Summer workshops… butterfly symmetry printing

This was my busiest workshop of the summer… I’m not sure how many people came but it was BUUUUSY, lots dropping in throughout the morning, this was another one run with Bovey help hub. I didn’t manage to get photos of everybody’s work, but what I’ve got images of here is great

I did little demos of how to do symmetrical printing, showed them where all the sequins, glue and collage bits were, then left them to it… again i absolutely LOVE what the kids came up with… I hope all these beautiful works of art have pride of place brightening up their homes around Bovey Tracey.

Kids Art Club Workshops – symmetry printing and 3-D beetles

Being inspired by the incredible patterns and forms of beetles, butterflies, moths and stick insects from around the world, the children started on making beautiful symmetry prints using acrylic paints as well as drawing with oil pastels. They spent an entire session just playing with the paints, building up layers of textures and colours on A3, A4, A5 and A6 pieces of good quality thick art paper which would be strong enough for constructing but still easy enough to fold and cut. I don’t like to give kids rubbishy art materials just because they are young! I want them to feel that their artwork deserves quality ingredients.

On week 2 they cut their papers and constructed some amazing creatures, wild enough to rival nature! This demanded some real engineering skills and I was so impressed by how they all helped each other and shared their ideas around for making them 3-D. I had shown them a few ways to turn a flat surface into 3-D one but actually they invesnted their own ways too! Have a look at some of their creatures which wouldn’t look out of place in an undisturbed jungle…