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sustaining practice Blog Posts- Page 18 of 22 - The Open College of the Arts

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sustaining practice


Student stories: A new collaboration thumb

Student stories: A new collaboration

Who would have known that an OCA SW study day led by Moving Image lead, Matt White, and a new music & visual art collaboration initiated by Music lead Carla Rees, would have led to a Happening, which led to a photographic exploration, which led to doodle-making which led to an illustrated short story which has nothing to do with moving image or music – at least for the time being?

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Student work: In conversation with Sarah Davis thumb

Student work: In conversation with Sarah Davis

Sarah Davis is studying for a Drawing Degree and is about to complete Drawing Two: Investigating Drawing. In this short interview with her tutor, she discusses how her sketchbook habit is central to her practice.

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To creatively focus on the present thumb

To creatively focus on the present

We may not all have access to outdoor spaces with the chance to nurture and grow, but our creative endeavours – even simply the planning of, or reflection on them, facilitate a state of mindfulness: ‘to still a busy mind, settle into a new activity and refocus on the present’

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OCA creative challenges: Stop motion papercraft thumb

OCA creative challenges: Stop motion papercraft

We’re into week 3 of our creative challenges campaign. So far we’ve introduced you to basic stop motion techniques and visual storytelling. This week our introduction to stop motion papercraft will allow you to combine both those challenges and develop your skills.

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Experience of a virtual artist residency during lockdown thumb

Experience of a virtual artist residency during lockdown

I came across a post in Instagram calling for artists to attend an online virtual residency. The post was from a residency space in the North of Spain who would normally be booked with physical residency artists and I thought that potential of a virtual residency was fantastic! I submitted an application and was accepted.

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Collaborative practice thumb

Collaborative practice

As a practitioner myself, I have become really interested in the idea of creative collaborative practice and it is something that I have been researching more and more over the past few months.

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OCA creative challenges: Visual storytelling thumb

OCA creative challenges: Visual storytelling

This time we’re going to explore visual storytelling. Visual storytelling is a story or narrative told mainly through visual media. This could be video, animation, or illustration, and it’s usually accompanied with music, a narrator or graphics. 

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Group work review: Fine Art thumb

Group work review: Fine Art

I want to give a big ‘thank-you’ to Caroline, Helen and Dan for their dedication in developing our skills within the Fine Art framework. At these times of increasing social distancing and isolation these sessions will be a huge motivator, and I would encourage all students on the Fine Art Pathway to join us. 

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Throwback Thursday: A drawing a day: Revisited thumb

Throwback Thursday: A drawing a day: Revisited

Throughout 2013, I made a drawing for everyday of the year. Since then a lot has happened, but I can trace a lot of my practice back to that extended piece of work. I can also see how it influenced the way I approach tutoring. 

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