April - I CAN DRAW!

There were few occasions when my students complained, ”I can’t/ don’t know how to draw”. This ‘problem’ is also that of most adults who somehow have the notion of an ‘inability to draw’ creeping in due to a lack of self confidence and peer pressure.

Today’s lesson was more on confidence building; reversing some of the negative beliefs and finding joy in the process of creating art and not focusing so much on the outcome.

Learning outcome: build self confidence, skills enhancement in tracing technique, visual judgement, placements and composing line, shapes and tones.

April - Our Solar System

The Solar System up close! What better way to educate children on the marvel of the Universe than through art?

Our bugs were taken on a 'journey into space' today, familiarizing themselves with 8 other planets in relation to that we all live on - Earth.

There was an air of excitement and wonderment as they were guided through making representations of the solar system

with paper, scissors, colours, and glue.

Learning outcome: the solar system, size, distance and space, colour choice

April - ART IN CULTURE : Wau Bulan

Art plays an important role in our multicultural Malaysia. Learning and Understanding cultural art promotes knowledge, appreciation, integration and tolerance in our Malaysian society. Today, our Bugs were introduced to the traditional art - the ‘Wau Bulan’ or famous Malaysian moon kite. Class started with a brief introduction to the "Wau" and its parts. Next, they were guided step-by-step on constructing first the frame, leading eventually to the completed kite with its head, wing, waist and tail.

Learning outcome: Wau-making and its parts, its history and cultural significance and the embodiment of art form

April - Value-Shading

Our bugs j-u-s-t LOVE to play with colours, and who wouldn't? After all, we are surrounded by a world of beautiful colours! So, to pique their interest further, we took our Bugs through the colouring technique of Tone-shading. They were introduced to how shading can add value to the subject ....giving it dimensions as in heights, depths, size, distance and direction of light source. So, what can be a downright ordinary subject or object came to life with the application of Value-shading. Learning outcome: knowledge of Value-shading with colours, awareness of dimensions, direction of light source, and attention to details

March - The Colour Wheel : Primary, Secondary..and Tertiary

The foundation to colour sense, limitless creativity and infinite joy - the Colour Wheel was introduced to our Bugs.

The 'newbies' were taken on a crawl learning what are primary and secondary colours and having a whale of a time splashing with them. The 'seniors' gravitated towards working with tertiary colours ...the wonders of which thrilled them! Nonetheless 'seniors' also got a refresher on primary and secondary colours as well. The Colour Wheel never fails to amaze...

Learning Outcome: The Colour Wheel, and the basics of primary, secondary and tertiary colours, lots of fun and messing around.

March - The Rule of Three

‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’.

Art is created for beauty and emotion to be appreciated and interpreted  by individuals through sights,  feelings, preferences and  tastes to form an opinion. Simply explained, ‘art is subjective’.  Presentation and interpretation of ‘Beauty’ is a never ending argument.

Today our Bugs were introduced to a colouring technique , “The Rule of Three”; where it promotes and emphasizes the idea of colour blending and mixing in a simple subject - the apple ;  one of the ways to enhance creativity and increase the aesthetic value in their artwork.

Learning outcome: Explore new colouring technique, appreciation of a simple everyday subject,  creativity and fine motor skills

March - My Desktop Organizers

 AND you thought toilet and kitchen roll inserts are discards, and at best for the recycle dump?

WAIT....see how the Bugs have fashioned them into functional  organizers for desks, table and counter tops....each carrying a personal statement of themselves.

This week's lesson was on recyclables and their unlimited potential in art and use at home.

Taking on the safe and unassuming toilet and kitchen roll inserts, the Bugs were shown how with a touch of paint, imagination and focus on utility, can inject life and purpose into the  inconspicuous discard to take individual pride of place in the home.

Learning Outcome: Recyclables and their revived functions, desk and counter top organisers, shapes and sizes,  and creativity with colours