kirklees

I have had a lovely week working at Ashbrow School in Kirklees. I taught from Reception up to Year 4. We created pictures using a variety of techniques and themes.

With Reception we made Rainbows..

We used a wash to create the sky. Then sponged ink against a paper edge for the ground, also scraping into this for grass textures. We used washes of paint to create the rainbow, so the colours looked like light was shining through them.

In Years 1 and 2, we made pictures of mini beasts and owls.

Both the mini beasts and owls were made by sponging inks and then using a variety of materials such as: bubble wrap, net, cardboard, bottle tops and feathers to print with. The starry skies for the owls were made by painting a watercolour wash and sprinkling salt on this to create a night time look.The salt was rubbed off when dry, leaving a speckled effect. The brighter backgrounds for the mini beasts were created using the textured material printing method.

Years 3 and 4 worked on two large pieces of work, the first based on the schools drivers: Communication, Ambition, Respect and Enterprise. The idea was to create a tree with these words growing from it. This was to reflect the direct links the school has to nature; with its own Forest School, bees, hens and vegetable growing.

We initially sketched willow branches from the grounds.Looking carefully at shapes and light and shade.

We then used these sketches to make larger branches to form a tree. The backgrounds were made by printing with textured materials and the leaves were made with stencils and also scratching in to wet ink to create words.

The second piece was inspired by one of my screen prints..

The childrens’ version was made again initially sketching branches. They also made the world together by printing with blue inks for the sea.The land was made using watercolour washes and sketches of famous monuments in pencil-such lovely drawings!