Many of our teachers at Xavier College come to us with a plethora of life experience to share. Felicity Renaudin and Martin Tighe, Art Teachers at Kostka Hall Campus, have both worked as professional artists throughout their careers.
In their roles as teachers, they have made every effort to use their skills and experiences to create unique learning opportunities for the students.
Felicity Renaudin
I spent the first few years of my life in London where my parents worked as graphic designers. From a young age, they nurtured and encouraged my love and appreciation of the Arts. I fondly remember attending ceramic classes, ballet and piano lessons and visiting many galleries and art studios with my family.
I was inspired by my family, particularly my father, to pursue my love of the Arts. Throughout my life, I have been lucky enough to have a number of successful solo and group exhibitions, which in turn financed my overseas work experience. I based myself in England for five years, visiting art galleries, musical performances, traveling and working with local artists.
I have both a teaching degree from the University of Melbourne and a BA in Ceramic Design, majoring in hot glass blowing from Chisholm (Monash University, Caulfield).
I am now teaching Art and French in the Early Years at Kostka Hall Campus.
Working in the Early Years has enabled me to share my resources and art experiences with all the children. I encourage them to learn fine and gross motor skills which will enable them to create and express themselves as individuals in the Arts.
I am very fortunate to have a painting studio at home and am currently working in oils. My painting style is expressive and I often paint portraits with three colours and white, which match the mood of the sitter. I often bring examples of my varied art works to classes. These examples often assist the children’s understandings of styles, techniques and skills required to create 2D and 3D artworks.
Teaching at the College, I feel inspired and privileged every day. The students inspire me to think creatively and reinforce the importance of leaving a legacy that will inspire future learning.
Martin Tighe
I first discovered my love for art when my mother took me to the National Gallery of Victoria when I was a child. I remember one of the paintings in particular. The image was a figure of a woman leaning against a wall wearing a long gaberdine coat. Upon seeing it I thought to myself, “I want to make pictures like that”.
I was always interested in art. I had a few art books. However, I didn’t start painting until I was 30 years of age. Since then I have steadily developed my painting techniques and explored different subject matter.
I love to bring my knowledge and skills into the classroom here at Kostka Hall Campus. Often the projects the students work on are inspired by artists, concepts and ideas that have informed my own work. The Year 7 students are currently working on a project which introduces them to the paintings of 16th Century Dutch painter, Pieter Bruegel and the filmmaking techniques of American documentary maker, Ken Burns.
My art practice is painting. I have also produced a number of bronze sculptures in the past, but these days I simply paint. My style is realist. I particularly like painting the human figure. This includes genre works on portraiture. Each year I paint a work for the Archibald Prize.
My artistic inspiration comes from a wide range of sources. I like the old masters, works created by 20th Century artists and new images I might find on Instagram. My proudest moment as an artist was being able to talk about my work at a public forum attached to the Archibald Prize, held at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Being able to integrate being practising artist and my role in art education enables me to share my knowledge, passion and skills with the students at school.
