Painting with Light: Artist in Residence Virginia Woods-Jack Inspires Students Through Photography
Visual artist Virginia Woods-Jack joined Scots College this year as Artist in Residence, introducing students from Year 5 to IB to cyanotype printing and expanded photographic practice. Her residency encouraged experimentation, risk-taking, and creating tangible, physical artwork beyond the screen.
This year, our Artist in Residence programme welcomed visual artist Virginia Woods-Jack, whose innovative approach to photography has inspired students across the school to see the medium in a whole new way.
Virginia describes herself as “a visual artist, working predominantly with photography and lens-based media” – but her practice goes far beyond simply picking up a camera. Instead, she works in what she calls an “expanded photographic practice,” experimenting with techniques that push the boundaries of what photography can be.
Introducing Students to Cyanotype
A highlight of Virginia's residency has been introducing students to cyanotype, one of the earliest forms of photography. Rather than using a lens, cyanotype is created by coating paper with a light-sensitive solution and exposing it to UV light to create vivid blue images.
By placing botanicals, objects, or other materials on the paper, their forms are exposed into the cyanotype's rich blue surface. The process is best known as the original method used to produce architectural blueprints.
The process offered students something many modern technologies don't: a tangible outcome. “We're always taking photos on our phones, but they just stay there. With this, they've taken images and turned them into something physical… something original,” Virginia said.
Tailored Learning, from Year 5 to IB
During her residency, Virginia worked with students from Year 5 through to IB, tailoring her approach to each group. Year 11 students explored cyanotype printing and a range of alternative photographic processes, gaining hands-on experience with different ways of creating images. IB students took part in deeper discussions around curation and the development of artistic ideas, reflecting on their own practice.
Meanwhile, Year 8 students experimented with portraiture in a creative way, building self-portraits through objects rather than relying on selfies. Younger students worked with mixed media, layering and embellishing printed portraits to transform and personalise their images. The results were imaginative and often surprising. “Some of them turned themselves into characters… others became completely unrecognisable. It was really fun to see,” Virginia said.
A Champion for Emerging Artists
Beyond her own practice, Virginia is passionate about supporting artists. She founded Women in Photography NZ+AU after noticing a gap in opportunities for emerging creatives. “I saw a gap… there were lots of women studying, but then they just disappeared. I wanted to create a space where female-identifying and non-binary artists could discuss their work and show what they were doing,” she said.
This ethos carried through into her work with students, encouraging them to share ideas, take risks, and explore their creative voice.
Experimentation Over Perfection
A key theme of Virginia's residency has been experimentation. “It's about being able to play and then assess – do I like this? If I don't, why not?” She emphasises that there is no single “right” way to make art. “There's no one way of working with a medium… if there was, I'd be really bored by now.”
Virginia also encouraged students to think about art as a way of engaging with the wider world, not just as something created on a screen. “At the end of a class, it's about being able to say, ‘Look what I made.' That physical connection is really important.”
A Lasting Impact
For Virginia, one of the most rewarding aspects of the residency has been the students themselves. “It's been really good to see them being so passionate… that love of art is there. The art room looks the same as when I was at school, mostly – there's something really lovely about that.”
Virginia's message to students exploring their creativity is simple and freeing: “Don't critique it too early. Just do whatever you want to do… get messy, try everything, don't limit yourself.”
She leaves behind a lasting impact, encouraging students to experiment, take risks, and, most importantly, enjoy the process of creating. “It's been a great opportunity – not just for the students, but for artists who care about that journey. I've loved it.”