Still Life Painting inspired by Frances Hodgkins

I had a delightful day working with Amy’s Year One and Two class to create still life paintings based on the works of France Hodgkins. I had taught this same lesson to Gina and Maria’s class last term and the artworks were so gorgeous that I was keen to try it again.

Firstly the students prepared a background for their still life works based on the colourful, tonal backgrounds of Frances Hoodgkins paintings Red Jug, 1931, Evening, 1931-1932 and Cut Melons, circa 1931. They learnt how to mix secondary colours both on their palette and directly on their work. They also learnt how to add white to create tints of their original colours.

I modelled for the students how to draw the still life arrangement. I ask them to take their time to look very closely so that they would draw what they could actually see, not what they think they can see. After I had showed the students a few painting techniques I let them go for it. I love watching younger students work with acrylic paint. They love the sophistication of the acrylic paints and really step up to the challenge. I love the artworks that Amy’s students created today. The colours they chose and their brushstrokes embody the Impressionism and Fauvism movements that influenced Frances Hodgkins.