Our Public Art Project, led by artist Katie Anderson, has been making fantastic progress as part of our Creative Toolbox and Art Journal Project Graduate Programme! The Graduate Programme provides our participants with hands-on experience in developing collaborative artworks while expanding their creative skills through workshops with established artists.
Workshop with Alice Griffin
Recently, our group of graduates had the pleasure of attending an inspiring workshop led by guest artist Alice Griffin. Alice studied Illustration at university and has since built a diverse career in the creative industry, with a particular focus on printmaking. Currently, she balances freelance commissions with part-time work – an approach that allows her to develop her artistic practice while exploring different professional opportunities.
During the workshop, the graduates engaged in a variety of creative exercises designed to enhance their understanding of design composition and visual storytelling. Drawing from Alice’s expertise in screen-printing, they explored mark-making, collage and drawing techniques, using a combination of screen printing inks, pastels and other mixed media. The session encouraged them to experiment freely, layering textures and patterns to develop unique design ideas.
A key focus of the workshop was the importance of process over perfection. Alice shared insights into how she approaches her own work, emphasising that creativity often flourishes when artists allow themselves to play, explore and embrace unexpected outcomes. This mindset resonated with our graduates, encouraging them to push their boundaries and think more experimentally about their designs.
By the end of the session, each graduate had developed a collection of ideas which will serve as the foundation for their final pieces. Over the coming weeks, they will refine these concepts and begin producing artwork that will contribute to the overall Public Art Project.
What’s Next?
The next exciting step in our journey takes our graduates to Clay Works Studio in Dumfries, where they will participate in a Sgraffito Ceramic Tile workshop with Chris Taylor. Sgraffito is a decorative technique that involves applying layers of contrasting colours to ceramic surfaces and then scratching through to reveal underlying designs. This process allows for intricate detailing and expressive mark-making, making it a perfect technique for our graduates to explore.
The goal of this session is to create a series of ceramic tiles that will be permanently installed as part of the Public Art Project, forming a collaborative and visually striking piece. Each graduate will have the opportunity to contribute their own unique design, ensuring that the final artwork reflects a diversity of creative voices.
We are incredibly excited to see what they produce and to share their progress with you! Stay tuned for updates and behind-the-scenes images from the session – we can’t wait to celebrate the talent and hard work of our graduates as they bring this project to life.
Leave a Reply