Getting into the drawing, discussing the photos and collage.

 

Week 3.  Getting into drawing, discussing the photos ( from disposable cameras)  and beginning to use collage.

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Today went very well  indeed – we managed to get “collaborate” software up and active and it was fantastic to be able to share the images with the two  classes while speaking with them. We used Skype as well as back up, so with both programmes running we had all bases covered. DSC_0169Sheep

Landscape sheepI’d sent the actual photos that they had made with the disposable cameras back to them last week in a parcel. Ann had managed to match up every child with their own photography which was no mean feat!

So this time we decided to look at some ways that historical painters had represented the landscape, such a Constable and Van Gough. Looking at the way that they filled up the whole space of the painting and how textured the works were. as well as how much sky often occupies the picture plane and what colours were used – for example how many different greens Van Gough used when he is paining grass.

Using their own photograph as a starting point each child came up to speak with me about their image.

They all got very busy with their drawing – and we discussed adding collage and the different  textures that could used.  I’m going to send down a parcel of different textures of paper – tissue, patterns etc so we can really work into the pictures  they are making. In the meantime I’m going to scan the 25 photos that I selected from their collection and keep working on the mapping, photoshop layering idea that I’m trying out with their works so far for a slideshow.

 

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Gathering images

We are in the faze of gathering images –

 So far we have –

  • Photos of hands for all children
  • Hand drawn maps
  • Photos of locations around the school
  • Photos from disposable cameras –  Ruby selected 20  images for the final piece which will  hopefully be representative of  everyone.
  • Recordings of children talking about images.

The other images from disposable cameras are getting sent back to the school to be claimed by the children. It seems important that everyone has at least one image and feels that their  work has been valued.

 Plan for  the coming weeks –

  • Ruby and Ann to get to grips with new software and practice with it  so that images can be shared with more ease.
  • Ruby –  layering images using photo shop – maps superimposed onto hands and possibly photos from digital cameras – still to experiment with this…
  • Ruby –  20 selected photographs  from disposable  to be scanned and enhanced.
  • Ann  & Ruby – next session – each child selects an image – makes a drawing based on this, using colouring pencils, crayons, collage, chalks etc.
  • Writes a  few lines of description/story about one photographs, the landscape the place, the time.
  •  Final piece: Ruby to make two slideshows of the images from the project  and have them running in secession. ( one for junior  and one for senior class)
  • Voice recordings of children reading their stories and descriptions may be added

Photo on 03-02-2015 at 09.20 #3

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First real visit to Raheen National School – tracing, mapping and photography

Ann Kelliher ( teacher) had a warm welcome for me that November morning and chaperoned me to the school. The children were lively, friendly and excited.

I introduced the creative ideas to both classes  – letting them know that they were to be my eyes and ears and that  I hoped they would be able  introduce me to their location through mapping, walking, photography and drawing. The teachers were very helpful and we handed out the disposable cameras, which were to be shared between two and three participants. We made name labels for each camera and explained that the pictures could only be taken outside. When asked what they would find of interest around the area – they told me about mountains (The Paps) and lots of  wild life including foxes and squirrels, rivers, trees and plenty of  farm life – tractors, cows, donkeys.

I then set up the camera and tripod to take  individual photographs of each child’s hands (with a view to later superimposing their drawings of maps onto the images of their hands through the use of layering and  photoshop) .

In separate 20 minute sessions the children guided  me to places around  of interest to them around the  school – I photographed these sites –  which ranged from a hole in the hedgerow to a football goals and an old ruined schoolhouse.

In the final session of the day we used  very simple ink and line drawings they traced the routes and walks we had taken all around the area.

I was sorry to leave but excited to continue working with the group.

Ann let me know that she would send the cameras back after Christmas to be developed – after the children had taken pictures of sites of interest to them.

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