IELTS Speaking Cue Card

When I was in school, I was always enraptured by art pieces and tried to make one that stood out in my art classes. I had an amazing teacher in middle school who helped hone my artistic skills when I showed a lot of interest in painting. It eventually became a hobby and here, I would like to talk about one of the art activities that I participated in when I was at school. 

During the winters, my school held a fare and hosted various art and craft activities for all the kids. I participated in the ‘Make your own art’ activity where I made a painting of a scenic mountain view with watercolours. I was enthralled to take part in that activity as I was already in awe of art and drawn towards it more because of the encouragement I received from my art teacher.

During the activity, we were allotted 2 hours to finish our art and submit it for review and suggestions. I first made an outline of a lake surrounded by mountains and greenery full of flowers. Once done, I went on to colour it using cool colours so it looked aesthetic. It took more than an hour to just finish colouring and I was still left with 15 minutes, so, I painted a little kid sitting by the lake playing with a paper boat.

I was astonished with the final result, as I did not expect the final touch would turn to enhance the beauty of the painting so much. It looked absolutely gorgeous and I was very proud of myself at that moment. I did get commended by my teacher and the whole class lauded after looking at my painting. I was very pleased with myself and felt happy to have participated in an activity that helped make painting a passion for me later. 

 

Vocabulary:

1. Enrapture - charm
2. Hone - sharpen
3. Enthralled - excited
4. Aesthetic - concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty
5. Lauded - praised

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Part 3 Follow Up - Questions & Answers

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1. What kinds of traditional handicrafts are there in your country?

There are various kinds of traditional handicrafts made in my country. Some famous handicrafts include ceramic pottery, terracotta pottery, handmade jute decorative items, clothing items that are handmade and a lot more. In India, regional handicrafts makers are very encouraged and are provided with opportunities to sell their products.

2. Should children learn more about art? / What are the benefits of making handcrafts?

Yes, I think kids should be introduced to arts and crafts at a young age. It brings out the creative side of a child and helps develop their imagination. It is also a good getaway from regular academic work. It could potentially be a career choice if one finds it passionate and shows talent in making art.

3. Why do some people think it is difficult to understand art?

Some people perceive art to be a difficult subject to grasp as everyone interprets it in a different way. It cannot be unilaterally explained to fit everyone’s perception. Also, some don’t understand certain kinds of genres of art as they do not fall under their favourites or they are not simply to their liking.

4. What can we do to make young people pay more attention to traditional art?

Youth festivals are a way to encourage young people to go see traditional art. It is tough grabbing the attention of the young these days but if there is an event where various kinds of art like music, singing, dance and paintings are on display, the young would be drawn towards it. It could potentially be a place to educate and motivate them to celebrate art.