Our River – Year Five Pupils Build a Communal Drawing in Four Steps

By Sheila Ceccarelli

In this session we approached creating a layered drawing and ‘wax resist’ on a massive scale and pupils loved it!

I was invited to lead the year 5 class at Ridgefield Primary, Cambridge in a manic, one hour session as part of their Art Week and exploration of Georges Seurat Bathers at Asnières, 1884, National Gallery, London.

Children working with masking tape to make long strokes — Initially children worked with masking tape, sticking long lengths of it down the paper

Initially pupils draw long river lines in masking tape — This gave pupils a sense of immediate interaction, ownership and excitement at working on a large scale

Detail of masking tape — Detail of masking tape – pupils enjoyed working together

To get a sense of the length of the paper and prevent the youngsters feeling confined to one part of the sheet, they walked in procession mark making along the length and breadth of the paper — To get a sense of the length of the paper, and prevent the youngsters feeling confined to one part of the sheet, they walked in procession mark making along the length and breadth of it using permanent markers and graphite

Initial marks in pen and graphite — They were encouraged to experiment with their marks and imagine the sounds and feeling of water whilst working

Pupils are then given a selection of oil pastels and encouraged to work energetically with mark making inspired by the water — Pupils were then given a selection of oil pastels and encouraged to work energetically making marks inspired by the water and responding to the marks and lines already on the paper

Pupils building up the drawing with oil pastels — Pupils build the drawing with oil pastels

Oil pastels and permanent marker marks over masking tape

Then the real fun began! Pupils were given paint and coloured Indian ink and encouraged to respond to the existing marks on the paper with strong strokes

Pupils love this process and enjoy experimenting with how they apply the paint — Pupils seemed to love this process and enjoy the freedom of experimenting with how to apply paint

And for some a fully immersive experience!

While others are more controlled in their approach! — Whilst others are more controlled in their approach!

There are moments of shear joy!

Final touches to the river drawing — And absolute engagement

Layers of paint over masking tape, oil pastel and permanent marker

Pupils then worked carefully together to peal off the masking tape now buried under layers of marks and texture — Pupils then worked together to peal off the masking tape, now buried under layers of marks and texture

Removing the masking tape — To reveal the original design with masking tape

Working together

Finished work - Pupils marvel at their creation! — Finished work – Pupils marvel at their creation!

The fabulous class teacher Mrs Timmis then guided pupils in a discussion about what they might do with or to their river drawing next.

Pupils voiced many wonderful ideas including populating the river banks with a class picnic or making it into a three dimensional sculpture. I eagerly await news from Ridgefield Primary School as to what happened next!

Many thanks for having AccessArt!