Summer Sunset Sketching

1926297_714942748550181_1778291404_oCroydon Library and the Maroondah City Council, had me sketching at sunset to a modest crowd of 47. It was to promote getting back to the library after holidays or summer vacations, and appreciating our local parks and community services. It was also a time to promote “Draw me a Story” exhibition that the local council have put on for the kids to highlight some talented illustrators and authors and their children’s books.

Maroondah Sketching Feb21_A5As a children’s book author I talked about drawing books, local wildlife and did a huge skills-building workshops to a very happy bunch of parents and excited kids.

The day was pretty rainy all day and the weather looked like cancelling the event. But late afternoon the sun came out, the storm could be seen racing up the sides of Mt. Dandenong and we had a fantastic evening of sketching.

It was nice to see some familiar faces and the drawing quality was excellent. Both kids and parents got some great starts to visual journals and some awesome drawing in as we eat a picnic dinner and celebrated a gorgeous evening under the trees outside the Library and council offices, and every now and again we had the screeching hullabaloo long billed corellas.

20140221_193919<<  My Boys trying to play DJ while we were packing up.

Finally, DJ Ben Courtney played some excellent drawing music from Australian Classics to some upbeat modern trance that keep every artist focused and keen for more drawing lessons. It all was nice to see the two hours slip by and met some lovely locals.

Final Thanks to Janet, from Eastern Region Libraries for all the tireless promotion and her commitment to community events.

If anyone would like to see more drawing and storytelling. Head to “Draw me a Story” The Maroondah Art Gallery. There you will see more amazing drawings and more of your favourite books come to life. >>  Enjoy for Now!  >>

draw me a story

Teaching kids to draw is great fun.

18lrSt. Kilda Village “Stripfest” was a great event from my perspective. 25 families joined me across the day and like these two in the picture above did some amazing drawings.

I enjoyed talking about animals, teaching kids to draw through simple shapes and lines and exploring interesting and different facts about the animals we drew. The kids have lots of questions and I seemed to answer them all, offering either a story or a simple fact. Most importantly, both adults and kids had a real “red hot go” at my Wildfire Workshop. It shows in their executions and, I believe, most could say they were happy with their results or even “surprised themselves”. That’s the beauty of teaching or tutoring skill-based classes – you have this opportunity to leave a lasting and positive impression on all who attend.

“Stripfest” was truly, real great fun! You can normally tell by the amount of questions the whole room has. The amount of noise and interaction that the day is a success and overflowing with fun. Thanks for the invite Vikki and Lucy and the St.Kilda Ecocentre, you left a warm memory and I hope to visit again soon. So sharper your pencils and keep drawing kids – I’ll be back.

Enjoy!

The Importance of Creativity and Art Eduction.

Teaching kids to be confident at drawing and illustrating is really important for communication, project building, improving assignments, enhancing homework. Now more than ever with computers, programs like Powerpoint, having a good sense of design and presentation is vital for kids to get ahead, thrive and become better students.

Not to mention, how much more fun is classwork or homework when drawings and creative play are involved.

Some people may think illustrating, drawing and graphics are just ‘needless child’s play’. Recent trends in America and China suggest that art is being phased out for economics, marketing, social media, computer studies and more academic studies. Why? When art and this type of education is an important part of a child’s learning. Art helps build creative thinking, independent thought processes, it can settle troubled kids and much more.

MBG_2600Sometimes the simplest things like colouring in properly or using scissors well can hold a child’s self-esteem back. Learning the right way and having fun with it unlocks these trivial mental road blocks. Sometimes it can open the class up to all sorts of artistic creations, colours, and most importantly taking some pride in their work.

Art education is nothing new, and the benefits are so important for building academic confidence, social confidence, enhancing focus, self-discipline and developing the ability of what might be.

Now how many teachers feel they can draw well? How many employ hand-drawn pictures in their classrooms? How many teachers “Packed up” their drawing skills when a fellow student teased them about their creativity?

Art education is vital and learning about things through drawing is a brilliant way to learn. Mind mapping, brainstorming, storytelling, designing, exploring through words, pictures and sounds uses the full palette of expression. This is why Wildfire Workshops works! The simple power of these workshops impacts on both the children and the teachers. Learning “how-to-draw” better empowers kids to do better and try harder. It galvanises their resolve and they enjoy applying themselves.

I like to think I’m no ordinary facilitator. I try to keep it fresh, powerful and kids love the lessons. Whether its my encyclopedic brain of knowledge, hundreds of mini stories, a fun, comical approach, stacks of real life references or loads of experience with delivering these workshops. Whether a class of 25 or the whole school, I will always try to deliver wildfire workshops – aptly named to catch on. The sessions take drawing, and teaching kids that value of drawing in our everyday lives, to a whole new level.

After 20 years in advertising as a creative, at least six years as a children’s book author and illustrator, I hope I can say I understand the importance of creativity, individual perception and perspective these attributes are keys to developing healthy life skills. They help us build robust and adaptable personalities, compassionate thoughtful students and confident self starters. Art is a powerful tool in building kids self-esteem and I hope my flamboyant, warm and encouraging manner sees most students rise to the challenge and surprise themselves. It’s so empowering for me to see what a simple pen and blank sheet of paper can deliver. The kids are always full of surprises and they surprise me with their depth, warmth, skills and interpretations.

In hindsight, I think most will agree, that it’s so important that kids learn to be confident with their creativity. It’s so beneficial when a class shares the problem solving in attempting to draw a platypus, a kangaroo, or even speed drawing a ninja Koala for fun!

Enjoy!

Myke.

A taste of things to come

“Every wildfire starts with a spark.”

It’s my creative vision to inspire kids of all ages to take an interest in preserving our native wildlife. This is Australia’s living heritage, and the way I would like to do this is through art education and engaging workshops. Wildfire Workshops have a big yet uplifting vision to spark a child’s imagination and at the same time:

•   Inspire the love of reading and books through illustration and storytelling.

•  Encourage the love of drawing through teaching simple easy-to-follow techniques
– discovering the ability to draw is like a second language within us all.

•  Innovate by using traditional means to achieve fantastic digital ends.

•  Endeavour to produce works of wondrous imagination and visual dexterity.

•  Educate and highlight the plight of our endangered bush creatures while
creatively exploring Australia’s unique natural beauty through art.