Here we are in our last of 9 weeks and we are still painting! Still mixing colours and still experimenting with different tools to apply the paint. We were completing our Winter Scene paintings that we had begun last week by painting on snowy background with palette knives and forks and snowy skies with sponges. So we had a chat about what we might add to our scene. And we cracked on with the painting!
Fabulous paintings First Class! Wonderful Christmas scenes. Well done First Class and Very Happy Christmas!
We had a brilliant visit to DLR Lexicon for our last week! From getting the Dublin bus down to the Dart station walking over to the gallery. We were planning to visit the Justice + Peace – A Youth Arts Exhibition.
The title, theme and overall look of the exhibition was developed by a group of young people from Crosscare Youth Services, Dún Laoghaire. They collaborated with artist Ciara Keegan and were supported by youth workers to explore the different stages of putting together an exhibition. Together as a group they looked at theme, graphic design, selection of artworks and exhibition layout.
We had a look around and then focused on two artworks. Great observations and conversation around the artworks and how they connected with the theme of the exhibition. Looking at how the image conveys a message. We noticed how the artworks had been curated and laid out. Connecting artworks together in groups maybe linked around the same subject matter or colours.
The students were invited to give their feedback in the Response Area – with post it notes and colours. The class really liked this area and really liked the idea of cushions in the gallery. They felt it gave them a chance to relax and take in the exhibition. And the post its gave a chance to have their responses heard or seen and part of the exhibition.
After snack we met two librarians in the childrens’ library and they showed us around answered all our questions and then we had time to browse and find books. The students really enjoyed finding their own books and also taking in the fantastic view of Dublin bay. Favourite part of the library!
Great day altogether! Well done 5th Class and Horizons! Thanks dlr Lexicon for hosting us!
Finally the big reveal! Here we are in Week 8 and still sewing and stuffing and finishing. Big push on today to get them finished….so here we go!
That’s the group photo….and now for the individual toys.
So proud of 5th Class for all the work they have put in over the last 8 weeks. And helping each other when we needed. And all to get everyone’s individual bespoke and truly unique toys sewn, stuffed and completed for today!
This week it was time to bring our completed artworks together. We spent some time cutting out our self portraits and working out where they should go in relation to the landscape – beside or on top or in the picture. Then putting them up as a gallery. Now it was time to visit the gallery! Jackie drove the bus and Jamie collected the tickets on the bus! And magically Jamie was also on hand to do museum security to make sure everyone stood back from the valuable artworks by our famous artists! Great fun altogether.
We spent a bit of time looking and chatting about each others artworks – what did we like? What title would we give our paintings? Together we thought of titles for our artworks.
Jackie – The Story of the Dart
Luca – Skibbedy Toilet
Evana – The Golden Bridge
Ivy – The Golden River
Lily – My Town
Joanna – My Road
Amber – The Castle Sun
Nathan – Honey Park
Jamie – Golden Hotel
Andrea – Bow with a View
Dion – Orange Sun
Freddie – Rainbow
Amazing work by First Class over the last 8 weeks! And lovely to see it on display today! But we are not finished yet for this season….some winter paintings in the making. Wait and see!
We have had a very busy few weeks in 5th Class. Having gone from our initial learning basic stitching to making bags. Our next step was to make stuffed toys – but we wanted to design them ourselves so each one would be unique. So the planning, drawing, designing, cutting out patterns and fabric.
All took a lot of work and focus. But each week everyone was very enthusiastic to get going and continue with the sewing and making. Once we had the basic shapes cut out, sewn and turned inside out and then stuffed – they could be attached together. And then additional details – buttons, ribbons, spikes, tails, beaks, clothes and hats and scarves. Lots of figuring out….and lots of patience! As everyone worried we would not get them finished each week. But we took our time and now finally in Week 7 they are very nearly finished. They look amazing! Just some finishing touches to be added next week and then they will definitely be ready for the photoshoot! Here’s a sneak preview of just two finished toys.
Looking forward to sharing all the finished toys next week!
And with all the learning and sewing we have been doing over the last 6 weeks we are planning to make some simple stuffed Christmas decorations.
Some of the class have been so enthusiastic that they were making some toys at home during the last few weeks using materials or recycling toys and clothes from home.. Here’s some photos of Reggies and Cora Jean’s creations!
We began working on painted self portraits in Week 6. And with all of our slowing down, taking our time and paying some serious attention to colour mixing we continued to work on them in Week 7.
We began with looking at ourselves in the mirror – firstly looking at the shapes of our heads….they are not round like a circle. They are more oval. Then we looked at where our eyes are in our face – not at the top or not on the sides….nearly in the middle.
We then looked at colours – eye colour how they were subtly different. Then our hair colour – comparing as lighter or darker with each other. Then our skin colour….it’s not peach like we always think. And all of our skin colours are different. How were we going to mix them all? What colours would we need.
It really is amazing to see how First Class focus on the colour mixing and noticing what colours they need to mix to achieve the necessary colour. We mixed and held the paint brush to check it was close enough. Little spots of colours added to change the tone or shade….slowly slowly carefully carefully.
And here is how they developed in Week 7…..fabulous work First Class.
We have been having a very busy few weeks painting with First Class! Following on from our colour mixing and looking at contrasting colours through pattern and texture. We planned paintings of our places around us – first looking back at the Gerard Dillon painting we looked at in week one looking at what the artist tells us about his place through his painting. We talked about the colours we will need and how we might mix them, using our colour charts for reference. We planned out the painting in a small sketch and then drew it on to A2 sheet so plenty of space to include lots of details.
We really took our time mixing colours and adding details and looking at each others paintings sharing ideas. I think we were all surprised that we worked on these over two weeks. Really slowing down! And like real artists standing back and making decisions about how to mix colours to get the right tone or shade. Fantastic paintings began to emerge from our colourful palettes!
In Week 2 the class were very eager to get going on their stitching again! We began with using cotton fabric which everyone found a lot easier to work with. Out first task was to refresh on the basics
Threading Needle
2. Doubling/ knotting thread
3. Double stitch to begin
4. Basic tacking or running stitch
5. Finish on double or back stitch.
After practicing some lines, we moved onto attaching small patch of fabric. And then we looked at next week making them into bags? Or pockets? Or purses?
In Week 3 we began once again with a practical demonstration of the basics – just to make sure everyone is all caught up and at the same stage. Then everyone began looking at how they could make their fabric into a bag. I showed how – similar to their clothes the seam was on the inside. So if we made it inside out, sewed it and turned it inside out the seam would be neater and not visible. This was rocket science for some until we actually got to do it! Visually explaining!
Everyone got busy making bespoke bags with handles, pockets, decorations, patches….
Alongside sewing we have continued our conversations about where we see sewing, stitching around us. We have also been looking at different students favourite toys to see how they are made – how many parts does it take to make them? Have they been mended repaired? This is Saoirse’s bear…10 years old and very loved and Saoirse gets comfort from bear.
We have decided we will be making our won stuffed toys – animals, or monsters who knows. Will begin looking at designing patterns and transferring them to fabric next week!
Lots of excitement in the classroom as it was the Halloween Party! I was sure with all the excitement we would not get any colour mixing done other than orange for Halloween! Actually settled down quickly and chatted about colours which we are still missing…..we still had not found pink, or brown or grey or sky blue? Time to introduce white and black to create shades of the primary colours. Using the same strips each table selected a primary colour and one one strip mixed with white and on second strip mixed with black….slowely and carefully one step at a time. Beautiful scales of colours emerged!
So then using large sheets of paper I masked it off into random sections. Different shapes and sizes. Each table – group of 3-4 students was to paint a different colour in each section. And then on top of that use a different colour and different brush mark to make a pattern! Groups worked quickly and very well together and once again beautiful patchwork of patterns were created.
After the Halloween disco we spent a bit of time talking and reflecting on which patterns we liked and why we liked that one the best. Good chat and everyone finding something different in each of the paintings.
In our second session we began by reflecting on our colour charts from week one.
Primary Colours – Red, Blue and Yellow
Secondary Colours – Green, Orange and Purple
All made through mixing just the primary colours. We looked at how we had all got different shades of the secondary colours and decided it was because we mixed different amount of each colour. Also we had noticed how some colours are stronger than others. So in Week 2 we explored the different scales of tones we could mix between the two primaries. Sounds complicated! Even with a practical demo it took the class a while to get the idea! And although sounds like a very rigid system it helps to see how the colours mix gradually and make new tones. A few aha moments! After a very busy morning mixing each student selected the favourite colour they had mixed and gave it a name – here are some names –
DLR Creativity in the Classroom 