2nd Observation at VYAS
The research at Vosler Young Artists Studio is progressing very well. Today I was able to interview one of the two students that were present and Mrs. Vosler at the end of class. I was able to see the engagement students have with their work and how they focus on seeing and drawing the three-dimensional sculpted cast.
As music plays in the background the students rarely talk as they work because they are so focused on what they are doing. Mrs. Vosler talks to the students one on one to help them in areas she sees they can improve on in their drawing. “Drop darker value into the dark shadow and add a light shape” Mrs. Vosler stated to Oliver after she explained the lights and shadows that are seen on the cast. Mrs. Vosler came over to where I was standing to tell me more about the school and how it functions. She told me that she sends out a supply list to the parents, that’s reasonable, and keeps the supplies in the studio. Her method to make sure parents did not spend more money than what they would for other after-school activities like, cheerleading, gymnastics, etc. pertains to comparing the local after-school activities’ cost to the actual material needs of the drawing program. I thought this was important for me to consider when I send home a supply list for my students. As she talked with me she scanned the room to make sure the two students were doing okay. She went over to one of the students, Kim and talked with her about getting the right value on her drawing. She praises the students for the good work they had accomplished. She came back over to me and explained the first thing the students created in the drawing program, which was a value scale. When the students completed it she would then get it laminated and they would place a hole punch in the middle of each value square. She went on to tell me that Oliver has been in the program for three years and Kate for two years.
My learning experience during this observation was to be more familiar and relaxed during my interviews. I was not very thrilled with my presence during the recorded interviews because I seemed nervous and it wasn’t helpful for the interviewee. I also need to do a better job with directing the interview and provide examples for the questions I am asking.
*Although I conducted my reseach with real people, I used pseudo-names to protect their confidentiality.