Angela Chalkiopoulou, Cyprus
Angela illustrated the CHELLIS story "Waste Management"
Let’s start with a short introduction: Please tell us something about yourself (a very short biography)
My name is Angela Chalkiopoulou and I studied English Literature in Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Visual Communication and Illustration in Applied Art Studies College of Art and Design. My career in education started when I became the Creative Director of «Alice's Nest», a Creative Centre for children, in Lesbos, Greece. Creating there an innovative library of Greek and English children's literature and I designed my first thematics of experiential learning based on children's books. Image Literacy played a big role in my educational programs and that is when I started creating large scale, "fairy tale - sceneries" for my students. In 2016, I moved permanently to Cyprus, bringing with me the educational programme of «Little Odysseus», a fresh educational approach, based on literature and Image Literacy. Stories, heroes/heroines and writer's become - through my inventive "sceneries-installations", the magical tool box that lead children to learning, understanding, creating. Our thematics full of art, multiple intelligence - mind games, growth mindset games and new educational tools (radio, documentaries, videos), brought a new perspective to Cypriot Education. My educational programs were awarded in 2021 with the Grand Award / Freedom through Literacy by Judith's Reading Room and with the Golden Award / Innovation in Education by the Cyprus Education Leader's Awards.
What is your main inspiration in your artwork?
Stories are my main inspiration, stories hidden in every little thing we create.
How would you describe your art style and the techniques you use?
My art style is a combination of recycled art, collages and sketching.
Have you already illustrated any stories before the CHELLIS project? What do you personally enjoy/like the most about this kind of work?
I illustrate the sceneries of my educational programs and many, large scale, wall illustrations in schools.
Where can people see examples of your work?
Facebook: Alice home, Μικρός Οδυσσέας - Little Odysseus