2012-05-20T20:59:47Z Patricia van Oostveen Copyright 2012, Patricia van Oostveen SPHPBLOG The first painting class on Tuesday was fun. We got to into the Goldfarb Learning Centre and look at original art pieces that were donated to the university by the Goldfarb's. They had a lot of Jean Claude Riopelle's! Anyway, we looked at some pieces and talked about the composition and colour of the peices and how it affected the focal point.
The we started our 4 study peices. I finished 2 in the class and 2 on my Wednesday day of no classes.
On WEdensday, I did paint most of the day plus some reading, walk the dog, had a nap and had a great bike ride with Roland. (instead of the gym)
Thursday was a long day. Catch the bus at 6:10, and classes and tutourials all day with an hour in between them all. Back home by 10:30.
We had a great debate in Critical Issues about the reading of "What is Art?" The theory is that Art (with a capital A) did not exist until 250 years ago, when the public decided to institutionalize art and give it meaning. And and artist is a person of genius who has full authority over his/her work. I'l let you think on this and please state your opinion!
In Modern Art lecture, I used a recorder and felt much better about keeping up with the lecture. The tutorial will help alot to focus on what is necessary to focus on with regards to the essay and exam.
My Art and Ideas class is interesting. I will be able to write about and discuss the arts (all the disciplines of fine arts) when I learn the language. Again this tutorial is a life saver.
Whew what a week! But I am keeping up and feel good about it!


]]> http://www.narniancomputer.com/phpblog/index.php?entry=entry100925-210504 2010-09-26T00:00:00Z 2010-09-26T00:00:00Z The ARt and Ideas course has about 300 students in it. The professor is somewhat traditional in her lecture time, but this is a hybrid course that will be partially on-line in the winter session. She also has good use of WEbCT and an informative website linked to WEbCT.
For some reason, I did not buy the textbook/course kit for this course on Monday. If I had, I would have bought the wrong book for another section of the course. And this course kit is non-refundable. $66. Our course kit is not available until after Thanksgiving.
This course is mainly an interdisciplinary course of Fine Arts, so we will learn the language of all the Arts. It is somewhat a writing course for the Fine Arts. I think the tutorial time will be key to the success of this course for me.
Not home until 6:30 again.
I can't wait to relax with a cider and have dinner!
My first week is done. So far, I am not overwhelmed, but I am not disillusioned to what is ahead of me. I really hope I have the energy to pull this off.]]> http://www.narniancomputer.com/phpblog/index.php?entry=entry100917-215746 2010-09-18T00:00:00Z 2010-09-18T00:00:00Z So I grabbed a Tor Star and read read the paper. As I am waiting, another mature student sits across from to also read the paper. She is 60 and a former math teacher going on a part-time basis to finish her second degree in Fine Arts. She is a drawer. We seem to have alot in common. We are not in the same tutorials, but sat together in both of the main classes today.
Critical Issues looks like and interesting course as we look at how the arts fits in society and the roles it can play dealing with social,political,religious, and ethical issues.
In the tutorial, we teamed up with a partner and we have to do a representational piece of art of each other. So we had an interview time and will be in touch over the next week so we can start the project. I am teamed up with a shy and thoughtful Korean girl. I already have some great ideas! We joined each other's Facebook so it would help us to formulate some ideas about each other. It will be interesting how she see me. She is really into the realism but a portrait is not exactly what they are looking for.
My Modern ARt class is a bit intimidating. He is really into lecturing and visual memory with slides going by of art pieces and their place in history. Our marks are only formulated in each term with an essay and a term exam. So you blow one or the other and you are sunk.
My reading ahead of the class did help, but he really only covered some history preceding the time period. I had a hard time taking notes and keeping up with him. Roland is suggesting a tape recorder so I can go over my notes and fill in the blanks.
At least I have some experience with seeing and knowing some art with all my visits to museums around the world. It just may help.
The tutorial for this week was cancelled. At least I get to be home by 6:30 and not 9:30.]]> http://www.narniancomputer.com/phpblog/index.php?entry=entry100916-213101 2010-09-17T00:00:00Z 2010-09-17T00:00:00Z I really needed a nap, and took one!
Then I did some reading ahead of my Modern Art class for tomorrow and gessoed all my paper and canvas for Project 1 for Painting.
We also took the opportunity to get back to the gym when I picked up Rol after work.
Now I am tired again, but after dinner I need to get caught up on our finances including my father's stuff.
To bed early as I had to get up Thursday morning at 5:15 to catch a 6:10 bus for an 8:30 class. Ugh!]]> http://www.narniancomputer.com/phpblog/index.php?entry=entry100915-211934 2010-09-16T00:00:00Z 2010-09-16T00:00:00Z We started by going around the room and introducing ourselves. We were to mention what year and our degree, why we took this class, any hobbies and favourite movie.
I started my speel with the fact that I haven't been in school for 32 years, excepting some courses taken throughout my life. Rizzo, the instructor, interrupted and asked if I stopped in kindergarten. What a nice compliment! I also worked in our sabbatical trip and taking lots of Lord of the Ring tours as these were my favourite movies.
We then played a game called "zap" which helps us remember each others names. It is sort of like musical chairs but not as physical. It did help to remember some names.
I am excited about the projects coming up. I think I need some supplies so I will go to Curry's tomorrow on my day off.
WE have to buy smarties and licorice allsorts to paint in the first project. We will do 4 studies and 1 final painting. The 4 studies will be due in 2 weeks. It is recommended that we stay and paint for the full 4 hours of the class so instruction can be given. We are then also supposed to put in another 8 hrs a week at home. That is a a lot of time for a 3 credit course.
But it is what I love to do.]]> http://www.narniancomputer.com/phpblog/index.php?entry=entry100914-104504 2010-09-14T00:00:00Z 2010-09-14T00:00:00Z So now I have 10hrs to kill.
So I first go to the Visual Arts building and find out about lockers to rent. They are not available yet. Great! I am going to buy textbook next and I will have to lug them around all day. Oh well.
So onto the bookstore. Great, no line up to get in, but where do I find what I need? Well they are very helpful in the bookstore. I was able to snag 2 used copies of my required books. The anatomy textbook was expensive $125. The wait line to pay for the books took 1hr. When I emerge from the bookstore, the line up to get in was probably an hour long. Good timing on my part.
I also want to join the gym so I can workout in these long hours between classes. It is a workout just to walk to the gym. Another line up! Another hour wait!
Let's see what the library system is about. I find a great spot to rest awhile and read and close my eyes. Since I had some of my textbooks. I got my readings for some of the courses done for next week.Yay! I also put together my agenda with most due dates of projects, papers, tests and exams into it. I really feel I need to be organized so I don't miss anything important.
Not to get too lazy, I walk and find where all my classes are being held and where all the nearest washrooms are. This last point is critical at my age.
So I rest a bit and sit in the sun and notice another woman my age doing the same thing so I decide to go and introduce myself. She is going part-time to study English. We both felt somewhat of an island so it was nice to chat a bit to someone. We will try to have lunch together sometime.
So finally, my lecture class of Human Anatomy. Big lecture hall filling up with about 500 students. I spot just one other older woman in the crowd. Maybe next week I will try to sit by her. The course will be challenging in that it will test my memory to the fullest extent.
He lets us out early and I catch the 8:45 bus and get home at 9:50. Thanks Rol for being there to pick me up in scarry downtown Oshawa late at night.

]]> http://www.narniancomputer.com/phpblog/index.php?entry=entry100913-201949 2010-09-14T00:00:00Z 2010-09-14T00:00:00Z So breakfast is supposed to be somewhere. Found it, in the Absinthe Pub, a student run pub. Bagels and fruit and bad coffee. I think I'll go get a better cup of coffee as I wait for the meeting to start.
Loud rock music and partying frosh are in the quad. I somewhat wish I could join in.
At the meeting about 1500 students get to listen to the heads of the faculties and other organizations. We are also entertained by a student acapella group "wibj", and some alumni such as a trombonist "Ray Westray", and a musical singer/actor. What other college has this type of alumni? It was great!
The room is crowded and every seat is taken, however I feel very much alone. No one talks to me or even makes eye contact. I don't see anyone my age except for a few parents. Yes they were parents.
WE break up into smaller groups of students to ask questions. Not very informative. Still no one acknowledges my presence.
Lunch is supposed to be in the quad after the meeting. I wait, but no lunch appears as frosh keep on partying and gearing up for the afternoon's activities.
I decide to go home and not attend tomorrows orientation. I really don't need to know what clubs to join.
]]> http://www.narniancomputer.com/phpblog/index.php?entry=entry100907-202809 2010-09-08T00:00:00Z 2010-09-08T00:00:00Z Ok I am going to get that a lot so I better used to it. Roland and I had a similar experience when we went to York to check out the program last November. Twice we were directed to where the parents were supposed to be and not the students info sessions.
I am definitely the oldest in the room. No one sits next to me, but I'm in the second row.
We got to meet the profs of most of the required courses, the chair of the department, the admin staff. It was very informative with many tips from each of them. My painting course professor seems a little intimidating. She will challenge me I"m sure.
Joy the administrative assistant has already dubbed me , in jest, as troublemaker #2. I just asked a few questions.
Pizza was served.
Bus ride home. Not too bad so far. Getting some reading time. I pick up the bus in downtown Oshawa with a few stops in between and get directly to York in 1 hr. and 5-10 min.]]> http://www.narniancomputer.com/phpblog/index.php?entry=entry100902-174245 2010-09-02T00:00:00Z 2010-09-02T00:00:00Z In the lecture hall after the tour we were introduced to ACMAPS. The organization at York that helps us mature student to navigate our way to a degree. It will be very helpful.
When a straw poll was taken about how long people were out of school, I was one of the very few that still had their hand up after 25 years of being out of school. It has been 32 years since high school.
I felt somewhat reassured after the orientation that "Yes, I can do this"
The article came out and of course it is not correct in its representation. I do not have "grey" hair. Photoshop! The comments to the article are interesting, Everything from encouragement to why am I taking resources and space from the young people.
Hey I earned my way just as everyone else!
Anyway, here is the link to the article.

Globe and Mail article
]]> http://www.narniancomputer.com/phpblog/index.php?entry=entry100901-171938 2010-09-01T00:00:00Z 2010-09-01T00:00:00Z
The answer is that I always wanted to get a degree and it was now or never. A crossroads. At the "appropriate" time after high school, I had to support myself and I moved to B.C. which didn't accept Ontario's grade 12 since it had grade 13. If I had the opportunity at that point, I probably would have got a degree in the business field such as a accounting. Then life happened: I worked myself up in the banking industry, got married, had 3 kids, worked part-time and became a financial/estate planner, started to paint again, certified myself as a an interior decorator, went on sabbatical with my husband and travelled.
As we were traveling and living abroad (see pictures below) I decided that it was now my time to do this. My hubby has a PHd, my oldest child a BSc,BEd and working on a masters, my second child a BA, MKin., and my youngest is in 4th year EngChem/Music. It was high time I kept up with the family.
I believe that we have always set a good example to our children regarding education with life long learning opportunities. This is not a competition. but following through on what we think is important.
Education is not to get a job, but the opportunity to learn and "how" to continue to learn.
I want to expand my knowledge of the art world and challenge myself as an artist. I wasn't getting that from the odd workshops I could attend. They were inspirational, encouraging, and I did learn a lot, but it was not enough for me.
So I am taking the opportunity! I am going to York University to get my Bachelor of Fine Arts, majoring in Visual Arts Studio.
Thanks Rol, Rebekah, Rachel, Jon, Greg, Beth and many friends and family for your support and encouragement.
Enjoy the journey with me!




]]> http://www.narniancomputer.com/phpblog/index.php?entry=entry100831-155256 2010-08-31T00:00:00Z 2010-08-31T00:00:00Z