Angel at the Emily Carr Summer Institute

Because of her love of art and creativity, Christy-Anna Chung '19 participated in Emily Carr University of Art And Design’s Summer Institute for Teens last summer, which gave her the chance to deeply explore a wide realm of creative possibilities. Read about her experiences in the interview that follows.
 
What did you study?
Christy-Anna: Painting, as well as Visual Culture and Professional Practice, taught by Emily Carr University professors. These intensive courses lasted for 4 weeks, 5 hours a day. 
 
Why did you decide to apply for this program?
Christy-Anna: I love fine art and I really wanted to improve my techniques and mature as an artist. My older brother really enjoyed the program, so I’ve always looked forward to going when I was old enough. 
 
Where were the other participants from? 
Christy-Anna: Places like Japan, Mexico, the United States, and other parts of Canada. I really liked getting to know everyone. I’d recognize faces around the campus, and became good friends with those in my studio.
 
What did you enjoy most?
Christy-Anna: Being surrounded by people who were as passionate about art as I was, and being able to create art everyday in such an intensive manner. Also, learning in-depth about art history and the relationship between art and culture.
 
Can you describe some of the things you learned?
Christy-Anna: The painting classes were intensive simply because I was not used to painting for that long, and because of the amount we learned. I was pretty tired after the day was over. For example, we learned about line and mass, colour theory, mixing chromatic greys, viscosity of paint, shape, human anatomy, drapery and relief, colour fields, splitting the brush, and composition. I learned so much about painting techniques, and also grew as an artist. I began to develop the ideas and meaning behind my pieces more and more, and I can see that progression in my final project which was part of the final exhibition. 

Visual Culture was like a university class, an auditorium lecture by a Vancouver Art Gallery curator and then a seminar with a TA.  We covered topics in Art History, as well as how to analyze work, different movements and issues in the world, and how art is connected to these ideas.
In Professional Practice, we learned practicalities of an artist, such as how to write artist’s statements, planning an exhibition, and effectively photographing work for our portfolios. We also learned about public art, and how to pitch ideas. 
 
And lastly, why do you enjoy creating art?
Christy-Anna: There is just something inside of me that loves creating art. If I try to put it into words, there would be four main reasons. 
a) It’s a form of expression and I’m a very visual person. I've become a lot better at public speaking over time, but it still scares me, and art is a way to express myself without words. 
b)  It’s the most accurate and precise way that I can convey my ideas. I can take my idea and translate it exactly onto paper for one to interpret. Also, I like how everyone can interpret a piece of work and gain completely different meanings, ideas, and stories. Even though it may not be what the artist intended, a painting can still have an impact on the viewer. 
c)  I see art as innovation. Think about all of the different styles of fine art that there are, cubism, pop art, ready mades, etc, and the innovation behind them. These styles required enormous amounts of creativity and brilliance, and creating art gives me the opportunity to create something that otherwise had not existed. 
d)  The process - starting with an idea, finding a way to convey it by sketching it out, and then applying the paint. Sometimes I find that you are not in control of what you create, but rather the painting takes charge and becomes itself. It can transform into something completely different than you originally thought.
Back

School Information

4195 Alexandra Street, Vancouver, BC V6J 4C6
Tel: 604-738-9016
Support LFA | Contact Us | School Calendar

Social

Search