Welcome to the Art Room of Justin Kramer North Lakes State College, Queensland, Australia "There is no must in art because art is free." ~ Wassily Kandinsky Justin is now at North Lakes State College, a P-12 school. He teaches grades 6 and up. Work on these pages was done by students in Justin's former school, Dakabin State High School. Justin moved on to North Lakes State College in 2005 - it was the first year that it opened its doors to middle school. Last year was very successful in that they won two regional art competitions with a huge prize pool that has supported an on going artist-in-residence program. Students also walked away with first prize awards. They were also successful in a $15000 grant for an artist in residence program to build a sculpture with electronics in it out front of the school. Students are also having their  first public exhibition in a regional gallery this year. An artist contacted Justin last year and has worked with students for an exhibition that goes for the whole month of June (2006).

UNIT: Surface and Reflection

Body Painting - Surface Design: The aim of this work was to expose students to the concept of surface and reflection. This is one body of work from a series of different media approaches to their investigated concepts. This unit has included body painting, ceramics, Andy Goldsworthy ephemeral installation works, multi layered works on paper, batiking on paper, collograph prints and monoprints.

Click on the images for a a larger view

The body paintings were taking on interpretations of surface as a membrane, skin deep, what is hidden and what is revealed, re-mapping the surface and the readings of images on the body and what these could reflect. All of these works are experimental. The body paint was actual body paint. The students first laid a foundation colour. These come in a huge range of colours and depending on quality can be expense as per quantity. After choices of foundation colors were laid down,  surface images were added on top using body/face paint. The main items used were sponges (natural preferred but small synthetic ones used for make up application are also fine), paint brushes (the synthetic type that keep their point and bounce back into shape when used), old towel, foundation colour and body/face paint ...and of course a willing model.

The big benefit of the artist coming and doing the demonstration and talking about her practice gave the students a great insight - the major one was when they started to ask about fees and income. The artist, Ria Willering, also has a back ground in theatre and mentioned links to the entertainment industry - I kept adding in examples such as the Xman characters - something which I knew the students could relate to.

Multi layered works on paper, batiking on paper, and prints



Each work has a different conceptual, media and technical approach. Each student has made about 9 works each. This is a sample of the works

Artist for Reference:  Ria Willering See some of her work  More Art Work
Examples of Ria Willering's Body painting art 

Note: Art work on this page is by students at Dakabin State High School. Justin now teaches at North Lakes State College.