Some of our home-schooled children are in the first stage of designing their very own printed handbag. They have started planning whereby the children will eventually go through the design process to create a product In the next few weeks they will move on to demonstrate their sewing skills. Children will learn how to make a paper template of the bag and how to sew a running stitch, backstitch, whip stitch and blanket stitch. Finally, when they have made their handbags children will learn Read more [...]

Children have been looking at Ian Murphy’s drawings and focusing and developing upon mark-making over the last half-term. Mark making is still a pure form of the artist unique self-expression of the communicative process. The children created representational artworks using mark making. This allowed them to explore the different textures and shading techniques within their drawings. The children focused on how to use the pencil to create a wide range of expressive and engaging lines Read more [...]

Ian Murphy is a UK based Fine artist of 30 years, known for his passion for journeys, inspiring his artworks. The rugged and eroded landscape, both natural and the constructed, feature strongly in his visual stimulus, as he seeks to investigate the environments that fracture and decay to get the best ideas for his mixed media canvases in the studio. Our home-schooled children have been looking at his drawings and have produced some excellent thumbnail sketches inspired by his artwork. These Read more [...]

Our home-schooled children have taken each of their individual paintings and have added colour to their artwork. Using watercolours, they have been able create a painting whereby light reflects off the white of the paper and bounces up through the colours, giving it a luminosity. Also, by using a range of brushes the children were able to experiment with different sizes to work out what would be ideal for those little details within their artwork. Watercolour techniques such as working from Read more [...]

Our home-schooled children have been learning all about the famous artist Vincent Van Gogh. Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch artist. He painted portraits and landscapes and used watercolours and oil paints. He is famous for using bright colours and bold brushstrokes in his work. He painted in a style called Post-Impressionism. The children have been focusing on two of his famous paintings, Sunflowers (1888) and Starry Night (1889) and producing some excellent sketching artwork using a variety Read more [...]

Children have been developing observational skills by creating tonal grid drawing during Art lessons. The grid method involves drawing a grid over your reference picture/photo, and then drawing a grid of equal ratio on your work surface/paper. Drawing complex objects purely by eye, without any visual aid like construction lines, or a physical aid like a proportional divider can be difficult. However, using the grid method can help with drawing objects or pictures which require accuracy.   Read more [...]

Our home-schooled children have focusing on drawing skills, looking carefully at the work of European artist Anselm Kiefer. Using the Photo pack of images and a PowerPoint to scaffold the discussion of Anselm Kiefer's work they have presented some great artwork of crumbling buildings. The children looked at facts about Anselm Kiefer’s life and work and their artwork focused on  features of a building, including windows and doors. Over the term the children will be learning about artists, Read more [...]

Our home-schooled children have been making hot air balloons last half term.

They were taught about what sculptures are, what materials can be used and tips for working with paper mache.

Children got to get their hands messy with paper mache and paint. They got to dip strips of paper into glue mixture and create 3 layers onto the balloon.

Have a look above at some of their fantastic striking hot air balloons!

Last week our home-schooled children focused on Handmade Jewellery making during Arts & Crafts lessons. The children started with drawing their own creative designs of their own Jewellery and looked for inspiration from other resources. They looked at a selection of necklaces, brooches and bracelets. They designed their own piece of jewellery and then made a simple bracelet. Using beads, wire, thread and equipment such the mini Jewellery-making pliers set, the children were able to create Read more [...]

This term the children been exploring visual art looking at different materials such as felt, fabric different types of papers with various textures such as card, cellophane tissue paper and have looked at different shapes to create collages.

Many contemporary artists, such as Fred Tomaselli, continue to work in collage.

The boundaries of this medium are endless, and you will find many artists using some unusual materials.