Three years have passed since I last attended Bradford School of Art as a level 3 Art and Design student and much has been happening since that time. I was pleased to return to college this month to give new art students there a morning workshop on my form of environmental art.
The 35 students who attended the session were from the first and second year UAL Level 3 Art and Design groups and it was good to hear that the theme of sustainability is a focus of their studies so the recycling aspect is very relevant. I remember when I was studying how my sketch books were always completely full of ideas on how to use recycled materials to create form and texture:
I explained to the class that when I was a student at the college, I was given work experience with the manufacturers of the scratch cards in Leeds. I suggested an idea for a scratch card for the Dutch market, based on birdlife and nature:
At the workshop I explained how the tutor had encouraged my other main interest, which was learning new techniques of photography in the dark room. My sketch books also show my keenness for trees and nature.
I would also combine photography with encaustic wax, a skill I gained working with Brian Nelson at Elsecar Heritage Centre near Barnsley. It became a therapeutic hobby for me to work with natural bees wax and it combined well with my interest in collage.
Playing a short film clip to students about my recent work for Great British Racing.
This came about as a result of my first commission received when I was a student at the college. I was asked to create 4 pieces of artwork to support the 2019 marketing campaign of sustainability at Pontefract Racecourse.
For the workshop I brought along a large selection of materials with me, some of which I had already pre-cut into small strips or hole-punched ready for the students to use in their own artwork.
The students were very focused and enjoyed the photo collage activity of adding texture to give a 3D look to nature photography. I explained to the group that I use thin strips of different fabrics placed next to each other for bark. Gold and silver threads are good for highlighting parts of the collage.
After showing the class examples of some of my original collages, I explained how I work with small pieces of paper from recycled scratch cards, packaging material and magazines etc.
This is my collage of the David Hockney Building made from hundreds of small strips of colourful recycled papers, foil and string.
It was great to see the thought that went into their work and I hope that the students felt they gained something from the session.
I would like to thank Bradford School of Art for this opportunity. Thanks also to my tutor for these words he wrote below about me:
James was a highly engaged and focussed student, during his time with us on the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Art & Design, at Bradford School of Art. His grades reflected this. He arrived with an innate fascination in art and art making. It was clear to see the influence other artists, such as Hockney, had had on his own inimitable style. Whilst collage was and still is very much James’ favoured approach, he would grasp the opportunity to develop his ideas using a wide range of different techniques and processes. Experimental darkroom and analogue print were areas where James excelled. It is no surprise that only a few years after completing his studies with us James has gone on to great things; an award-winning artist with his own gallery. It is an honour to have played a small part in the nurturing of his talent.
Mike Tipping
M.Ed
Course Leader UAL Level 3 Art & Design (Creative Practice) Diploma
Lecturer in Photography and Art & Design
Bradford School of Art (Bradford College)
C19 Lister Building
Bradford BD7 1AY
