Drawing Outside The Lines

Meet Nicola Hogan, a psychologist who believes that kids need to be creative so they can learn to think outside the box and colour beyond the lines. Working with Posca, Nicola joined over 100 students at Ashbury Primary School in NSW to transform a white school bus into a vibrant, one-of-a-kind artwork. The interactive art project highlighted how the current school curriculum (represented by the white bus and white-dipped objects on it) could be transformed, if only educators recognised the importance of creativity.

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POSCA's latest campaign Art over Everything is right up our alley. What drew you to be involved in it?

Well there’s just so much appeal in elevating creativity and artistic expression in academic settings. If you think about it, traditional methods of assessment often focus heavily on reading, writing, and arithmetic and the benefits that creativity brings to these subjects, as well as its inherent value, can sometimes get lost. I'm a big believer that it's crucial to highlight how these skills contribute to children's development and their future in the workplace.

How did the students respond to the project?

It was structured chaos in the best possible way! The students were consistently engaged and collaborative. What was remarkable was that you couldn't distinguish between the typically high-achieving students and those who might struggle in traditional academic areas - they were all equally involved.

What benefits do you see in allowing this kind of creative freedom?

When children are given space to create freely, it develops multiple skills simultaneously - storytelling, stress relief, self-esteem, problem-solving, fine motor skills, coordination, adaptability, flexibility, and innovation. The key is creating an environment where 'failure' is challenged and even welcomed. It's very much about the process rather than the end result. 

Any final thoughts on creativity in education?

We need to look at the broader education system and why teachers are often pushed into focusing heavily on assessments like NAPLAN. While benchmarking has its place, when we start viewing education solely through the lens of assessment, we move away from providing a well-rounded education - and that's a real loss for everyone.

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Nicola Hogan Chats About Art Over Everything was published in partnership with Posca. Watch the Art Over Everything short video online.