TLC has two new tutors working in the extramural department; Marcel Baaijens and Julian McKinnon.

Julian is an old hand at TLC. He graduated from the Stage 3 program in 2007 and more recently has been working here in the audiovisual department, developing student resources.

Marcel is entirely new to TLC. He has a background in art facilitation with intellectually disabled people and has just returned from travelling overseas.

We asked them both a few questions about themselves and their creative process:

Marcel Baaijens:
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

OK just a little then.

What kind of art do you make?

At the moment I am working on a feature length documentary, so working in video and sound, but I have previously enjoyed drawing, watercolours, photography, graphic design and soft pastel.

What is your favourite medium?
Video.

How does your creative process work?
I see things in life to which I am attracted to and want to connect with, be present with. I use the creative process as a way to spend time with the subject matter, be it a building, people, a machine or a landscape. Through the process I begin to understand the essence of the subject matter at an energetic level rather than a mental level. It is a way for me to ‘digest’ and understand the world.

Who is your most inspiring person of the year and why?
Amy Szostak, an artist with multiple impairments (including intellectual impairments) who recently passed away. She achieved so much and did not let her impairments and all the obstacles that society created for her stand in her way to create and become ‘famous’. Her art had a strong message and advocated not just for herself but for all those living with similar conditions.

Who is your favourite artist and why?
I don’t have one.

What is the coolest thing you ever learnt?
To dance.

What did you want to be when you grow up?
An artist.

To see Marcel’s work:
Blog about my art facilitation practice: http://mb-af.blogspot.com
Main blog with links to portfolio pages: http://marcel-baaijens.blogspot.com

We’ve embedded his documentary, This Drawing Looks Intelligent, about art and people with intellectual disabilities below. It is also available to borrow in the DVD library.

“This Drawing Looks Intelligent”

Julian McKinnon:
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I like coffee.

What kind of art do you make?
2D mixed media and sometimes video art.

What is your favourite medium?
Acrylic paint…um, no, wait… pencil and ink.

How does your creative process work?
Can I draw a diagram?

Who is your most inspiring person of the year and why?
Barack Obama for so far not failing to live up to some of the expectations of him.

Who is your favourite artist and why?
Tough call… Hundertwasser, for being so original and left-field.

What is the coolest thing you ever learnt?
That there’s about 100 trillion connections in the human brain.

What did you want to be when you grow up?

At 7, an astronaut…at 9, a fiction author…at 12, a rock star…at 15, a nuclear physicist…at 20, a film director…at 29, an artist and teacher!!!

To see more of Julian McKinnon’s art work you can go to his website at www.shadowsandmagic.com.