Bug Art at The Green Centre

For the Basildon Art Trail (5th- 15th October) I will be showing a selection of drawings and painting based on natural form at The Green Centre at Wat Tyler Country Park.

Dragonfly Face by Lisa Smith, drawn in water-soluble crayons at the Green Centre

As part of the build up for this years Art Trail , my venue has given me the opportunity to hold two workshops a 2D workshop and the other a 3D workshop. For the 2D workshop we invited children of all ages to come along to the centre and draw their favourite bug. The Essex Field Club has an amazing selection of specimens, computer logs and books that the children used as resources along with a slide show of bugs I had put together. Most of the children chose to use specimens that had been collected and encased in resin. This allowed the children to really observe what they were drawing, to hold it in their hands and look up close to where the legs joined, what colours the bugs were, where their antennae and wings were placed and so forth.

Having volunteers from the Essex Field Club on hand meant that the children could ask questions about the bug, where they were from, what was their habitat, what they ate ... etc and be provided with expert answers.

I encouraged the children to take their time, to spend at least 5 minutes observing what they were going to draw and guiding them as to what parts I would draw first and how I would section the drawing off.

Close Observation of a Scorpion

Even the parents got involved holding specimens whilst their children concentrated on their drawing

A stunning drawing of a Stick Insect

Children enjoyed using the site specific build frames to draw on

Even the police turned up to draw a bug!

Children enjoyed using pastels, oil pastels, coloured pencils, graphite sticks, charcoal and pencil to complete their drawings. I think it is important that children are given the opportunity to explore varied mediums and the use of colour

We had a fantastic response to the workshop and discovered some very talented young artists as you can see in the pictures below.

What an amazing collection of bug drawings ranging from children aged  2years to 12 years old

This drawing was drawn completely from the child's imagination

I love the colours and the attention to detail in this beautiful oil pastel sketch

The Preying Mantis illustrates all of the key features of an insect, the six legs, 3 body parts, antennae and big eyes. How beautifully has this been drawn and coloured in

If you would like to join us for the 3D session and fancy building your own bug - then come along to the Green Centre on Saturday 1st September between 10:00am - 4:00pm. for more information check out the Essex Field Club website http://www.essexfieldclub.org.uk/portal/p/News 

Paint it, Splat it, Stick It

This Summer I have had the pleasure of working with some talented Art tutors and some even more talented children. Over the course of the summer holiday children from schools around Basildon have been attending activities based at local schools run by BEST (Basildon Education Service Trust). The children have taken part in pentathlons, cookery sessions, dodgeball, speed skills, film production, an Art academy, paint workshops and many more.

During the session children are provided with the opportunity to experiment with materials some of which they may not have used before. I love watching children get their hands dirty and splatter paint, experience physically how it moves across a surface and discover the wide range of marks and effects they can cause themselves. This blog shows off some of my favourite pieces made in workshop for children aged between 5-11years - tutored by Paul Rix-Clancy and Angela Ferguson

Does this not just make you want to go and get your paints out?

I love the eerie feel to this painting, beautiful brush work

Can you spot all of the letters hidden in this stunning masterpiece

One of the amazing pictures finger painting (no brushes allowed) in our finger painting workshop

Working on a masterpiece

Meet Steve! Steve was created during a junk modelling session. It never fails to amaze me what a child can produce from a few bits of junk, cello tape, tissue paper and glue!

More continued mark making and colour exploration using oil pastels

And here is a portrait of me made with Tissue paper!

I just love the detail and shading on this perfect penguin

Tissue paper collage of a tropical island -very Matisse

More finger painting

What a stunning us of colours, marks and simple composition values

I was really hoping this one would be left behind to go on my wall!!! glorious mark making with hands and fingers

And of course, you can't beat a bit of splatter painting

What an amazing picture from a talented 6 year old

A 5 year old's big bad wolf collage

Another wolf collage completed by a 6 year old, just love this one, I think this would make an excellent illustration

As you can see the children clearly enjoyed exploring the materials and techniques taught by our talented tutors. what a fun summer.

For information on arts and craft workshops please contact me on lisamart@hotmail.co.uk 

Corgi's and Crowns

Today is the final blog in my five day bonanza of Jubilee art and crafts ideas for Primary Education.

In today's blog we look at one of the Queens favourites, a beautiful Corgi decoration.

Key Skills: Colour, form and Shape

Materials: Felt material, ribbon, PVA glue, thread, sewing needle, stuffing and glitter glue

Vocab: Pattern, cut, sew, layer, language relating to sewing such as thread, stitch, blanket stitch, cast off

Learning Objectives :

To make a small felt decoration that represents the Jubilee celebrations

To develop sewing and embroidery skills

To understand the importance of design work

To explore the use of felt material to make objects

To develop cutting skills

Process:

Stage 1: Take some time to draw your design out on a piece of paper. Think about what decoration you would like. You will need to  make a template to draw around on your felt paper. You can use a stencil or free hand for this – or alternatively research an image you would like to use from the Internet. Print this off to the size required. Cut out the shape and trace around the edge of the cut out on the felt.

Stage 2: Collect the fabric you require. As you do not need a lot of fabric for this activity, this is a great way of using up scraps of material.

Stage 3: For my Corgi I have cut out two brown felt dog shapes. Using the image I found on line.

Stage 4: Using a contrasting coloured felt, I cut out patches for the face and the chest part of the corgi.

Step 5: using a slip stitch, stitch the contrasting panels in positions on one of the pre-cut piece of brown felt. I have used the slip stitch to add a fur texture to the piece.

Step 6: Using black thread stitch on the facial details. For smaller children you could use small buttons or sequins and glue these on for the facial features.

Step 7: Using a blanket stitch the two pre-cut corgis shapes together. Leave a small gap to allow you to stuff the decoration to add form.

Step 8: Sew up the opening, I have added a piece of string on the top of the corgi’s head to allow my decoration to be hung up.

Step 9: Embellish your decoration. I have added a crown, bow and necklace to my corgi to make him fit for the finest Jubilee party.

An alternative design, on this piece I have made a small teacup in the centre with a teabag hanging from the cup with the quote “Keep calm and Carry on”.

Differentiation:

Key Stage 1: You can use a hand held hole punch such as http://www.fiskarscraft.co.uk/Products/Craft/Punches/Eyelet-Setter/Eyelet-Setter-Pack to make holes in the felt to make it easier to sew for younger pupils. Alternatively younger children can use PVA glue to stick their rosette together. You could also make the rosette in the same manner using tissue paper of funky foam. Why not experiment with a few materials?

Key Stage 2: Think about what your decoration is going to be used for? Will it hang on a bag, a mobile phone, a magnet, be made into a keyring or simply a decoration to hang up in the house.

That's the last entry for now for my Jubilee arts and crafts. Don't forget I would be delighted to see pictures of any work you have created for a special Jubilee art Blog in June. Send your images to lisamart@hotmail.co.uk

Felt Jubilee Rosettes

Day four of my Jubilee art special bring you -Felt Jubilee Rosette

Key Skills: Colour, form and Shape

Materials: Felt material, ribbon, PVA glue, thread, sewing needle and glitter glue

Vocab: Rosette, cut, sew, layer, language relating to sewing such as thread, stitch, blanket stitch, cast off

  

Learning Objectives :

To make a rosette that represents the Jubilee celebrations

To develop sewing and embroidery skills

To understand the importance of design work

To explore the use of felt material to make objects

To develop cutting skills

Process:

Step 1: Take some time to draw your design out on a piece of paper. Think about what is going to be your central image for your rosette, what colours you want around your rosette and what ribbon you would like hanging from the rosette.

Stage 2: Collect the fabric you require. As you do not need a lot of fabric for this activity, this is a great way of using up scraps of material.

Step 3: I have chosen to create a traditional red, white and blue rosette. Cut out three layers, make sure you check with your design to clarify which colour you need the biggest circle to be cut from and which colour will be in the centre of your rosette.

 

Step 4: Cut out any embellishments that you are going to sew onto the centre of the rosette. You could also attach a button, a badge or use sequins to create your centre piece. I have decided to cut the number `60` out of yellow felt material.

Step 5: Now that you completed your preparation work you are ready to start to sew the piece together. For the rosette you work in the reverse order and start with the centre piece. Sew the yellow numbers to the red centre piece using a running stitch.

 

Step 6: Sew around the red section to the white section using a blanket or running stitch.

Step 7: Before you sewn the white section to the blue section secure the ribbon with a couple of stitches to the back of the white section. The ribbon for this rosette was purchased from the Fabric Warehouse.

 

Step 8: Sew the white section to the blue section using a blanket or running stitch.

Step 9: Use a running or blanket stitch around the outside of the blue section to keep a uniform look to the rosette. For a final touch I have added glitter glue around the 60 on the rosette.

<!--[endif]-->

An alternative design, on this piece I have made a small teacup in the centre with a teabag hanging from the cup with the quote “Keep calm and Carry on”.

Differentiation:

Key Stage 1: You can use a hand held hole punch such as http://www.fiskarscraft.co.uk/Products/Craft/Punches/Eyelet-Setter/Eyelet-Setter-Pack to make holes in the felt to make it easier to sew for younger pupils. Alternatively younger children can use PVA glue to stick their rosette together. You could also make the rosette in the same manner using tissue paper of funky foam. Why not experiment with a few materials?

Key Stage 2: Instead of cutting images out for the centre of the rosette, think about images and words that can be embroidered. You can add beads and sequins to create a dynamic and decorative centre of your rosette.

Don't forget to email your pictures if you want them featured on my blog lisamart@hotmail.co.uk

Arty Queen Portrait

Day Three of the Jubilee art brings you a fun activity where children have the opportunity to research and learn about four different artists -Arty Queen Portrait

Key Skills: Shape,colour, form, research

Materials:Picture of the Queen, Images of Vincent Van Gogh, Roy Lichtenstein, PierMondrian and Gustav Klimt’s work, pencil, rubber, cartridge paper, medium towork in such as pencils, crayon or paint

Vocab : Boldcolour, texture, use of line, pattern, Great Masters, brush stroke

 

LearningObjectives :

To use an internet search engine to resource images

To learn about the work of the artists - VincentVan Gogh, Roy Lichtenstein, Pier Mondrian and Gustav Klimt

To apply knowledge of the artists work listed aboveto individual work

To develop drawing and painting skills

To complete a portrait of the Queen in the style offour different artists

Process:

Step 1: Research your artists. For my portrait I have decided to lookat the bold blocks of colour by Pier Mondrian, the dots and dashes of RoyLichtenstein, the wavy, subtle brush strokes of Vincent Van Gogh and thestunning pattern work in Gustav Klimt’s work.

Klimt's amazing pattern work

The pop art styling of Roy Lichtenstein

The bold colours of Mondrian

The amazing brushwork of Van Gogh

Step2: Once you have decided on your artists, you need to draw an outline of theQueens head. You could also try this technique with other London iconic imagessuch as the Beefeaters, ravens, lions etc.

Step 3: You need to decide which artists style youwant to apply to which part of the portrait. Once you have done this you areready to start.

Step 4: I have chosen to work in pastels and pencilfor my portrait but you can work in any medium for this project and on anysurface. You could use paint on a canvas, paint on wood or even create thepiece using felt material – you are only limited by your imagination and thematerials you have available.

Step5: I chose to start with Mondrian at the bottom of the portrait, colouring insections of bold colour using oil pastels.

  

Step 6: For the face of the Queen I decide to usethe dot work on Lichtenstein. I coloured in the bold sections with pastels andthe dots with pencil.

Step7: For the Queens hair I use oil pastels and pencils creating the wavy subtlelines that Vincent Van Gogh uses in his artwork. I have used three differentcolours to help create texture within the hair.

  

Step8: Finally, for the crown I decided to use the stunning glittering pattern workof Klimt. I looked carefully at the pattern work he used in his art work andreplicated shapes and patterns across the crown in pencil.

 

Step9: For a final touch I cut the excess from around the portrait and mounted theimage onto black card.

  

Differentiation:

Key Stage 1: For Key stage 1 pupils four artistsmay be a bit overwhelming. It might be more productive to limit this to one-twoartists

.

Key Stage 2: Key stage 2 pupils could select twoartists that they have researched for a couple of sections of the portrait. Forthe remaining two sections the children can come up with their own styles andpatterns. Once again think about what other images this can be applied to aswell as the Queens portrait.

Don't for get to send me your pictures and I will put the best ones on a blog lisamart@hotmatil.co.uk