Hermine Spies-Coleman is Our Facilitator
Hermine's philosophy towards arts and craft teaching is to focus on the process of creating a piece of artwork rather than to unduly stress the need to produce the perfect article. Naturally, to create a beautiful artwork is something to which every artist aspires. Nevertheless, the reward of effort lies not only in the finished product but also in the struggle to create it.
She believes that the personal satisfaction and enjoyment as well as personal growth one realises through the process of creating a piece of artwork have a remarkably enriching value. She is passionate about the value of creativity in the lives of everyone.
So often, creative spirit is stifled in childhood leading children to believe, as they grow older, that they do not possess any innate artistic talent.
With positive and encouraging teaching patterns, more children and adults can experience the joy of taking part in arts and crafts without subjecting themselves to judgement on the worth of the work.
As far as Hermine is concerned, to elicit responses from my students such as "I see differently" or " My life has changed since doing art" is far more rewarding than have them compulsively strive to generate that "acceptable" piece.
She has followed this philosophy throughout her teaching career that has included teaching art at high school level (Michaelhouse, Balgowan, KwaZulu-Natal and Woodmead School, Johannesburg) and art and design and technology at primary school. She also opened and ran her own art school in Johannesburg where she presented highly successful holiday courses for both children and adults. She has also held workshops all over South Africa.
To further this vision of guiding people (and especially children) to a more fulfilled creative life, Hermine and her husband, Nick, founded the Creative Country Holiday concept at Giverny at Currys Post in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In terms of her academic qualifications, Hermine obtained a B.A (Fine Art) and an Honours degree in History of Art through the Universities of Pretoria and South Africa. The latter degree was completed while she was undertaking a three-year practical study term in Europe at several art academies.
After qualification, her career has revolved around the teaching of art and life as a professional artist producing artworks for exhibition. In 1982, Hermine was the recipient of the UTA-Travel Bursary for Artists.
Hermine has artworks represented in numerous collections privately as well as in corporate collections such as those of Absa, Sasol, Stellenbosch Farmers Wineries and in the collections of the Pretoria, Johannesburg and Kimberley Art Galleries. |