The short documentary videos in my series Notes for Art Students are intended to raise awareness of the creative potential that is latent in us all. In particular, the series is relevant to the 50% of students who are creatively, rather than academically inclined.
My focus is on the visual arts. This is the artform that most enters our lives, and it is not limited to paintings and sculpture. It ranges from the clothes we wear, to the plate we eat off, to the chair we sit on, to the films we watch and the appearance of the car we drive. But all art forms – music, dance, theatre, literature and poetry – are interlinked.
Given their importance to the development and wellbeing of society, it is regrettable that they are largely ignored, from primary school to secondary school; from State College to the UWI Open Campus. Thus, the majority of students are being shortchanged by the current education system. As individuals and as a nation, creativity should be regarded as our most valuable resource.
For the greater part of my life, I have earned my living as an artist. Like the Renaissance artists before me, I am man of many parts: painter, sculptor, engineer, architect, author and craftsman. And like artisans from the past, I learnt my trade at the workbench. I have never spent a day in art school.
As there are few masters left in this world, my video may help to give students an understanding of what art is all about and inspire a new generation of artists and craftsmen.
what is the artist’s name please?
My name is Roger Burnett. You can find out more about me at: sculpturestudiodominica.blogspot.com
Art in all its forms is our way of expressing the beauty of life. We all posses artistic creativity but far too few of us spend the time required to allow that talent to flourish. When we do make the effort it leaves us with a sense of achievement and others with something to admire.