Serena Boheimer
Having joined d'Overbroeck's from St Gabriel's School, Serena took A levels in Art, Chemistry, Maths and Photography. In September 2009, she starting an Art and Design Foundation course at her first choice University: Cardiff UWIC.
We caught up with Serena back in the summer term of 2009, not long after she'd received her offer of a place from Cardiff.
You must be looking forward to next year ... What do you hope you'll gain from it?
'Yes, I'm looking forward to it greatly. I think it's a chance to really develop and learn new skills and explore the world of art without the pressure of exams! I am hoping that during the year I will be able to work out what direction I want to go before applying to do a degree in a specific art area.'
And how do you think your art has developed during the time you've spent at d'Overbroeck's?
'I've had a chance to experiment with varying media – sometimes in ways that seemed rather unorthodox! – but often the results were pleasing.
Before starting at d'Overbroeck's, for instance, I'd never done any darkroom photo processing; now, nearly all my work is film. Laurence (the photography teacher) has been such an enormous aid with the darkroom processes, and without him I don't think I'd've achieved such a high grade for my coursework (in which I explored old fashioned photographic processes).
So how would you describe the Art department at d'Overbroeck's?
There's a really chilled out atmosphere – and I'll often find that I'm choosing to spend a lot of time outside of lessons working there. Either Nick or Sharon [Art teachers] or both will be around. They're always happy to help out – whether by preparing canvases, introducing you to different artists or even just talking you through an idea when you feel at a bit of lost end ... which, in a subject like Art, can happen a lot!
And the atmosphere of d'Overbroeck's as a whole?
The College has a friendly, bubbly vibe about it. Because of my subjects I've spent a lot of my time at Ewert Place [the site at which the Art Department is based] this year – which is ideally situated in the heart of Summertown. Great for dashing to get supplies!
