About me

 

Faye Hopkins | Visual Arts , PDM & Technology Educator

I am a dedicated Visual Arts and Technology educator who believes that emotional intelligence and the individual dignity of every student are the essential foundations for creative growth and academic excellence.

My practice is defined by a restorative, "whole-child" approach—building sanctuary-like environments where students feel safe to take conceptual risks and find their unique creative voice.

Grounded in the belief that "students will, if they can," I am committed to fostering inclusive, predictable, and technically ambitious classroom cultures.

This philosophy led to the launch of ‘Creative Connect’, a strategic wellbeing initiative that provides a creative sanctuary for talented and vulnerable students to find their voice through photography and film.

Whether I am facilitating explicit teaching through my Year 7 "big table" demonstrations, implementing Year 8 rotation models, or leading intensive 3-day HSC workshops, my goal is to drive high expectations and prove to every student that success is achievable.

Beyond the classroom, I am a lifelong learner deeply committed to my own evolution as an artist.

I am currently undertaking advanced studies at the National Art School, specialising in glaze chemistry and primary base formulation, alongside intensives in painting fundamentals.

To further support my senior students, I am also training in gallery-standard framing to ensure their HSC Bodies of Work are presented with professional rigor.

My personal practice in Kintsugi serves as a constant reminder that the art room is a safe space to make mistakes, as piecing challenges back together is where true resilience occurs.

My technical background is uniquely broad, encompassing a mastery of analogue darkroom and digital PDM practices alongside a robust command of Stage 4 Technology Mandatory—from traditional timber design to aerodynamic engineering.

As a current Acting Leader of Learning and an active member of the contemporary art community through my work with Revolve Gallery, I bring real-world industry currency directly to my students.

This blog serves as a living gallery to share my personal artistic practice, my students' breakthroughs, and the academic resources—from writing scaffolds to technical glossaries—that I am building to inspire the next generation of inquirers and thinkers.