In this week's 'A Conversation With... ' we had a chat to Art and Photography Teacher, Mrs Sarah Krause. Mrs Krause loves abstract art and photography and is looking forward to when pupils are back in the Art Department working with different materials and sharing ideas. In her spare time she loves getting out and about with her Puggle Lily, and you will often see them walking around the College site with Lily's best friend, Nesbit Satch.
How long have you been at Shiplake and what is your role(s). Where were you previously?
I've been at Shiplake 13 years now and since I've been here I've taught Art, Photography, French and for a little while I was a teaching assistant to a Year 9 student. I'm delighted to be back being Head of PSHEE (Personal
What is the best thing about Shiplake?
My colleagues, without a doubt. Bright, funny, interesting, there's not enough room to list all the amazing things about them.
What inspired you to become an art/photography teacher?
I wanted to be a primary school teacher when I was very young as I thought it would be fun to stick dried pasta to paper all day long but I ended up doing all sorts of other jobs from bilingual secretary, specialist dental nurse, life model through to *in a very quiet voice* estate agent. However, it was when I went to university as a mature student that I saw the difference my tutors made and how rewarding it was to help feed other people's creativity and to have that dialogue with them that made me sure I wanted to teach. And teaching PSHEE is just a huge bonus as it's so important to have those conversations and to have a place to do so.
What type of art do you like the most and who are your favourite artists and why?
Anything abstract and gestural for the feelings the work inspires. I'm very drawn to shapes and patterns, too. It's so difficult to choose favourite artists but I always come back to Cy Twombly and Joan Eardley for the mark-making and Agnes Martin's work always makes me hold my breath! It's so still but there's so much speed there too.
What type of photography do you like the most and why?
The same as with art, abstract, and even more so with photographs, shapes and patterns. And the creation of shapes and patterns through the manual manipulation of photographs, but I would say that!
How are finding teaching remotely and how have you had to adapt lessons for your pupils?
Tricky with all of my subjects. For art with Year 9, for example, we've moved more towards graphics projects to allow for the students not being in the classroom with all our materials. Photography Google Slides has become their sketchbooks. I really miss the close conversations and the tactility of the work.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Seeing friends is very important, walking Lily The Princess Puggle is my thinking time and as I live on a boat there is never a shortage of things to do. Just being outdoors makes me happy. (Photos: Left Lily and Right Lily with her best friend Nesbit Satch)
What's the first thing you will do when we come out of lockdown, new restrictions permitting?
Sweden to see my son and then France to see my father. I miss them both hugely. But, on a smaller scale, a trip to London on a Sunday as there's a different feel to it compared to the other days of the week. Catch the train to look out of the window at the world going by, lunch at Tate Modern and either a couple of galleries or the Victoria and Albert Museum and lots of walking. And with friends, though a solitary trip would be ok too.
What does the future hold for Mrs Krause?
More of the same would be great but I'm always ready to embrace the unexpected and the happy accidents.
