ABR project

Student teachers as novice researchers adopted ABR to explore whether creative application of basic techniques taught in the junior visual arts curriculum can culminate in complex expressive work and whether the lesser used curriculum practical starting point of looking at the work by another professional artist extends or curtails creative self-expression. Using drawing, painting, print-making and fabric/ fibre techniques as a research method, they created a personal art cloth only using techniques from the visual arts junior curriculum documents (NCCA, 1999) and having personally looked attentively at diverse work by the Swiss artist Paul Klee. Key findings from process and and product illustrated that looking at work by Paul Klee inspired as opposed to curtailed co-researchers creative decision making and that creative application of basic techniques from the junior curriculum can produce highly complex and imaginative pieces. Findings highlight the value of addressing work of other professional artists and teaching simple techniques in visual arts so learners can develop their expressive abilities and skills.