Arts Skills Share

For Arts skills share, I had to organise and hold a small workshop for a group of young children of our family friends during the easter holiday.

So to start and help me with my lesson, I observe my Artspiration class teacher and see how she teaches some of the younger students. I learnt that some children need more support than others to do certain things and prefer to do fun colourful pieces of art.

After this, I had to decide what to teach at my workshop. I decided to do drawings inspired by Yayoi Kusama, a Japanese artist. I pre-cut some paper and arranged pens on a table so they had different colours to pick from. Then the children would draw an object of their liking and start to use a template to map out their circles. They would then start to colour their drawing with felt-tip pens. I encouraged them to use their favourite colours in their piece to express their styles.

Before the lesson I prepared my resources; Paper, pencils, felt tip pens and a circular template. I set up a table, so there was space for all the supplies and their drawings.

First I introduced what we are going to do using my previous art pieces and my final piece. Then I step by step demonstrated to them how to complete the piece. Then I let them try. I think everyone who did my workshop enjoyed it as there were lots of smiles! The feedback from the children who took part was really positive and some of them wanted to try it again.

This is some of the feedback I received from children who did my workshop.

What did you like about my workshop?

• “I liked all of the colours to pick”

• “My flower is pretty and spotty. It looks like a ladybug”

• “I can pick my own colours so my egg is purple !”

• “I like blue mushroom"

How could I have made my workshop better?

• “It is hard to draw lots of spots”

• “My spots all look different”

• “ It is hard to colour inside the line”

Following are some of the work done by the children at my workshop.

Although I struggled a little to work with younger children, overall I found running a workshop very fun and I really enjoyed sharing my skills and knowledge with others. I would love to do it again. 

Maidenhead Art Workshop

For the art skills share, I had to organise and hold a workshop linked to nature for a group of young children during the summer holidays.

So to start and help me with my lesson, I observe my Artspiration class teacher and see how she teaches some younger students. I learnt that some children need more support than others to do certain things and prefer to do fun colourful pieces of art.

After this, I had to decide what to teach at my workshop. I decided to paint pebble insects. I pre-cut some paper and arranged pencils on a table so they could plan out the design of their insect. I also made a few examples for them to help them design. Then the children would pick a base colour for their insects using their colour theory to help them mix different colours. After letting their pebbles dry they could draw on their chosen design with a black felt-tip pen. Finally, they could stick some googly eyes on their insects!

Before the lesson I prepared my resources; Paper, pencils, pebbles, paint, a felt-tip pen, googly eyes and various paintbrushes. I set up a table, so there was space for all the supplies and their drawings.

First I talked to them about insects. Then I step by step explained to them how to complete the pebble. Then I let them try. I think everyone who did my workshop enjoyed it as there were lots of smiles! The feedback from the children who took part was really positive and some of them wanted to try it again.

Feedback

Overall the feedback from the workshop was positive, although I think I could have improved my workshop by teaching them more new things about my topic of pebble insects to help them expand their understanding of it.

Although I struggled a little to work with younger children, overall I found running a workshop very fun and I really enjoyed sharing my skills and knowledge with others. I would love to do it again.