Asymmetrical and symmetrical collage (IB Visual Arts)

It has been a while since I have posted any updates on our studio work, but trust me, there have been so many new ideas and techniques to explore, that blogging was not a priority. These collages were made by my students weeks ago, when we were still discussing the topic of symmetry and asymmetry in art and nature. It's truly great how different and individual the artworks turned out, I love the variety of colours, materials and composition the three of them have used, it's wonderful to see how all of them have their personal style and understanding of balance, asymmetry and symmetry. 

Teodor Paraliyski- 11 IB SL

Pollina Nikova- 11 IB HL

Ivan Maslyankov - 11 IB HL

IB CAS blogs

Pollina Nikova - VA HL
Ivan Maslyankov - VA HL

Asymmetry and symmetry (IB Visual Arts)

For the past two weeks we have been exploring the topic of balance, asymmetry and symmetry in art. One of the tasks my students had to complete was to explore asymmetry and symmetry in various natural objects, urban space or  different environment, to experiment with digital photography and then try to manipulate the images in Photoshop Lightroom. Here is what we got.

photos by Ivan Maslyankov (HL)

photos by Pollina Nikova (HL)

photo by Teodor Paraliyski (SL)

Hurray!

Last week our very talanted Ralitsa of 12 IB class won third place in an inter-school art competition. The event was dedicated to Kolyo Fitcheto - a prodigious Bulgarian architect, who lived and worked in the 19th century. Well done Rally, we are very proud of you!

Short comics and illustration (Art club)

As I have mentioned in previous posts,  the Art club was initially an activity dedicated to short comics and illustration.Most of the artworks below were created throughout the first two years of the club-  some of them are collaborations with guest artists, others are creative doodles or results from our favourite activity- the comics jam. Do enjoy them :)

Georgi Kolev - 10th grade

Georgi Kolev - 10th grade

Diyana Tsvetkova- 12th grade

Diyana Tsvetkova- 12th garde

Pollina Nikova- 11 IB

collaboration 

collaboration

collaboration 

collaboration 

Georgi Goergiev- 11th grade

Rumen Dimitrov- 11th grade

Diyana Tsvetkova - 12th grade

Pollina Nikova- 11 IB

Petar Yordanov- 11th grade

Diyana Tsvetkova -12th grade

Pollina Nikova -11IB

Monotype prints (Art club)

Artworks by Georgi Kolev- 10th grade

First attempts in abstract art (IB Visual Arts)

The first topic we explored is, in my opinion, fundamental for every artist - the topic about shapes, colours and patterns. We talked about the colour spectrum and the effects of colours on human emotions, we paid attention to how shapes have evolved from their "habitat" in Nature,  we explored the ever-changing world of patterns and created a personal pattern map. Last but not least, we talked about how all those significant elements shape the Art itself. We ended up looking at paintings from the abstract art movement, where Klee and Mondrian have used mostly geometric shapes to express themselves, where Miro and Kandinsky have explored the inner universe of simplicity and symbols and Pollock has created explosions of colours and feelings . Inspired by those great artists , the students tested  their imagination and created artworks,  triggered by their own sensitivity and perception of colours and shapes.
(I personally quite like the results)

Pollina Nikova-HL

Pollina Nikova-HL

Ivan Maslyankov-HL

Ivan Maslyankov -HL

Teodor Paraliiski- SL

Introduction

Hello dear reader and welcome to our place!

This blog will follow the progress of the young creative souls from  IB Visual Arts programme and Art club of PSHS American College Arcus. The college is a licensed institution of secondary education, teaching students from grades 8 through 12. Our school is located in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria and hosts about 170 students. 

Even if  the Arts are not a top priority subject in the National Curriculum, our school respects and motivates students who create and wish to expand their artistic skills. There are many students who apply to local and foreign Art Academies and Universities after graduating from our school and the tendencies are rising.Since 2015 PSHS American College Arcus has been offering the IBDP Visual Arts course, which is currently undertaken by three students.

OK, enough of facts.

This blog is intended to serve as a virtual portfolio of our students' artworks, but bellow the surface, I hope it will be a temple of imagination and creativity. I believe that imagination is the foundation of art itself, therefore it plays the most significant role in the creative process. It is the vivid source of ideas and inspiration; it is the natural and fundamental ability to apply your thoughts to life, it knows no boundaries, and is very important to social understanding. Without imagination art is only an instrument to copy already existing objects, it ceases to be a productive and personal process.

As a teacher, I encourage my students to rely on their imagination rather than on their drawing skills, as skills are taught, but imagination is an energy flow that can produce unbelievable things. 

Really, it is that simple.

artwork by Georgi Kolev and Pollina Nikova