Ellie Kennedy
My Teaching Philosophy
As an artist and an educator, my teaching philosophy is rooted in the beef that creativity is developed from lived experiences, observations and emotional maturity. In my own ast practice, I explore memory, domestic space and the quiet ways in which we are cared for, and how this shapes identity. These personal themes inform the ways I choose to teach. I aim to create a classroom atmosphere where students feel safe to explore the familiar, overlooked and the deeply felt aspects of their lives as the foundation of meaningful art making. I aim to encourage students to view and engage with their surroundings, their homes, routines, relationships, as lives in general. These concepts make rich and meaningful sources of visual and conceptual material.
01
Local Kids Art Classes
I regularly take part in facilitating children's art classes and camps. I have worked with other local artists, my local art centre (South Tipperary Arts Centre) and the Clonmel Junction Festival, to create and run engaging art classes for young people aged 2-14.
02
Industrialising Nature
I worked with a group of 2nd year students on a project inspired by the nature of their local area and how industrialisation influences this. We worked on this project for 8 weeks, starting with natural vs man made primary sources. The students worked in groups of 3 and 4 to create large scale abstract sculptures that combined machine parts with wire to create natural elements, such as plants and flowers.
03
Natures Imprint
I worked with first year students to create a collaborative magazine that included a layered Lino print from each student. We visited a local wooded area and students brought back primary sources that may have sparked or triggered a personal memory. They then used these objects to create a simplified Lino design which was then layered to represent the layers of personal experiences and memories. Each print was accompanied by a short written piece describing their chosen memory.