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Another Jericho State School Visit...

Sandy McLean

Last week I travelled out to Jericho in Western Queensland, to do a Painting Workshop with the kids at the State School.


Jericho is a small town with a population of 230 souls.


Born and raised in Longreach, I've travelled the Capricorn Highway to Rockhampton. which passes through Jericho, many times both as a child and as an adult, I have seen the decline in the population and as a result, the decline of the town.


We would often stop and get an ice cream from the little store in the main street, but this is long gone as well.


But despite this the town still has a lovely welcoming feel, and the school is a wonderful place to visit.


Most of the kids at the school are from out of town. There is no school bus so parents drive in and out each day to deliver and collect their kids.


At the moment there are 18 kids at the school. They have composite classes, meaning there are only 2 teachers so grades are taught together depending on how many kids are in each grade.


I have visited a lot of these little schools over the years and there is always a wonderful 'family' feeling amongst the kids and staff.


Because there is no real accommodation in the town, I always stay with Joanne and Micheal Wells who own a cattle property just out of town on the Blackall road.

I have visited Jericho SS now 5 or 6 times, and each time I stay with the Wells, as a result we have become great friends.




I created a new step by step painting this visit, as their 'theme' was Australian Animals.

I decided on an Echidna.

When ever I devise a new painting to be taught to kids, or adults, I try to make it firstly simple and secondly colourful and bright, and not too 'fussy'.





Depending on how many times the kids have painted with me, and in this case, Jericho kids have a lot of experience, I get them to do their own thing once the drawing-in process has been completed.


I encouraged them to experiment with mixing colour.

It is wonderful to hear and see the excitement when they come up with a new colour! For the little ones (Prepies) it's like Magic!!




It is always a bit of an experiment when teaching these newly designed paintings. I never really know if I have made the Drawing -in process simple enough, especially for the little ones.


But it all went well, and they followed me with out any difficulty.

.

Until next time Jericho!











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