By Andrew Gebert (Member of CFS Youth Action Group)
I arrived early at the Chatswood Youth Centre with my siblings to assist Dr. Bibi in preparing for the workshop, helping her carry equipment to the door and inside once it was unlocked.
Jacque also showed up to help set up individual stations and brought three friends to participate. After a few icebreakers, we began the workshop, selecting colours of sand to fill our test bottles and the main colour Sand Glass. Each participant could choose up to six different colours for their design.
During the colour selection, I had the idea to model plains with a sun and shades of blue for a brightening sky. We started creating our designs in the test tubes, but I was frustrated that I couldn’t use all the colours in my small tube.
As everyone added charcoal to their plant tubes and filled the glass, I realized I could use the missing colours in the small tube by introducing a gradient. Contemplating the black sand, I decided to use it as a shadow in the green hills and began working. Despite a few challenges, I completed the hills and moved on to the darker blue sky.
I mixed white sand into the darker blue gradient to create clouds. Satisfied with the result, I added lighter blue and more prominent clouds by mixing thicker dollops of white.
Then, I remembered I wanted to add a sun. I carved a cavity in the lighter blue and filled it with orange sand, struggling to shape it into a circle. After some effort, I succeeded and added soil to my plant tube.
I chose two succulents, one resembling a cactus and one like aloe vera with thorns, and topped off the sand with white rocks. After finishing the glass, I noticed that my gradient attempt created a side effect of snowy mountains. Although the black sand’s shadows permeated the green sand too much, the other sections looked better than I had anticipated.
I was thrilled to see others interested in my design, with even Jacque, who had more experience, wanting a picture of it. As the workshop ended, we packed up for the day. Throughout the workshop, I felt proud of my creativity, enjoyed time with my siblings, and had something to take home.
One thought on “I Felt Proud of My Creativity”