trees

Yesterday the y2's enhanced their Autumnal pics by adding stitched 'grass' and 'bark'. These mixed media pieces have involved printing, collage and now ' textiles'.   

collage

Using the potato printed leaves that they produced last week, the y2's today created Autumnal collages.

Printing

Today the y2's used potatoes for printing. I managed to find some wooden knives that proved more than up to the task of creating patterns on the cut surfaces without being too sharp. 

After some experimentation we ended by printing 'Autumnal' leaves - which we will use next week on collage pieces.

after Rousseau

Today the y2's had a go at recreating their own versions of 'Surprise!' by Henri Rousseau. We changed the tiger for a cheetah and drew, painted and collaged to create our pictures. We only had an hour (!) in which to try and complete them.

leaves

Today our y1's wove some Autumn leaves. They cut out simple leaf-shaped looms and wove strips of paper and card through them.

We added thinner strips to further enhance the overall effect.

Excesses were trimmed off.

hedge

Completed the planting of our hedge this past week. Lots of different bushes that should, hopefully, grow to about 2m tall and thicken out over the next few years.

paper sculpture

Today the y1's created some small paper 'sculptures' of a forest floor. We cut, tore, twisted, wove and glued different papers to represent fallen leaves, grass and twigs.

Here's the 'one I did earlier' as an example, though I think I might have been too enthusiastic!

The plan is to actually display them on a floor (we have some large papier mâché trees that are crying out for a 'setting') away from walking feet!

weaving

Y5 today completed their weaving projct by adding found, natural materials. A few lucky children found feathers to weave in whilst others were content with greenery.

 

 

 

We then tied them (securely we hope) to the fence that lines the walk up to our 'Forest Schools' area. It'll be interesting to see how they change over the coming weeks after being exposed to the elements.

 

yesterday

A bit of wax resist with Y3. Ancient Greek designs which we are going to cut into vases and urns.

 

Watery-paint blown trees and finger print leaves with Y1.

leaves & doodles

Y1 have been adding to our 'magical forest' by weaving leaves. These are then being threaded with wire before being wrapped onto the branches with yarn - a laborious process but its all slowly beginning to take shape.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, a few doodles from my sketchbook. Must've been listening to some Sinatra tracks in my head whilst drawing them!

 

 

 

painting

Y6 painted strips of paper to represent water. They used wet on wet, spatter and combing techniques.

They are intended for a composite piece that incorporates their ceramic ducks and fish.

 



Meanwhile Y5 took inspiration from Mondrian and Paul Klee to paint 'green' abstract images. These will be used back to back to create leaves for the magic forest that Y1 are currently putting together.

watercolours

In Y5 this week we looked at the work of Henri Rousseau. In particular, his 'jungle' paintings. The class have been studying a 'Green' themed curriculum, as in environment/recycle/reuse/repurpose etc. We noted how certain motifs and shapes repeated themselves. I explained that he was a regular visitor to the Botanical Gardens in Paris and that he studied wild/exotic animals both 'live' in zoos and as stuffed artefacts!

We then had a go at creating our own rainforest paintings. We put down washes of blue and green and then went to town with a wide variety of leaf shapes and shades of green.

 

We added stripes of orange and black to suggest a tiger lurking in the undergrowth.

autumn leaves + cow

Printing today with the FS2's (4&5 yr olds). Using pre-cut stencils and red and yellow paint we sponged autumn leaves. The children noticed that red + yellow = orange and managed to create some quite effective prints. We used thin paper to print them on so hopefully they'll crinkle a little for added effect. We'll cut them out once they've dried and use them as part of our seasonal display.

 

 

Whilst the children are registering I generally do a few quick sketches. Here's one of todays. I've titled it 'Polka Dot Jersey' (a play on the link between the King of the Mountains Jersey in the Tour de France and a spotty Jersey cow !!).

autumnal abstracts

Finally managed to display the artwork we started weeks ago - added 'fallen' leaves and other details today. Work is pinned up ready for final fixing.

Need to add a few more touches - photos of the process etc.