-handed.
At this point, we also begin to schedule guest speakers and visitors.
In the third class, we practice drawing the basic elements of shape. Class No. 4 is about using our eyes. We ask the students to draw their own hand, after really and truly looking at it.
Our goal with these first four classes is to help give the students confidence. As we spend more time in class together, we’ll encourage more creativity.
This student is looking in a mirror to draw her self-portrait.
This self-portrait from a student who’s never been taught art skills shows that he has lots of natural talent.
Students pictured above are drawing their HAND.
The hand drawing exercise challenges each student to really look at an object, and draw what they see.
Another student’s hand drawing.
This young boy is concentrating while drawing a mirror image.
It is my hope that each of our students feels a sense of achievement and pride after each class. I know I do. Someone recently suggested that we run a competition for the best drawing or best artist for each class. My reaction was no way. Though competition is a fact of life and it can bring out the best in people and situations, it’s not what these art classes are about. I believe it’s essential to give people a chance to explore their world unencumbered by expectations. I want to give the adults and children in class an opportunity to express themselves. It’s just three hours once a week. The competition will always be there, but I prefer to leave it out of class.
Good-bye for now,
Julie
Donations made here are
Dec 30th Nicole D USD 25.00
4 Comments
Julie, I couldn’t agree with you more, no competition in the classroom. These kids have to fight for so much as it is. I remember dropping out of art class in highschool, felt so intimidated by those who were really skilled, what a shame. Love the different exercises, the mirror image is quite a challenge! Keep up the great work.
You know, Julie, I was just thinking…when these children’s art classes are over, is it possible to have the parents come look at their work, kinda of a parent, teacher night? I would love to help with this. I know space is limited but if it were an “open house” perhaps it could work.
Hi Theresa,
You’re a gal of great ideas! At the end of the 3 month course, we put on ‘private’ art exhibitions, which means that we hang the art at the exact locations where the classes were held. Then we go ‘public’. It is our hope that parents, friends, local officials will attend the private viewings, but unfortunately, I don’t think they always make it for a multitude of reasons. However, your idea makes me think of making an additional effort to encourage parents to come to the show. Believe me, this is what we want! How about this… toward the end of the 3 month course, we will ask each student to create an invite to their art exhibition and give the invitation to their parents, aunties, uncles, and teachers… oh, and let’s throw in President Kagame while we’re at it?
Let’s stay in touch as we get closer to the time and I can offer suggestions of where support is needed the most. Maybe we will use special paper, maybe we could use support for a car battery for powering the projector for the slide show we include in the art shows. We definitely need a projector, but projectors are really expensive.
Keep the ideas and encouragement coming our way, we love it and it helps to keep going.
We are looking for a name for our sports teams, both the tennis and as you’ll learn about in an upcoming post about our running club in Kinigi which is after art classes. Any ideas?
Thanks Theresa,
Julie
My dear, you’ve got me hook, line, and sinker! My email is siskind8@msn.com