Studio Structures - Students at Work

Students at Work is one of the studio structures within the Studio Thinking Framework.We've been visiting your classrooms to observe the physical studio space in your building, see students at work and witness your practice. We feel very lucky to be invited in. Thank you for opening your doors and thank you to your students for letting us ask questions and take pictures.

Catherine Tanner: "Everyone needs a white piece of paper. This is going

to be your little sketch book. You can look out the window at the trees"

Intense observation. This kindergarten boy in Catherine Tanner's class

stared intently at this butterfly for a very long time. He was enthralled.

There is remarkable concentration and focus going on at Lincoln Park

H.S. in both Beth's and Didi's classrooms. Students are disciplined

and honest as they provide feedback to each other in an informal way.

Beth walks around the room and talks to students about their work. Beth says,

"Remember you want to have your ink bottles up in front of you. I know it’s

hard so practice as much as you can. By tomorrow we’re going to phase 2.

You’ve got time to experiment. If you need to spread out, you can. Like I said,

practice as much as possible."

A student says to another student at their table

Student: "Your hair is not like that. You’re more smiley than that.

It’s looking less and less like you. Your eyebrows don’t go like

this." (she points downward)

Beth: "Take time to look at your distinguishing features."

Didi leans in to examine an image.

Didi: "I need a bit more information. What is it that you

want to show?"

Didi: "A sky scrapper?"

Student: "Oh, I can go up."

Didi: "You might have to glue this on to make it stronger."

Students at work in Didi's Studio Drawing class. Students are

creating 20 different cards based on a theme.