LO: Art lessons in relation to 'Wolf Brother' by Michelle Paver

Six thousand years ago evil stalks the land. Only twelve-year-old Torak and his wolf-cub companion can defeat it. Their journey together takes them through deep forests, across giant glaciers, and into dangers they never imagined.

In this page-turning, original, and spectacularly told adventure story, Torak and Wolf are joined by an incredible cast of characters as they battle to save their world.

Over the course of three one hour long lessons children were given the chance to draw wolves, create paintings and finally each make a wolf mask.

Sketches of wolves were made using different pencil shades.

 Paintings were created. Children learnt about different tones of grey by only using white and black paint.

Wolf masks 
These were made in three stages...
1. The structure of the mask was a bought template, cardboard and lots of masking tape.
2. Paper mache-ing the entire mask.
3. Paint!

Everyone could transform into a completely different character when they put on the wolf mask! They were used as part as drama lesson, class assembly dance and group games lesson.

LO: Create your own soup can inspired by Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol was part of the Pop Art movement. He was famous for exploring popular culture in his work, using images of brands like Coca Cola, Listerine and Campbell’s Soup (which was one of his favourite things to eat!).

Year 6 children were given the research sheet below and we discussed many aspects of Warhol's work and how he liked to use bright colours and silk screening techniques to mass-produce artworks.

Firstly, they were given an A5 piece of white card and taught how to draw and fill the page with a cylinder soup can shape. Then they were set the challenge to create their very own soup that reflects a part of themselves. Whether that be their personality, likes, dislikes, colours, name, inspiration from Warhol... whatever they want!

What talented children! What amazing colours! And don't they look great as a collaborative class piece?! Very proud as always :)

The Andy Warhol Museum over in Pittsburgh, USA, loved seeing the children's work too. Well done guys!

  

LO: Artwork inspired by Peter Kwangware and 'Journey to Jo'burg' by Beverley Naidoo

Year 6 students read the incredible book 'Journey to Jo'burg' by Beverley Naidoo. 

Frightened that their baby sister Dineo will die, thirteen-year-old Naledi and her younger brother Tiro run away from their grandmother to Johannesburg to find their mother, who works there as a maid. Their journey illustrates at every turn the grim realities of apartheid - the pass laws, bantustans, racism, the breakdown of family life.

This was an extremely moving, yet beautiful story. Many children were shocked and amazed that such discrimination against people based on race happened so brutally and so recently.

I decided that it was only fitting to introduce the children to an artist from Africa. After much research, I came across a vibrant figurative artist named Peter Kwangware. I instantly fell in love with his work, as did the children.

Kwangware's paintings are mostly created from oils and are inspired by social aspects of African life and explore themes of everyday living in both the city and rural areas. He often paints popular spots such as fields, markets and strives to tell the tales of present times.

Year 6 were challenged to create their own interpretation of his work. They could use, pencil and felt-tips. Great results as always!

LO: Create a piece of artwork inspired by Roy Lichtenstein including onomatopoeia

Whammmm!!!! Today, Art Club were exposed to the artwork of the wonderful Pop artist Roy Lichtenstein. 

I brought lots of books to school featuring his paintings, plus a variety of comics to inspire them. The research sheet below was given and stuck into their sketchpads.

                                   

The challenge was to create their own freeze-frame, or series of images in a comic strip style and it MUST contain onomatopoeia.

BANG! CRASH! POW! KAPOW! BOOM!!!! Great results Art Club! :)

LO: Create a koi fish to complement class topic Japan

Whilst studying Japan in their topic, Year 6 students were set the challenge to create a large koi fish painting. This would eventually be used as a prop for their class assembly.

To begin with, they were taught the step by step instructions on how to create the basic shape of a koi fish and asked to fill an A3 page full of practice sketches. Once they felt confident they were able to draw their fish on a larger scale for their final piece and paint using watercolours or poster paint.

They used the research sheet below for guidance. One sheet gives instructions on how to draw a simple koi whilst the other is slightly harder.

            

             

The story of koi overcoming adversity has been in Japanese culture for generations. The story says that koi fish climbed waterfalls in spite of the heavy current attempting to keep them in their pool. They battled perseverance to climb the falls because they wanted this outcome so badly.

Take a look at the beautiful koi Year 6 have created! Such beautiful colours and so much detail. I am very proud of this artwork. Well done! :)

 

               

                                                      

 

LO: Watercoloured abstract leaves

Art Club were given a selection of leaves to draw, a ruler and a set of watercolours.

The objective of todays short lesson was to draw the different types of leaves and turn their drawing abstract with a ruler.

We discussed the difference between warm and cool colours.

And how to correctly use watercolours.

Dazzling results Art Club! :)

LO: Create a Jackson Pollock style painting

Jackson Pollock was an American Abstract Expressionist painter and considered the most challenging and influential American artist of the 20th century. He was well known for his unique style of drip painting and was the first ever 'action painter', meaning that he would drip, pour, throw and splash his paint onto very large canvases which were often laid flat on the floor of his New York studio.

Many say he would literally dance, as though in a trance, as he created his masterpieces!

Firstly, Art Club discussed Pollock's work and style, then each were given an abundance of coloured poster paints, a piece of A3 white paper and challenged to express themselves... Pollock style!

They really enjoyed the looseness and action of this process.

Some children had the opportunity to create one on a larger scale (below). They put their fingertips in and got really messy!

                        

We discussed how their paintings could express emotions. The different colours as well as how the paint has fallen on to the paper were key factors in various moods/ emotions.

Ideally, it would have been better to do this activity outside. Children were very cautious when applying paint as they didn't want to get it on the walls or carpet! 

As you can see, the paint on their artwork has barely touched the edge of the paper. I think if we were to do this outside their paintings would've been considerably different! 

Many were surprised that this 'action' is classed as artwork and that Pollock's works of art sell for millions of pounds!

Some lucky children had the chance to stay in at lunch time and create a more controlled piece of artwork.