National Art School HSC Intensive Studio

Over the Term 2 holidays, Year 11 Art students, Gal Cohen-Kvatinsky, Erin Baskin and I were lucky enough to participate in the four day National Art School (NAS) HSC Intensive Studio, and will be going back for part two in the coming holidays. Each of us had been selected for a specific type of art making studio, Gal – photography, Erin – sculpture, and I did life drawing, out of a range of other disciplines like painting, ceramics and printmaking. Below are the individual reflections of the three studios we each participated in.

Erin, on the sculpture studio:

My time at the National Art School while learning skills within sculpture was an incredible privilege to experience. Over the course of four days, we looked into great depth at the 3D form of the human figure and the role it plays within art and representation. We were taught by our wonderful mentor Harry Fasher how to create the figure by building it up from clay, often using a life model to guide our practice. It was amazing to be able to take part in this opportunity and I am excited to participate in the second module during the next break.

 Hannah, on the life drawing studio:

Learning the art of life drawing, studying live models for four days, being taught by a practicing artist, working in the beautiful campus of one of the most, if not the most, prestigious Art schools of Australia, and meeting like-minded teenagers from all over New South Wales, was an opportunity and experience of a lifetime. The skills I gained over the intensive course have already change the way I practise and look at Art forever.

Gal, on the photography studio:

Having the opportunity to experience art in a different way was the highlight of my holidays. I was quite nervous that it would be the most stressful four days of my break, however, I actually didn’t want it to end. I learnt new skills, developed my creative thinking further and extended my perspective of things that surround me. The concept we focused on was turning the ordinary into something peculiar which led into the end product of a magazine. Working with layout, aesthetics and new programs, I successfully produced an original magazine which will be one of the works I exhibit. I am so grateful for both being accepted into NAS as well as being surrounded by different and amazing people.  

 Hannah Shteinman, Year 11 Visual Arts student