Meenakshi Gupta has been teaching different art forms through her Creative Art Classes organization since 2003. Let us learn about her journey with different art forms and her students who come from as far as Alaska.
Meenakshi Gupta
When did your art journey start?
I have been drawing from my childhood. I did my
postgraduation in Fine Arts from Stella Maris College and completed my B.Ed
also. In 2001, Malaysian art companies such as Global Art and World of Colours came
to India. I was trained by original artists from those companies.
When did you start Creative Art Classes?
I started Creative Art Classes
in 2003. We have Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Courses in drawing and
colouring. A few of our courses are pencil Shading, colour pencil shading, oil
pastels, soft pastels, acrylic Painting, and glass painting. We have 3 levels
in colour pencils class. Indian folk-art classes are also available. Art forms
like Warli art, Kalamkari Art, Gond art, Pitchwai, Madhubani, Bheenti Chitra, and
Chitra art from different states are taught.
We have craft classes such as Clay
modelling, Papercraft, M-Seal craft, Bottle painting and designing, Macrame,
Crochet, Fridge magnets, Quilling, Tie-dye, and more.
The students are right from 5-year-olds to teenagers and adults. The courses for kids are well structured to enhance their creative development, their drawing, and colouring skills along with observation skills.
What are the different drawing and colouring techniques you focus on?
I focus on drawing and colouring skills, perspective,
shapes, standing lines, sleeping lines, and zig-zag lines. The way we draw a
perfect circle with our hands shows how confident we are. We discuss colours
from the same family, colours from different family, and primary, secondary, or
tertiary colours. We teach the kids to combine shapes to create an object.
Tell us how your creative drawing class sessions develop wholistic skills in the student.
The student first draws and colours a picture. Then
they write a story about the picture. Then they make a colour shade card of the
different shades of colours used in the painting. Finally, to improve their
public speaking skills, I make them narrate the story. So, it is a complete
package that includes drawing, story writing, storytelling, and colour shades
awareness.
What are the different types of students you have?
I teach around 30 kids now. There are 4 kids in a
batch. I have students both in India and abroad. Three or 4 students are from
Texas. I have a student in Alaska also. Some children learn slowly, some quickly,
and there are ADHD students. One student never follows instructions. If I say
draw the Sun’s rays from the top, he says it comes sideways. We have to talk
about overlapping, composition, and line of horizon.
There may be accents and a bit of vocabulary changes
in different parts of the world. But, children are the same all over. I conduct
both online and offline classes. I use a laptop and a phone for my online
classes. The software used is Google meet or Zoom. Then I use a stand, pen, and
paper for drawing.
Have you conducted any online workshops and real-time exhibitions?
I have conducted online workshops on pencil shading
for online groups Coto and TapArtist using Zoom. Have launched many exhibitions
with the paintings of students at the Ambassador Pallava Hotel. Have conducted
many offline workshops also.
 |
| Clay Modelling |
What advice would you like to give to women who want to start art classes?
Go ahead and start. The advantage of being an
entrepreneur is you decide when and how much to work. The disadvantage is you
have to do all the admin work apart from teaching.
 |
| Tribal Art from Madhya Pradesh |
My husband has a florist shop and we are involved in
wedding decorations and other events. I have a son and a daughter. My daughter
is an advocate in Chennai High Court.
No comments:
Post a Comment