We encourage our students to be ambitious, so by the time they are taking A Level, they have the confidence to tackle things such as large-scale oil paintings, life-drawing, complex multi-media installations or large ceramic pieces. We are very proud of the impressive work that is on display in a street-facing gallery in London Road, Kingston.
The visit to the Surrey Sculpture Society Showcase is an interactive trip outside the school. How do you feel the students benefit from this? Do you do other similar trips?
Perhaps the most valuable experiences we have had coming to the Surrey Sculpture show is listening to the keynote artist talk about their work. The students have found it fascinating to hear how the different artists have carved out their careers and also to hear details of the creative processes and working methods. Young people find it very difficult to imagine how you would pursue a career in the arts, so it is invaluable for them to hear it from the horse’s mouth. Most of our time is spent in the studio, so we don’t get to many opportunities to visit shows. We recently took a group of students to the Courtauld Gallery to take a workshop inspired by the Peter Doig show. This was very inspiring and also an opportunity to see their fine collection of Impressionist paintings too.
What careers have you seen your ex-students go on to?
Funnily enough, one has gone on to become a brilliant art teacher and works with me at KGS. Several of our students each year go onto study Foundation Art & Design at places like Kingston University or Camberwell School of Art but others go straight onto degree course, such as Architecture, Illustration or Computer Animation. I was recently contacted by a former student who has gone on to start an interior design company called Daughters of Gaia. It is wonderful to imagine that we have gone some way to inspiring ventures such as this.
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What would your tips be for young students who want to follow an artistic pathway?
Follow your interests and passions. Keep your eyes open, visit lots of galleries and exhibitions. Keep a sketchbook and add to it all the time, like a diary. Don’t shy from trying new things or be afraid to fail frequently. Take Art GCSE, A Level and then Foundation before deciding which branch of the visual arts is right for you. The main thing is that you can’t pretend – you follow this path because it is who you are, making art is what makes you tick.