But it is a two-way communication. Yes, the onlooker gains insight, but equally the artist has gained esteem in participating in the creative process, and finds a measure to gauge himself in relation to life. An esteem greatly underrated at present by many.
This esteem is the balancing platform where aspects of a young person’s life can be deeply enriched and encouraged, allowing him or her to develop other talents and so make informed life decisions for their careers.
In today’s society art has either been almost relegated to the status of an additive subject, or even totally nonexistent in certain cases, rather than seen as the essential pivot and measuring stick to a balanced curriculum with its immense influence on the social, creative, mental growth and wellbeing of a young person.
In the exhibition of artwork from Thurso High School art department at Caithness Horizons, here we have a local community gallery and establishment in particular helping to support the enrichment of young talent within their home town.
The main emphasis in this exhibition of S1 to S6 pupils’ artwork is the interpretation of fine arts through pastel, watercolour and acrylic compositions, with a variety of still life, landscape or figurative compositions or environmental projects. Sensitive renderings in pastel of fourth-year still life work hints of interesting development for further exhibitions next year.
In one of the portraits, a sense of drama is communicated in Michella Cameron’s S5 work where a background glance, a compositional posture used by Ingres, Rembrandt and others, invites the viewer into the scene, displaying an innocence, yet indicates the eagerness as to what the tattoo will reveal and uncover, being still unknown.
Likewise, care and attention to detail is shown in the imaginative landscape of Charlotte Gordon S5, where an atmospheric aura has an element of foreboding and drama too, with a question to be answered or a decision to be made. What waits beyond the snake defended pathway or is the road tentatively portrayed by the white dove?
Similarly, the careful presentation of the felt snood or costume design by sixth-year pupils shows pertinent aspects of nature as the starting point.
The process of adapting the drawings of natural form into a design end product for the home or environment is a journey of discovery for each pupil, and this encompasses the understanding of the development and history of craft also.
Many objects we use, or encounter in our daily life, all had similar beginnings before their actual production, and an artistic appreciation and understanding of the refined thought process will hopefully affect pupils’ personal choices in later life as to their environment and aspects of household decoration and art objects they may wish to purchase.
Without the principles and measurements that nature portrays being carefully incorporated into a design then the end result can be irrelevant and inconsequential.
The teaching staff of Thurso High’s art department (2.7 teachers precisely) are to be congratulated on their continued vigilance and care in developing talent when it arises, and in presenting the work of the department again this year for the public to enjoy, despite undergoing the rigours of a school inspection at the same time.
Do go along and support these youngsters and their teachers, and write some comments in their book. We look forward to next year’s contribution. The exhibition runs until February 25.
J. Bruce
