Art Workshop: Day 01

 On May 16, 2025, we attended an enriching art workshop conducted by an external resource person, Ms. Rupa. The session began at 10:00 a.m. and turned out to be both inspiring and informative.

Ms. Rupa is not only a qualified teacher but also someone who has transformed her passion for craft into a meaningful profession. She began the workshop by sharing her personal journey. Although she had been fascinated by craft since childhood, she was unable to pursue it initially due to a lack of family support. However, during the lockdown period, she rekindled her interest and began learning various craft techniques through YouTube and other online platforms. Today, she successfully creates crafts for weddings, welcome bouquets, and several other occasions, proving that passion and perseverance can lead to success.

She also spoke about her academic life, which was equally inspiring. Holding three postgraduate degrees and currently pursuing a PhD, Ms. Rupa beautifully balanced her roles as an educator and an artist. Her story motivated us to believe that learning and creativity can go hand in hand.

The hands-on session started with bottle art. As some students did not bring bottles, we shared materials, fostering teamwork and cooperation. Ms. Rupa explained each step in detail—cleaning the bottle, using a sponge for painting, and applying printed tissue paper. She introduced us to several materials used in bottle art, many of which were new to us, and guided us patiently whenever mistakes occurred.

In the afternoon session, we moved on to making paper flowers. Using materials like crepe paper, metal rods, and green tape, Ms. Rupa demonstrated the process step by step and then encouraged us to try it ourselves. The flower I made was far from perfect—it was quite ugly, to be honest—but it was special because it was created with my own hands. Despite its imperfections, I treasure it, as it represents my effort and learning.

Before this workshop, I had very little interest in craft and never thought of it as something enjoyable. However, this session changed my perspective. I discovered a small spark of passion for craft and realized that I might have some hidden talent after all. The teacher also informed that there will be another workshop where we wil be learning to make the rest of the three items which she was not able to complete it today.

Overall, the workshop was enjoyable, inspiring, and informative. It not only taught us new skills but also encouraged us to explore creativity beyond our comfort zones. It was truly a memorable experience.