Creations fired by freedom

Creativity exists within everyone - it simply needs to be tapped. So believes the Principal of Cora Abraham Art Classes Trust, Nalini Weerasinghe. The work of her students provide a glimpse of their creative magic and exceptional skills.

Students of the school founded over five decades ago by the celebrated artist Cora Abraham will display their work at an exhibition at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery from December 20th to the 22nd. The event will feature over 300 creations ranging from paintings, sculptures, design, mixed media compositions to drawings, all fuelled by freedom of self expression.

“Art education is a personality-building process,” explains Ms. Weerasinghe of their sessions at the school which she insists are not merely art classes. “We want our students to think for themselves and make decisions,” she says adding “when children are given freedom to create, they become confident and well-balanced people.”

However it has been an uphill task for the art teacher to convince parents who were of the impression that nothing can be done without being taught. Ms. Weerasinghe firmly believes that whatever her students become in the future, freedom to express themselves in any form of creative activity would enable them to grow from being timid ordinary children into strong, well-integrated people, perhaps leaders in their chosen profession, be it in architecture, painting, sculpture, designing or any other field.

Reiterating that art education gives children a chance to be creative, she explains that at their school they do not teach but provide students with material and point to them beautiful aspects of nature – that they feel inspired enough to paint. Their guidance involves instructions to observe shapes, colours and textures of things and an explanation of the use of acrylics, powder, charcoal, crayons, etc.

Seniors, who are encouraged to attempt life drawing, use live models and through trial and error understand the proportions of objects.

They are also often required to view works of other great artists in their library and study the techniques used. It is often the case that students elsewhere have to conform to rules they do not understand, especially when they have to copy a drawing or are given strict instructions on painting an object. A student’s artistic ability should be nurtured through encouragement. “If you have talent but are asked to copy other’s work then you are not alive,” Ms. Weerasinghe warns, adding if a child does that, he loses creative energy instantly. Among the paintings featured at the exhibition are works of young artists ranging from four years to fifteen and depicting various environmental scenes - roof tops, the garden and portraits.

The 16 teachers at the centre who conduct sessions on weekdays between 4 and 6 and on weekends from 8-12 ensure that students are given individual attention. Classes are conducted periodically for teachers with a focus on ‘How to draw from a child’ and ‘to understand how to help a child use his/her creative talent’.

Whether they paint their garden or the Bolgoda Lake, the works on display at the exhibition are the students’ own creations - experiments with colour and shade. Fresh and beautiful, these vibrant pieces certainly reflect their freedom.