Lauren Dorman '89
The 2013 season launched with the return of TASIS England alumna Lauren Dorman '89, whose first forays into art began here at the school. A professional artist and illustrator, Lauren has worked as a freelance wildlife artist, illustrated several publications, and exhibited in group and solo shows. An active conservationist, she works with the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, which raises awareness and funds for some of the most threatened species on Earth. The paintings and sketchbooks in her Fleming Gallery exhibit, (in) sight, presented an artist's view of the power, personality, and presence of animals on the endangered list, from primates and big cats to elephants and rhinoceroses. Lauren gained a deep understanding of her subjects' behavior by observing them for hours in their natural habitats and by working closely with organizations dedicated to their preservation.
During the weeklong session, Lauren set up a studio in the gallery and worked on a painting so students could see the progression of the the creative process, from the first sketches on canvas to the final oil painting of an African dog.
Each workshop began with a short presentation on the depiction of animals in art, spanning from the Stone Age to present day, to show that we have always looked to nature for inspiration and to gain a deeper understanding of our place in it. Lower School students drew animals in class and learned about drawing from observation. Workshops in Middle School covered wet-on-wet watercolor technique to capture movement, light, and flow, and students also worked from observation with animal images. In the Upper School, students created sketches from pieces in the exhibit and discussed the work in detail.
Lauren spoke about her own artistic process and emphasized how important it is to find out "what excites you, what you are passionate about." She also observed that passion alone is not enough to sustain a creative path. Her advice? "Take time to study your subject matter, constantly be open to learn more, and sketch as much as possible.
"I'd like students to take away the idea that you should look at everything and pursue what fascinates you. Once they find their subject, I urge them to put it in context and to study the history behind it and its relevance today. If we open up to the idea that everything is connected, we can learn more about ourselves and our place in the world. I hope they see that work evolves through careful study, playing with ideas, and constantly learning. I also hope they have fun, try new media and materials, experiment, be brave, and make mistakes.
It was a thrill to come back to TASIS England and experience the school from the other side. The school has evolved greatly since my time here - with new buildings and grounds, fantastic facilities and many more programs on offer, such as the IB. The Visual Arts program has undergone significant transformation thanks to John Smalley and his fabulous team. They have built an inspiring creative space, and you can see it reflected in the quality of work produced by the students. He also has such vision with the gallery space - displaying the work in such a way that it becomes an active experience. What has remained the same is the incredible mix of engaged students and teachers from all over the world working in a stimulating environment. I have such happy memories of being at TASIS England and stuyding in a place that was nurturing and challenging. I always felt that I was treated as an individual, that I mattered. I can see that this continues to this day. But trust me, the food is much better!"
This article first appeared in the TASIS England Today, Autumn 2013 edition.