Parents, family and friends gathered this past weekend to recognize the achievements of our students over the last year at our Year End Celebration. Congratulations to our award winners and students for all of their dedication and hard work. Here are a few pictures from the event:
We recently sat down with artist Duaa Zaheer, who is an instructor here at Visual Arts Brampton, to learn more about her and how she encourages creativity.
What do you do at VAB?
I am one of the art instructors for the Art Through Crafts program. I teach basic art fundamentals lessons to young kids from ages 6 to 8 on Saturday mornings. My goal is to provide my students with a basic understanding and knowledge of the fundamentals of art while making the lessons fun and interactive.
What is the best thing about your role at VAB?
I really enjoy working with the kids and seeing them learn and grow before my eyes. I especially love it when they get very excited about a project or they remember something we learned in the past and apply it to their current projects. Teaching these kids is the best part of my role at VAB.
What did you do before VAB?
When I first started teaching at VAB, I had just graduated from the one-year Art Fundamentals program at Sheridan College. I had volunteered with children in the past; child care at the local community center and being the teacher's assistant at an art camp. Currently, I am studying Interaction Design at Sheridan College, but I do enjoy creating art in my spare time.
When did you join VAB?
I became an official member of the VAB Team during Summer 2016. However, I did take some Art Fundamentals classes myself during the summer of 2015. I wanted to improve my art skills and VAB was the perfect environment for me to do so comfortably.
We recently sat down with artist Colleen Dee, who is an instructor and current president here at Visual Arts Brampton, to learn more about her and how she encourages creativity.
When did you join VAB?
I joined VAB about 3 years ago as a VAB Member then as an instructor and finally a board member.
Why did you join VAB?
My art studio had been used as storage and not presently available after returning from 5 years of living in Vietnam teaching art. So I needed a place to do art and I wanted to belong to an art community where you speak the same language.
What is the best thing about your role at VAB?
As an instructor I teach all levels of art from the very young to learn to draw adult programs, and it is very rewarding. The other great thing about my role here at VAB is linking up with fellow artists to show their work through our Artway Invitational Gallery.
Why should someone join VAB?
For ANY reason! Art community, have a routine for doing your art, friendships. You name it.
How did you get into art?
I started like most kids - doing cartoons. Then the cartoons turned into cards then cards became paintings. It made me the happiest to make and do art.
We recently sat down with comic artist Jeff Baker to learn more about him and how he encourages creativity.
What is your favourite part of VAB?
VAB is a very welcoming place, and they really provide the student with the tools and knowledge they need to grow as an artist, regardless of a person's prior experience or skill level.
What is the best thing about your role at VAB?
I really love seeing the ways that kid's minds work as they put together stories and images. I've run comic workshops with adults too, but kids comics are always better and more creative.
What did you do before VAB?
I was a youth worker/pastor with the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec. I have a double major BA in Philosophy and Theology from Tyndale University College and Seminary.
What are your specialties?
I'm mostly self taught when it comes to comics, and I would just draw and imitate the comics I was reading as a kid, so as a lover of Golden Age comics I have a knack for drawing in the style of Jack Kirby, and since I was a kid in the 90's that crossed over and blended with the style of the Kubert brothers and Todd McFarlane. I'm very anatomy centered and have a good understanding of the way the muscles in the body work together.
Visual Arts Brampton