We chatted with TLC tutor Karla Link who runs our Certificate in Creativity class. Karla was a graphic designer and illustrator with more than 10 years experience in the creative industry. She teaches our onsite Level 4 programme here at TLC’s campus in Lower Hutt.
Kia ora Karla. Can you tell us about the Certificate in Creativity programme?
Level 4 is a lot of experimentation and a lot of play. We have set classes where I will set activities for you to do. How you approach those activities is going to be totally up to you, as well as what themes you’re exploring within those activities. You can also pick electives, so you can go and do jewellery, or print making, or ceramics, or many other different activities we offer here. It’s giving you a really broad range of experimental processes – it’s kind of finding direction of where you want to go or what kind of things you like to do.
What pathways can Level 4 lead to?
TLC’s Certificate and Diploma programmes run from our Level 4 Certificate class or our Urban Art (Level 3) right up to Level 7 Diploma in Art & Creativity (Advanced). Level 4 is open entry, and our students then can enrol in the Diploma in Creativity (Level 5 or Level 6), at the end of your programme at any term. I’ve had students who have come and done Level 4 because they want to build an art portfolio to further their education. I have some students who say “I’m just going to do Level 4” and they will go all the way to Level 7 because they love it here so much. Once you get started, it’s hard to stop – so the Certificate in Creativity is an opportunity to take that first step and discover where your creativity can take you.
Who is Level 4 suited for?
Our certificate programme is for anyone who wants to explore their creativity, it’s a hands-on process.
There are no tests involved and no essays. It’s just about the process of creating. You can have ‘no art skills’ or no ‘perceived’ art skills, but a love of making, or you can come in with previous skills ready to expand.
You’re discovering your process and your journey through the making. Problem solving will be a big aspect in the learning process.
Our Certificate in Creativity programme is for students who are willing to try new things; do something that will push you out of your comfort zone a little. Someone who wants to see what happens when they create something.
Whether it goes completely kaput, it doesn’t matter because it’s about your own process. We’re exploring. The outcome is a part of that exploration.
We have good range of students – for people with previous life experiences, this would be awesome for them to incorporate that experience into their creativity. This is a good opportunity for young people fresh out of school or who are keen to take a gap years, and need a break to make and create and do hands on work. It’s a great place for people to intermingle together and learn about and from each other. We do a lot of collaboration here, whether in making or discussing processes and ideas.
Can this course work around a busy life? Is there flexibility to the course?
There is a lot of options within our courses here at The Learning Connexion. You can study Level 4 through our Distance Delivery programme, or as an onsite student. For those who opt to study from home through our Distance programme are assigned a mentor – a Creative Kaiako or “CK” – and their role is to support you through projects that you want to create.
In our Online Resource Area (ORA) you can pick subjects to just have a go and see what you like, or if you have your own creative endeavour that you want to follow, such as clay or drawing, our CK’s are there to mentor and guide you through those processes. It’s like having your own creative guide to make sure you stay feeling supported and motivated from home.
You can opt for full time or part time study, both on-site and off-site, to suit your lifestyle. So you can work, come to campus part time, mix it up a bit. If you’re in the Wellington area, you can still come and do a day on site, even if you study from home and have the time available. We’re really flexible in how we run our courses. You can come in and ask us “would this work for how I need it to work”, and we can make a plan suited to you.
We have four terms per year, and you can start in any term if you’re an onsite student, and have three intakes per term for Distance students, so there is that flexibility to suit your lifestyle. All you need to do is contact the school to see what works for you.
During the first week of your programme for on-site students, you’ll take part in TFAC (Creativity: Thinking For A Change), exploring a range of drawing exercises and creative challenges, including the Upside Down Drawing exercise.
This exercise is designed to change the way your brain processes visual information. By turning a reference image upside down, you’re encouraged to draw what you actually see, rather than what you think you see. It’s a simple but effective way to develop your observation and drawing skills.
ABOUT THE NZ CERTIFCATE IN CREATIVITY PROGRAMME (NZQA LEVEL 4)
Delivery: Study From Home or On-Campus
Duration: 20 weeks (Full-time) | 40 weeks (Part-time)
ON-SITE
Come and study at the Learning Connexion campus where you are surrounded by artists and art.
Available practical classes:
Painting, Dry Media (Drawing), Illustration, Printmaking, Digital Art, Ceramics, Mixed Media Sculpture, Hot Arts, Jewellery
STUDY FROM HOME
Our Distance Delivery art programmes are perfect for anyone who can’t make it to our campus in Taita, Lower Hutt.
Available subjects:
Any material or medium that sparks your interest and is accessible to you, eg.:
Painting, Drawing, Illustration, Printmaking, Photography, Digital Art, Ceramics, Mixed Media Sculpture, Jewellery, Whakairo (Carving), Raranga (Weaving).
If you study on site, then you will join our Certificate Class in your first and second term, and choose subjects to study during the Weekday Practical Classes in the following media: Painting, Dry Media (Drawing), Illustration, Printmaking, Digital Art, Ceramics, 3D Sculpture, Hot Arts, Jewellery.
If you study from home, any media or subject that sparks your interest and is accessible to you can be part of your Level 4 Certificate.
To find out more about enrolling in Level 4 contact us at 0800 278 769 or email info@tlc.ac.nz
