MAKE YOUR OWN ART SCHOOL
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Some of you who read our blog post from Spring this year will know we ran our first online/offline school with Rabbits Road Press friends at the start of 2020. This Winter we wanted to offer it up to the public, with a simple goal, to complete an unfinished piece of artwork that they had been putting off.
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This blog post and guide to making your own art school is available as a fuller PDF, click below to view.
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A quick rundown for anyone who is new to this space, ‘Rabbits Road Press: Online/Offline School’ is a one-week ‘alternative’ art school designed to support people at any stage in their career. The school is run by artists and educators Sofia Niazi, Rosalie Schweiker and myself, Lisa Rahman. The aim being to create an encouraging environment to finish off a piece of work, with support of a rough schedule to help create a routine, and some other helpful activities.
What I realised from both online versions of the school is that it means something different to everyone, as Rosalie said to me today, “when you work with people who you have full trust in, it creates for an instant sense of ease in a space where good things happen”. So, rather than share my own observations, I wanted to hand this space back to the attendees who make the schools what they are. Here’s what they had to say about our Winter Edition:
“Rabbits Road Press: Winter School felt like slipping out of real life momentarily and entering a space made up of creativity and care, where there wasn't even any pressure to produce something by the end of it. What I took away from the week, wasn't remotely what I was expecting. I was set on being productive and finishing a specific illustration project. Eventually I let go of the pressure I was putting on myself and the ideas I had about what I was 'good' at. Taking the lead from my fellow Winter Schoolers, I instead let myself just show up, explore and see what would happen. By the end of the week I'd completely scrapped the original idea I'd come with, and surprised myself by submitting more writing than visuals. I miss the morning zoom calls and chats, which set the days up beautifully. But the feeling of freedom and the confidence I gained from this Winter School is something I will try to keep for a much longer creative journey. ” - Winter School Attendee 1
“It’s a safe space to share ideas and experiments, with regular check-ins, recommendations and encouraging chats” - Winter School Attendee 2
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Winter School as it has given me the structure to my day and helped me along the track of making something I’ve been wanting to for a while. The morning zoom calls were enjoyable and easy going, everyone was friendly and seemed interested in what each other had to say plus I got to meet a group full of talented and kind people. I’d love to take part again in the future.” - Winter School Attendee 3
In a year of disconnect from so much of what we’re used to daily I massively appreciate what a rare space something like this school offers. Focusing on the attendees' work alone would do a disservice to the experience of just existing in a space that didn’t put pressure on productivity and output or for that to exist publicly. What I loved this year was how varied all the projects were: from photography stories, sound files, Risograph print booklets, paintings, video moodboards, written word and plant care for wellbeing.
Sofia, Rosalie and I would like to encourage you to make your own “schools” with your friends, colleagues, collaborators and in order to help you to do so here’s a quick breakdown of our Winter School edition:
1. Getting Started
Sum up your aims for the week in one sentence and add it to the class list
Prepare your materials for the week, work in whichever medium/s you like
Engage as much or as little as you like (option to attend morning Zooms with your camera off)
Connect with the joy in making because it feels good to do so
Be ready to share something you’ve made/learned in the Friday Review Gdoc
Make your own schedule for the week. Each attendee is advised to dedicate a minimum of 2 hours each day to completing their work ("something that can be finished in 10 hours, keep it real")
2. House Rules:
Practice not perfection
Own your words and actions
Take care of your own needs
Sister Cortia Kent is one of our great inspirations - see her rules from Immaculate Heart College.
3. TELEGRAM CHAT:
A space for ongoing chats and check-ins
Featuring RRP stickers
An encouraging environment to continue on the conversations we might be having in the week. E.g. This is the book reading at the moment, these are foam prints I’ve been doing, or today I’m escaping into nature and having a day at the beach
A window into each others environments
It can also be a space to share work in progress
4. SOUND BITE:
Sofia uploads an audio file/podcast link at 8am daily, these have been recommended by RRP Winter School staff
5. ZOOM CHAT:
Facilitated coffee + stretch club on Zoom from 10-11am run by Rosalie. Other Zoom activities include:
“Can you show us something joyful in your home?”
Awkward zoom silences (it’s OK)
Tag each other to answer a simple question like: “What do you need to do today? / How did it go yesterday?”
Totally OK to leave your camera off and use chat - experiment with what feels comfortable
“The Slow Goodbye” is leaving your Zoom camera on for 10 minutes at the end whilst people carry on with their day…
6. TUTORIALS:
1:1 mid-week tutorial with Art Director Lisa Rahman
30 - 40 minute slots
A space to have “Desk Chat” - the type of creative conversations and brainstorms you would have around a table in an art studio
Teasing out lateral forms of inspiration
Tools to reconnect with our creativity by finding out what it was about our practise pre 2020 that helped with our grounding
7. FRIDAY REVIEW:
Upload any work from the week that you would like to share, use 3 pages max, feel free to include an artwork description/thoughts
“Private View” begins from 6-9pm. See what everyone has been up to and add comments/feedback
Bring your own snacks
Words and Design: Lisa Rahman (ig: @lisrah), Illustrations: Rosalie Schweiker (ig: @rosalieschweiker), Introduction text: Sofia Niazi (ig: @sofia_niazi)