Last session - Toon and Charlotte

During our last session there were two guests: Toon Delanote & Charlotte Peys who are Belgian artists.

They talked about using different techniques and methods to create pieces of art with children.
The lesson was very interesting and inspirational. All the time I was wondering how can I use presented techniques in the reality of Polish schools.

The artists showed us several different ways of presenting art:

1) DRAWINGS

Our task was to draw a collection of things.
Collecting is very popular among young students, so for them it won't be difficult to share their treasures with others. If a child does not collect anything, he/she can think of a collection of their dreams or draw a colection of their mum/dad/grandmother/friend etc.

My mum's buttons collection

2) GRAPHIC NOVEL

That's a very simple and interesting technique. First you colour the whole page with crayons (one colour or more). Then you put some dark paint (for example black). Next step is to scrape a picture by a toothpick.

3) PORTRAIT 

The third technique that we used was drawing a portrait of your  neighbour. We sat down opposite each other and using paints we tried to draw ourselves. It was actually very funny exercise - each of us tried to paint the other person as good as it was possible but thick paintbrush were barriers difficult to defeat. However, such experience was also very inspirational and creative.

 

4)  Thougts

Next technique is closely connected with the previous task. Our task was to draw what were we thinking of in that moment. For me it was a diffilult thing to do, because I thought about many matters and most of them was difficult to draw. However, I think that for kids it is a great activity. They exercise their imagination. It can also help them to organize their thoughts and maybe help in making a decision. Such activities have also therapeutic purposes: it helps to overcome fears, straighten up dreams and wishes.

5) MAPS

This technique - maps - for me was the most strange and the least needed and creative. I could not find the aim of that activity. However, I am aware that art does not have to be useful and understandable all the time.

6) PRINTING INK 

The last technique that we used was for me the most interesting one - printing ink. We first prepared the picture, cut the parts that later will be black and then put the ink. The results were fantastic! We have printed our own stories. I think this task will be extremely interesting for the children. They can experience on their own that the process of printing is not so easy but definitely worth spending time on it !

Template with the story

Printed story

The session was very interesting and inspirational. Presented techniques can be also used during foreign language lessons as a warming up activity or a part of a longer project.