Artist Teacher Workshops
The annual Artist Teacher Workshop has been a highlight of our programme since 2013. This is a unique professional development opportunity for teachers who want to rejuvenate and energize both their teaching and their own artistic practice. In this 3-day workshop we focus on the teacher as artist, with full immersion in art making enriched by exploration of the landscape and surrounding artistic treasures, and how to inject this creativity back into teaching.
Each year, visiting artists lead master classes in interesting and unusual techniques. Past master classes have included fresco or sgraffito technique on lime plaster, cyanotype and van dyke lens-less photography, and now with our new professional printing press we are rolling out a class on experimental printmaking techniques. Teachers will take home new knowledge to use in the classroom, understanding of techniques and materials, art history…and some artwork!
Heather McReynolds recognizes the importance of addressing the teachers creative engagement as well as the students. She is the author of the ThinkIB Visual Arts website and of the new course book Visual Arts for the IB Diploma . She has extensive teaching and examining experience, and has been leading workshops for IBDP Visual Arts teachers since 2007.
What teachers say…
“Being a part of Artist Teacher’s workshop at La Vigna Art Studios was a wonderful experience. What a privilege it was to learn the ancient technique of Fresco from a master craftsman. In this age of instant images, working on a fresco was a delightful change in mindset. Many useful information, ideas and methods were exchanged during the informal DP VA sharing sessions. The discussions and exchanges were in relaxed and convivial atmosphere. The venue of the workshop was a newly renovated studio space on a Tuscan hillside which was an inspiration in itself and the accommodations were excellent. I traveled back home with headful of ideas for my teaching and as well as many inspirations for my own personal work. It is highly recommended for any DP art teachers !” -Ron Kim / Head of Arts-International School Hilversum (NL)
“This workshop made such a great impact on me that I am now keeping my own Visual Arts Journal! I am truly understanding the power of experimentation and reflection and feeling enlightened by the inspiring environment and the things we learned. I am inspired to renew my teaching materials, sort out my supplies, and I am even planning weekend workshops with my students in the countryside where I have made a studio in an old henhouse 🙂 ” -Fredrika Auvinen/Mattlidens Gymnasium- Finland