May 14^th, 2008

Although my college education and professional experience has consisted primarily of engineering, I have always been involved with art. It was a nice surprise to learn that I would have two internships through the Armenian Volunteer Corps, one utilizing my engineering and construction experience, and another focusing on artistic interests. Two days a week I work at Pats Hamalsaran (“Open University”) where I assist Samvel, the Dean of the institution, in classes consisting of first year students. The institute focuses on fine arts and art history but I have been primarily involved in portrait classes due to my experience with oil painting. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday there is an open studio from 6pm – 8pm which I attend whenever possible. The faculty has been very respectful of my position in Armenia as a volunteer, and extremely supportive of my desire to be involved with the art community. I believe the best way to express my experience thus far is through the following journal entries:

4/11/08

For the first time I actually made my own art supplies. Clay, with my own hands, was made from pounding stones of Armenian and Russian mountains into dust, adding a watery mixture and kneading to a proper consistency. My day began at 10am at the art institute translated as “Open University”. I assisted Samvel in his first class by helping students use various tools to construct their projects. Later I assisted with a clay project and then made my own clay for use next week. Wednesday I will assist in a portrait class from 11-2PM, and then from 3-6PM create my own work to be used as a demonstration for the studio from 6-8PM; this hardly seems like work. Samvel is a really great guy with a good sense of humor. He’s very talented, as I could see when he invited me to join his students while he sketched various portraits using the students as models. I seemed to be of great interest to the 17-18 year old students that giggled and laughed as they tried to speak English. Curiosity is expected with the kamavor New Yorktsi.

4/17/08

Eager eyes feel upon me as they handed me the paintbrush. Samvel had already completed the part of the Master class in which he paints a portrait and the students watch. The students then follow suit and use the remaining class time to work jointly on a similar painting. Samvel painted a rough outline of the figure and then before leaving the room asked me to paint the details of the face. A faint glimpse of anxiety crept upon me as I grabbed the brush and began painting, for the first time with an audience, but it quickly submerged.

The students circled behind me and offered little suggestions while watching. They filled my palette with fresh paint and earlier had brought me coffee; similar to the respect I’ve seen most students exhibit towards their teachers in Armenia. Throughout the process I occasionally doubted success while using a new medium and for the first time, a live model. Nonetheless things came together and I left the students with the beginning of a successful painting that they all seemed eager to continue with.

The previous day I began work on my first sculpture. The drawing I used as a representation of what I wanted to sculpt seemed to intrigue both Samvel and the students. One by one some students would bring their friends and ask to see my sketch. I had already created a scaled-down replica of the would-be sculpture which was also closely examined.

In an exchange of personal portfolios I learned that many students had created artwork representing their soul, and at times depression. I found the ease at which they would talk about such personal subjects very interesting. A creative aura often persists in the studio, exemplified by when some students danced during a break in class.

4/27/08

Due to my new desire to draw live models, stemming from experiences at the art institute, I asked to draw Vahagn, my host brother. He had never been drawn before and sat quietly while I sketched an interesting composition in which he gazed upward and to the right. His father, Gevorg was very proud of the sketch and it hasn’t yet been removed from the wall. The sketch of Vahagn, being the second portrait I’ve drawn from a live model, is the beginning of much needed, and much enjoyed practice.