Still Lives: Year 11 Observational Drawing from the Age of Lockdown

Observational drawing has always been a cornerstone of the teaching of art.

This exhibition celebrates the observational drawing work of twelve Year Eleven students from the current 2021 Chenderit School cohort. The drawings were completed over the last fifteen months and in that respect these students are the same as countless others who have gone before them. For this cohort of students though, their experience has been very different. These students have faced two national lockdowns; their normal routines and expectations have been disrupted; they have experienced remote learning; they have had to be more independent than they thought possible.

The term “still life” has, for these students and many more like them, taken on a new meaning in this last year. Lives have been put on hold, while we await the next announcement or rule change. For some individuals, lockdowns have been challenging. There was uncertainty, tension and hardship. For others, it was a time to pause and reflect and to recognise what was important. These students have used that extra independent time available to develop their skills and to practise their drawing. These students have stepped up to the challenge and have excelled. The drawings here are testament to their hard work and focus.