Mixed Media Monsters
Today was the second time that Gina and Shanon’s class have visited the art room this term. Last time the class visited they learnt about about making relief prints using polystyrene printing blocks and brayers. The students continued their printmaking journey today by using printing techniques to create texture in multi-media artworks.
Our subject matter for todays lesson was monsters! It is a subject matter that is instantly engaging for young learners. We watched a video of the story ‘Monster Don’t Eat Broccoli’ by Barbara Jean Hicks. The students eagerly discussed what their own monster would look like before drawing it onto coloured paper. Next the students used pieces of textured plastic as printing blocks to create texture on the monsters. While the monsters were drying the students created cityscape and woodland backgrounds with pastel and watercolour paints.
I chose to make today’s lesson reasonably free-form. The students were able to choose their own colours instead of working from a restricted colour palette. They created monsters from their own imagination with very little modelling from me and had lots of choice in the design of their backgrounds. I wanted the students to enjoy the feeling of being free to make their own artistic decisions and see the result.
Once everything was dry the students glued the pieces together and added facial details with scrap pieces of coloured paper. Usually I would hang the finished artworks in a classroom or hallway but the students were quite insistent on taking their creations home today. They were chuffed when I agreed. They left the art room at the end of the day as a very happy bunch of budding artists.
