Read on Twitter
Last week, my secondary school art teacher died and I am sad and I want to tell you about her.
1. Mrs G taught me from when I started at 11 until I finished my A levels and left at 17 (my birthday is in August so I didn’t turn 18 until the holidays after sixth form)
1. Mrs G taught me from when I started at 11 until I finished my A levels and left at 17 (my birthday is in August so I didn’t turn 18 until the holidays after sixth form)
2. My first class with Mrs G involved us painting a jam jar full of flowers. A tangle of colour and shapes and stalks. I remember her saying that we must look closely at what we were painting but not worry too much about it looking exactly real. How things felt was important
3. Mrs G was an incredible teacher and also an incredible woman with an adventurous spirit. Every summer holiday she was rattle off around the world looking for inspiration. Africa, China, India, Singapore, Australia. Then she would come back with sketchbooks FULL to show us
4. Her artwork was mixed media utilising the skills and techniques she picked up around the world - batik, print making, embroidery. She would then show us how to do all these things and encourage us to go wild. Her sketchbooks were annotated beautifully.
5. I always felt she was as inspired by us as we were by her. I um-ed and ah-ed about costume design or illustration and she spent ages pouring over books about both with me. And listening. She listened hard to what we thought and discovered and hoped for.
6. She also encouraged. For my final project the theme given by the exam board was “animals”. I decided that my interpretation of this wouldn’t be animal prints but to paint portraits of a fancy Parisian cat all in tones of shocking pink (of course) and white. She was DELIGHTED
7. Not only was Mrs G a great teacher and art practitioner but she was also very kind. From China she brought back a little handmade, silk cover sketchbook for us. (Too beautiful to use so mine is on my studio fireplace).
8. By sixth form I’d decided on illustration as my way forward.After the hols I was summoned to her office&she gave me three children’s books she’s bought in a huge bookshop in Hong Kong. One was Eloise and another was by Lauren Child. She thought I’d like them. (I loved them)
9. After I left school we kept in touch. She came to my degree show. She put my books on the art room bookshelves. She continued to Interested and Encouraging. I saw her last a couple of years ago and she wanted to hear about EVERYTHING. Not just hear, KNOW. Eyes twinkling.
10. Mrs G also never judged. She just let us as students be. Want to paint giant pink cats - HURRAH!
The art rooms at school were freezing, so I found an old fur coat being used for a school play and wore that. She didn’t bat an eyelid.
The art rooms at school were freezing, so I found an old fur coat being used for a school play and wore that. She didn’t bat an eyelid.
11. A few years ago I was lucky enough to illustrated a book by @davidjalmond. Angelino Brown. It’s about lots of things inc. the power of creativity, and inspiring teachers. I dedicated my work to her.
12. I think about Mrs G most days when I’m illustrating because the lessons I was taught by her were so good
- see what “mistakes” teach you
- don’t throw not quite right work away immediately because there will probably be something useful there
- keep a note of all your ideas
- see what “mistakes” teach you
- don’t throw not quite right work away immediately because there will probably be something useful there
- keep a note of all your ideas
13. I suppose what I’m trying to say with all of this is that Mrs G was great and I will miss her terribly. But also it’s reminded me (not that I needed reminding) about how powerful good teachers can be.
14. The school I went to put a lot of importance on academic and/or sporting achievements. As a child not good at either of those things particularly it was such a gift to have teachers like Mrs G who lifted up those who were creative.
15. I left school 18 years ago and yet I still think about and use the lessons I was taught by Mrs G every day.
16. And not just the artistic lessons. The lessons about being a person too. Mrs G was interested, gentle, kind. She was adventurous and full of compassion. I’m so glad I had her as a role model.
17. So rest well, Mrs G. I want to think of your passing as your next great adventure. Thank you for all you taught me.
Also, I am sorry about the mess I used to make in the art room when it was my turn to wash out the palettes. I am and forever will be A Clumsy Sort. X
Also, I am sorry about the mess I used to make in the art room when it was my turn to wash out the palettes. I am and forever will be A Clumsy Sort. X
