Describe an art or craft activity that you had in school (Part 2/3)

Speaking Part 2

Describe an art or craft activity that you had in school

You should say:

• What did you make?

• How did you make it?

• What did it look like?

• And how did you feel about the activity?

Sample Answer

Arts and crafts did not fall under the most popular activity among my friends and other schoolmates, yet I was always inclined towards such creative escapades. The form of art that stimulated me the most was painting, and here I would like to talk about this art form and my experience with different painting styles and themes that I came across and learnt during school. Initially, the artworks that I came across in school textbooks never really struck a chord with me, and neither did I put much thought into them or what they were trying to portray. However, my perspective dramatically changed after our art teacher showed us a replica of a brilliant painting by M. F. Husain. Although the painting was a mere imitation, the eccentric imagery, which was oddly captivating, fascinated me like no other piece of art had done until that point in my life. Subsequently, my curiosity about this art form increased with time as I came across more stunning artworks through different sources. The first painting I made was in the 9th grade when we were asked to create something about our country, and the best artworks were to be published in our school newspaper on Independence Day. I was thrilled by this opportunity and put my heart and soul into creating a canvas painting with watercolours that would impress my teachers and classmates. Happily, I was able to convey my patriotism through my work, which depicted the Indian Army as they hoisted our national flag at our borders. My art teacher was delighted to see my painting and recommended it to the editing team of my school newspaper. The entire experience of painting my first piece of art was enriching, and I have considered painting and sketching my passion ever since.

Vocabulary

• Escapades
  Meaning: An action that involves excitement and adventure
  Eg: The travellers had several stories regarding their thrilling escapades.
• Portray
  Meaning: depict (someone or something) in a work of art or literature
  Eg: The work of this artist portrays his vulnerability.
• Fascinate
  Meaning: attract the strong attention and interest of (someone)
  Eg: The on-lookers were fascinated by the magician’s jaw-dropping tricks.
• Captivating
  Meaning: capable of attracting and holding interest
  Eg: The paintings of Salvador Dali are captivating.
• Enriching
  Meaning: improve or enhance the quality or value of
  Eg: The meditation classes were an enriching experience.

Speaking Part 3

1. What kinds of traditional handicrafts are there in your country?
   India, the country that I hail from, is one of the richest countries in regards to handicrafts. The countless indigenous handiworks and textiles are a significant part of Indian culture. Some of the well-known traditional handiworks include the Pashmina shawls from Kashmir, the exquisite woodworks of the northern regions including Punjab, painted pottery from the state of Rajasthan and the jute handicrafts from Bengal. The popularity of Indian handicrafts is so widespread that such products have a huge demand across the world.
2. Should children learn more about art? / What are the benefits of making handcrafts?
   Art should be an essential part of a child’s learning phase. It originates from the creative space in our minds and is the only discipline that cannot be taught using a defined system. Proficiency in a particular work of art can only be achieved through self-interest and one’s creative skills. Therefore, encouraging children to learn and develop an interest in any kind of art or craft is bound to enhance their creativity.
3. Why do some people think it is difficult to understand art?
   It is a common belief that art is not everyone’s cup of tea. Although the rationale behind this idea is simple and understandable to a certain extent, such notions are one-sided in nature. It is a well-known fact that art is entirely subjective. A piece of art can remarkably impact an individual, whereas the same can end up making no sense to another individual. Thus, when people are unable to decipher an artist’s creation, they deem their work as incomprehensible and even illogical.
4. What can we do to make young people pay more attention to traditional art?
   With changing times, the interests of the youth are also changing. The activities that engrossed our previous generations have become uneventful to the younger population in this era. Thus, to pique the interest of younger people in traditional art, such creative activities must be presented in a modern way. The activities popular among the youth must be amalgamated with fine arts. Arts and crafts contests must be held in school and college festivals. Information and knowledge about different artworks must be integrated with popular culture to grab the attention of the younger generation.
5. Do you think it’s important to cultivate an appreciation of art in children?
   In my opinion, introducing children to art and educating them to admire the creative mastery in great works of art is crucial in the development of their personalities. If a child is always engaged in school work and theoretical disciplines, their knowledge is bound to remain limited. Developing a keen interest in any art form is a gateway to discovering further areas of interest. At the same time, being devoid of any artistic awareness can also lead to a person lagging in social interactions. Thus, children should be encouraged to follow their preferred works of art from an early age.
6. Do you think art should be included in school curriculums? Why?
   I believe that arts and crafts should be made a compulsory subject in the school curriculum. Although many schools include such disciplines in their curriculum, proper schooling is not provided to students in regards to art. There are several reasons why arts and crafts should be given more emphasis during a child’s education. Firstly, they promote creativity and help children artistically express themselves. Secondly, they also help children discover their passion and even their preferred vocation. Furthermore, such activities help children balance their time between schoolwork and creative pursuits.

Vocabulary

• Indigenous
  Meaning: originating or occurring naturally in a particular place
  Eg: This form of art is indigenous to India
• Decipher
  Meaning: succeed in understanding, interpreting, or identifying
  Eg: The detective was unable to decipher the criminal’s intentions.
• Incomprehensible
  Meaning: not able to be understood
  Eg: The handwriting on this particular answer script was incomprehensible.
• Amalgamated
  Meaning: combine or unite to form one organization or structure.
  Eg: This movie perfectly amalgamated the current political scenario and the director’s opinions.