STURT WINTER SCHOOL

Shirvington’s allusive paintings extend the mood. At first, all readers will see is the snail’s spiral, but then the body appears, and finally the snail’s sparkly trails. It’s sometimes a challenge to pick out the snail among the lines and swirls. Readers will also find other Australian forest-dwellers, including a blue-tongued lizard, a large dragonfly, and even a brush turkey. The artist’s use of light and dark is intriguing; it seems to suggest that this journey extends over several days and nights. Curiously, but quite beautifully, the snail stands out most noticeably in what the text calls “the low light” of “the dark night.”

Upcoming exhibition Art Atrium

The Sturt Winter School 2018

is from Monday 9 - Friday 13 July, offering 16 Adult Courses. 

COURSE                        TUTOR                   COST + material       LEVEL

01 Drawn to nature           Pat Shirvington          $710 + TBA             All

Can You find Me ?

This beautiful picture book explores how Aussie animals use camouflage to hide and survive in the Australian bush.  Mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians and fish are all represented – some large, some small. Each double page spread focuses on a particular animal.

This book has everything you need to captivate children 3-6 at story time: repeating phrases, gorgeous watercolour illustrations of a range of Aussie animals in scenic spreads, and the fun of searching for each animal as it blends in with its habitat. To assist children unfamiliar with some of the animals, there’s a guide each animal’s appearance at the back.

The text on each page follows a 5-line formula, and soon becomes like a familiar friend. The first three lines state what the animal is, its habitat, and how the animal resembles its habitat. The last two lines are always the same:

That is why I am hard to see.

Can you find me?

The repetition encourages new and reluctant readers, and reinforces the theme of animal camouflage.

I was captivated by this book from the moment I saw its beautiful cover. Even the end pages are striking, with branches of native plant species set against a white background.

Recommended for pre-schoolers, and as a junior science resource.

Reviewed by Julie Murphy

CAN YOU find ME ?   Released September 2017

View book here

http://www.nsweeconference.org.au/

CHARACTER OF THE BUSH

Through environmental education, art could be used as a conduit to the fundamental experience of nature. I feel that the art of drawing has the power to connect directly, enhancing complete immersion in nature. With a piece of paper and pencil students work directly in the landscape, identifying plants and creating characters and stories. I begin by telling an ecological story utilising the different characters I have created. The student’s then engage with the bushland discovering their own imaginative characters, by identifying traits within their chosen plant.  The student becomes more connected and has fun creating their stories. By exposing students to nature in this way doesn’t over-burden them with science and negativity but introduces the journey of wonder and beauty, initiating their veneration of the environment. To experience nature in this way will stimulate a new consciousness, inviting the imagination to connect the natural world as an extension of the human being.

http://www.ecoartsaustralis.org.au/events-and-projects/conference-2016-building-sustainability-with-the-arts/

PHENOMENOLOGY – Drawn from

The practice of drawing has proven to be a way of knowing the world. This paper will endeavour to enhance cognition through the practice of drawing with the purpose of reconnecting to the world around us. We tend to look at the object, however, do we see the subject ?  The project will work with drawing, but not in the usual way of developing precision and draftsman-ship, but rather as a tool for phenomenology.

file:///C:/Users/Pat/Documents/PATRICK+SHIRVINGTON_PHENOMENOLOGY_DRAWN+FROM_DIB2015.pdf

Nexus - Biophilia

A discussion with Phil Shirvington