Marian Littlejohn

Marian Littlejohn is an award-winning artist, educator and an active member of the NMA community. You may know her well as Stem! Portraiture was her passion at school and convinced her that she wanted the arts to be a core part of her life. Marian graduated from Glasgow School of Art with a First Class Degree in Fine Art Printmaking, having worked across many media including, drawing and painting, lithography, etching, screen-printing and bookmaking. Marian then worked as a Graphic Designer/Medical Illustrator, working in collaborative projects in the field of Medical Research, Scientific Journals and Patient Information for the United Kingdom National Health Service. Her design work has been published in academic papers, research articles and academic books. Marian continues to work as a freelance designer in the field of Scientific Publishing collaborating with Scientists to find a visual way to express their discoveries.

In 2013 Marian achieved her Post Graduate Certificate of Education and has practiced as a teacher since then and leads a successful department. She enjoys designing the curriculum and teaches a wide variety of artistic subjects and skills. These include photography, graphic design, printmaking, ceramics, drawing and painting. Traditional skills are at the heart of her teaching philosophy and her pupils are taught how to draw, through demonstrations, detailed instructions and coaching throughout the lessons. Marian uses a variety of assessment techniques to ensure that her students are understanding their learning. She believes that it is important students understand the aims of their tasks, and know what success looks like. Project based learning is a key part of the student journey and Marian has an encyclopedic knowledge of artists both from the traditional canon of art, as well as contemporary artists and designers. Marian has trained and mentored trainee teachers, and runs workshops for existing art teachers to develop their skills. Marian also runs portraiture painting workshops for in person adult learners.

Since joining NMA in March 2021 Marian has completed many NMA courses and has a rich understanding of the NMA curriculum. In November 2022 Marian began working as a teaching assistant on the interactive courses guiding students, giving personalized feedback ensuring the student is clear on what steps to take next and feels confident in themselves as they do so. Marian continues to develop her own artistic practice and is particularly interested in portraiture and storytelling through painting, in digital, pastel and oils. She is a true lover of all art materials as well as a large collection of books that bring her joy!

Education

2012 P.G.C.E., Art University of Exeter
1994 - 1998 B.A. (Hons), Fine Art Printmaking, 1st Class. Glasgow School of Art

Awards

1998 Chairman’s Medal (Glasgow School of Art Fine Art Prize)

1998 John and Anna Laurie Bequest Scholarship

Exhibitions/Collections

Selected Exhibitions

1998 Glasgow School of Art Degree Show
1999 Coexisting Boundaries: Group Show

Artwork in Public Collection

Untitled bookwork: Permanent collection of Glasgow School of Art

Artwork in Private Collection

Scenes of Sidmouth, a series of four Pastel Paintings: Professor David Logan
Reflected cliffs, Oil Painting: Anna Giles
The Wedding, Acrylic Painting: Niall and Dana McGregor
After the Storm, Oil Painting: Niall and Dana McGregor
The Yellow T-Shirt, Pastel Painting: Suzanne Brown

Group Session Types

Marian has four different group session types:

In this session, Marian will guide the students in analysing their own work and their peers' work. Students will have the opportunity to receive constructive feedback and learn how to identify strengths and weaknesses in their artworks.

The coach will keep the conversation on track and ensure that all participants have a chance to speak as well as guide and add to the critiques.

Prepare your work: Artists should prepare their work for the critique. This may include preparing digital files that can be uploaded or shared from their screen.

Present your work: When it is time for your turn to present your work, provide some background information about the piece or pieces you are presenting. Explain what inspired you, what techniques you used, lessons you were following, and what you were trying to achieve and if there are specific areas that you would particularly like feedback on.

Provide constructive feedback: When it is your turn to provide feedback, be respectful and constructive. Focus on the work itself rather than the artist.
Begin your critique by highlighting something you notice that is working about the artwork. This shows the artist that you appreciate their effort and time, it is also useful to know where you are getting things right.

Be specific:
- When giving feedback, try to be as specific as possible, explain what it is that you don't think is working and why.
- Avoid being overly critical: While it's important to provide constructive feedback, try to avoid being overly critical. Remember that the artist has put a lot of time and effort into their work, and negative comments can be discouraging.
- As well as offering critiques, give suggestions for how the artist could improve their work. This shows that you're invested in their success and want to see them grow. You can draw from your experience and knowledge to do this.

Reflect on feedback: After the critique, take time to reflect on the feedback you received. Consider how you can use it to improve your work and develop your skills as an artist.

Group critique is a valuable learning experience, be open-minded, respectful, and willing to learn from your peers.
Here, students will learn various study skills related to art, such as creating a timetable, setting achievable goals, and maintaining consistency in their practice. This session aims to equip students with the necessary skills to succeed in their artistic journey.
This session focuses on how students can draw inspiration from the artworks they admire and incorporate it into their own work. Marian will teach students how to analyse and identify the elements that make a piece of art exceptional and how they can apply those elements in their own unique way.
In these sessions, students will have the opportunity to submit their artworks for feedback from Marian. These sessions will be focused on individual feedback and are the same as our normal Group Coaching critique sessions.