PROVINCETOWN — Eighth-graders and their families and friends came together in the school cafeteria on Saturday, Jan. 28 for a drawing workshop with artist Mark Adams. The class will travel to London in May — part of the school’s International Baccalaureate experience — and they will be selling their artwork, along with works by other local artists, on Feb. 11 and 12 at the Provincetown Commons to help fund the trip.
“We did several exercises,” Adams said, “the same ones I use with any field sketching class.” Adams volunteered his teaching talents that day, said School Supt. Gerry Goyette.
“We start with blind contour — an approach that relies on focus and observation, following contours with your eye while your hand moves across the page,” Adams said. In a second exercise, crayons were used to make a bold resist with watercolor washes, resulting in strong drawings with just a few strokes.
“Mark invited folks to simply explore with materials,” said Nancy Flasher, the school’s community connections and field studies coordinator who helped organize the day. “Minds and hearts were wide open,” she said.
Adams agreed: “The room had a momentum of its own, needing little from me.”
Some parents, uncles, and aunts were more reserved, though, starting off with apologies for their lack of skill, Adams said. But then “they proceeded to do drawings with great energy and observation — maybe the encouragement of having their kids working alongside them spurred them on.
“I think we all enjoyed being beginners,” Adams added. “Thanks to the fearlessness of all involved, we made dozens of cool drawings.” —Teresa Parker
Art With Heart
The event: Show and sale of student and community artworks to support the Provincetown IB Schools middle-years trip to London
The time: Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 11 and 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The place: The Provincetown Commons, 46 Bradford St.
The cost: Free; each piece of student art is $50
