3-Day Courses for Primary Teachers

We will provide all basic materials for your course. More specialist items you can bring or can be purchased locally.

We supply all the necessary equipment you will need but you are welcome to bring your own favourite items, eg brushes, portable easel, palette, if you prefer. It would be useful to have your own digital camera and if possible a portfolio to keep your work together.

Drawing Techniques

This course will help you inspire young children to draw from observation, memory and their imagination. Drawing is the act of thought and we all know how vivid children’s thoughts and imagination can be. By drawing we communicate ideas and feelings, we analyse and explore and we become fully involved in our subject. Drawing helps children communicate when sometimes words cannot do it. Help to inspire children and eliminate ‘the can’t draw’ feeling they get later on in life. This is a very practical course and will involve going out and drawing on location as well as working in our studios.

Location in a forest. Draw looking up in a tree. Take rubbings of a tree or wall and then draw over the top. Charcoal and rubbing out. Try and avoid everyone doing the same picture, ensure children are seen as individuals.

Mixed media

Mono printing, lino, polystyrene tiles, stencil, silk screen Look at designs from Mexico, Australia and Africa.

You can paint and print onto many different surfaces, using subtle changes of tone or bright colourful contrasts.

You can experiment with torn surfaces giving unusual textures or print onto an opaque surface to soften the effect. Layering work can be very effective. Experience comes through experimentation and the excitement of discovering different methods.

Exploring colour

The course is designed to inspire you to teach children how to use colour and to draw in colour. Children love faces, probably their first paintings were of people they know. Take a photo of them individually and get them to look at themselves.

Try lifesize self portraits on lining paper. Get lots of ideas incorporating colour and how to use it effectively. Also discussion on how artists use colour and their individual techniques.