Working with The Song Room

Working with The Song Room:

This year I've had the good fortune to connect with 'The Song Room', a not for profit organisation providing arts projects in schools.

I was given two projects each connecting with groups of parents and students to create artworks for two schools in Balga one of Perth's northern suburbs.

The first project took place over terms 1 and 2 at Warriapendi Primary School.

A series of three photo boards were designed and painted along with 6 'totem'poles and a number of wooden flags. these were installed as entry statements to the school grounds:

At the initial workshop the participants had a brainstorming session to decide on the content of the boards.

The workshops were well attended throughout their duration. The participants were enthusiastic and a very cohesive group.

 

The resulting artworks are bright and colourful and make a vibrant entrance into Warriapendi Primary School

The second Song Room Project was at Balga Primary School:

This was a similar project in that the artwork was produced on plywood boards, this time a piece was created to cover an old blackboard in a covered outdoor area. The finished work is 1.2 m x 5 m. The artwork also incorporated recycled plastic bottles to add a 3D effect:

The initial workshop employed brainstorming and drawing of ideas, these were then collated for the final design.

The workshops were again well attended by parents and children. The resulting artwork is bright and colourful and will brighten up a dark area in the school

The Book of Dog, my first literary publication!

Over the past three years I have written a series of stories about dogs. The stories were initially inspired by a series of drawings I did featuring dogs. 

There are five stories featuring the different skills and attributes of dogs. 

Dogs have been human companions for thousands of years, they are unique in so many ways.

My stories are aimed at the 8-10 years age group, they are well researched for their factual backgrounds and are set in many locations including my homeland Scotland and my chosen land Australia.

My book is currently available worldwide in digital form from Amazon:

Have you heard of the Cuevita de Huesos (Small Cave of the Bones) in the Atacama Desert in Chile? No? Well, read on...  http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00TIOH9Y4/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk

The Book of Dog: Mysterious Moments in the Lives of Curious Canines

www.amazon.com.au

Stories of intrepid, innovative and adventurous canines. Dogs have been human companions for thousands of years, they come in all shapes and sizes from the Great Dane to the tiny Chihuahua. Dogs have been trained to do many tasks. Read about the Old Dog Wood, Bernard and Bixby's caving adventures...

The Creation of Dreadnought and Bert Two Not So Fierce Dragons

Dreadnought's construction took place in November 2014 during my time as Artist in Residence at Beverley Station Arts. As you will see he is made from a variety of materials...

Dreadnought takes shape:

Dreadnought gets plastered:

An plastered even more!

Now to give him a personality!

Painting is always the best bit of creating my critters, this is where they come to life, develop a personality and their story comes to light!

Dreadnought the Dragon was definitely no to be dreaded. He did not quite live up to the fiery reputation of dragons. He had never mastered the art of breathing fire, he occasionally managed a small whiff of smoke but had never been able to breathe out the long licks of flame that his grandfather Dread was famed for. Dreadnought had also failed to grwo wings or a long spikey whippy tail. In fact anyone who met him would be forgiven for thinking that Dreadnought was not really a dragon at all...

On my return to Perth I decided to create Bert... Dreadnought's father! Dreadnought is now a permanent resident of Beverley Station Arts.

Like his son, Bert is not quite the whole deal when it comes to dragon-hood. However, he is more dragonny that Dreadnought, having a long spikey tail and a pair of small wings. His wings are not big enough to allow him to fly and although the did manage to breathe fire once  it burned the inside of his nose so badly that he never tried it again...

Bert is also made from a variety of interesting materials

Bert gets plastered...

A covering of papier mache

Well and truly plastered!!

Now for the best bit!

Bert develops a personality!

Check out his beautiful iridescent wings!

More tales of Bert and Dreadnought to follow, watch this space...

The Creation of Dreadnought and Bert, not Quite Proper Dragons...

Dreadnought is a small critter created during my time as Artist in Residence at Beverley Station Arts in November 2014. as you will see he is constructed from a variety of materials...

                                     Dreadnought taking shape     

                  

  

Dreadnought gets plastered!