29th September "Hands On Task" And "Creativity" Workshop

Also, on the 29^th September we explored a workshop called the “Hands On Task” which was to explore creativity through different elements of design. I wanted to explore the word “creativity” as I couldn’t create a definition for the word at the start of lesson. To help us learn and explore “creativity” our first task was to answer some questions which were:

·         What is creativity?

·         Who is creative?

·         How can creativity be promoted?

·         How can creativity be hindered?

·         In what context (environment) can creativity exist in?

·         How do we measure creativity?

We explored these questions as a group and as a whole class and we came up with answers for each question. As a group we believed that creativity is your imagination and how you can come up with your own individual ideas and thoughts. Also, as a group, we believe that anyone can be creative and then we were asked what was meant by “anyone”. In response, we said all children, adults and elderly people can be creative in different ways which makes everyone individual. To promote creativity we thought that it can be promoted through businesses, social media and in our local areas and communities such as graffiti artwork. As a whole class we thought that creativity can be hindered by emotions, critics, distractions and disabilities. However, these can be overcome as we explored an artist called “Alison Lapper” who is disabled but continues to be creative and creates a range of art pieces which proves that anyone can be creative and it can be overcome if creativity is hindered. Also as a whole class, we combined our ideas for where creativity exists and we collected examples such as college, galleries and nature. Finally, as a group, we thought creativity is measured by the amount of ideas, the value of ideas, comparisons, techniques and skills. After collecting ideas and inspiration from the task, we worked in our groups to express “creativity” through the “elements of design” that related back to the “hands on project”.

For each group we were given instructions to explore creativity with different elements of art which made all the projects different in the task. We were told that the pieces were going to be placed on the wall and we would be using materials that reflected colour to give a stain glass appearance. In our group we were given the element of “Shape” in which we had to create a piece of art work that represented “hands” but it also had to be made from the element. To start the task, we came up with a list of shape names and a basic outline of what we were going to create. Next, as a group we drew an outline of a hand and started to cut out a variety of shapes for the hand. We decided to have a pattern at the palm of the hand with the same shapes and a mixture of shapes at the fingers. As a group we decided to work at different stages of the hand and join the shapes together. I worked at the palm of the hand and built up the hand with different coloured squares which gave a colourful effect. Once we created the hand we faced a problem as we placed the shapes onto paper which doesn’t reflect colour through the window. To solve the problem, we placed our design onto the window and created a wrist at the window to allow the colours from the material to reflect at the wrist. Another problem we faced was time management as we spent a large amount of time on the hand. To solve the problem we quickly cut out random shapes and stuck those onto the window. To improve next time we would plan out the time and create a pattern like we did on the hand for the wrist on the window. Once we created the design, it gave a really good effect as the wrist reflected the light below and you could see how the shapes built up the hand at the top of the hand. As a group our strengths were communication as we planned out what we were going to create and what our tasks were individually. Also our strength was combining ideas to create a final piece as a group that reflected “Creativity”, “Shapes” and reflected the “Hands On Project” task.

Instructions we were given for the task.

The final outcome that we created from the build up of shapes to create a hand.

Overall, the workshop was interesting as it taught us what is meant by creativity and how it in used and presented in society. It allowed us to create our own artworks as a group which reflected what we learnt at the start of the workshop which made it enjoyable. It also helped us to build and develop our team work skills as a group and whole class when discussing about topics and working together. Finally it helped us to develop our communication skills and learn from other people’s ideas and suggestions.

Definition Of Creativity-Using individual ideas, thoughts and imagination to create something made by you.