Marie L. Dubois

Since I was very young I have always been interested in drawing with coloured pencils. I remember drawing on my father’s office books when he used to take me to his office. As a teenager I learn to paint on slate; always creative never copying. In my early twenties I got married and began a career in banking and advanced to Senior Officer. Even with the pressure of these extra responsibilities, I carried on practising my painting and used every spare moment, including lunch breaks to paint.

I eventually stopped work due to health reasons and became serious in my art. It was in an Art Magazine that I read about/Porcelain Painting. I joined a night school to learn the subject various day classes to improve my skills and also took up Oil Painting and Watercolours. I was encouraged by other painters to exhibit my work. This has proved a success and I have managed to sell many items.

I also joined a Creative Writing Club and began to write little stories/poems using the theme of some of my paintings. It was my teacher who encouraged me to put the two arts together as a creative craft book. With the help of other s this is my attempt.

The idea of the book is to introduce young people to China Painting and with the encouragement of their mother to tutors to get involved in such a creative hobby .

What Marie also said:

It is noticeable during school holidays the number of school children hanging around Barkingside/Hainault with nothing to do. With this in mind I think that instead of schools closing during the holidays they should remain open and recreational classes and hobby-crafts set up to keep the youngsters occupied. Attendance would be on a voluntary basis, possibly for pupils and instructors too.

With the number of Eastern Europeans now living in the borough such classes would enable both local and new immigrant youngsters to mix socially and it would be an opportunity to understand each other and build up a trust amongst themselves.

Local school children would need to be consulted to agree which activities should be provided. Such classes set up during half-terms would provide a forum where new immigrant youngsters and local children could get to know each other informally and socially and to build bridges between the various sections of the community.

Whatever is agreed it is important that the activities involve teamwork, collaboration and encourage exchange of views and ideas. Recreational subject could include team sport games such as football, indoor volleyball, and basketball, drama, IT, music, languages.