Day 2 at the Animation Station saw children developing their animation skills in new ways, we experimented with full body animation, made new characters using collage and perfected our skills using the i-motion app.

We kicked off to a great start with Day 1 of the Animation Station, led by artist and illustrator Amy Pennington, supported by artist Veena Scialo,  a recent animation graduate and another student of illustration and animation. Our very well qualified team began this chilly day with a warm up in the gym!

Children are used to glossy colour magazines in full colour, but we chose to make a different kind of zine – they may not be used to the muted colours,  limited palette and matt texture of this product.

Artist Ania Bas led the second day of our literary inspired course in collaboration with Wimbledon Bookfest.

On Day 1 we concentrated on what makes a charismatic character and on Day 2 we looked at what makes a sensational storyline. Our findings are to be compiled into a ‘Zine’ aimed at budding authors. The title of which will be:

INK – A basic guide to building a Children’s Book

As always we began the afternoon with a warm up – for our minds, bodies and fingers. First we made a drawing as Ania told a short story – we weren’t allowed to take out pencil off the paper at all. A continuous line drawing!

As part of a collaboration with Wimbledon Bookfest we worked with artist Ania Bas to create and publish a Zine in a weekend.

Taking literary inspiration we decided to publish a zine for budding authors on what makes a good children’s book from the point of view of the children. We would have two afternoons to produce and edit the material.

Architect and designer James Sale, from Collaborative Design and Build, joined us for two days of large-scale making, where we learnt about the principles of architecture and design.

Architect and designer James Sale, from Collaborative Design and Build, joined us for two days of large-scale making, where we learnt about the principles of architecture and design.

This half term we have been working with a great bunch of children of mixed ages in our Visual Storytelling course with illustrator Amy Pennington.

On Day 1 the children developed  amazing new characters in groups which they took on new adventures in Day 2.

We began Day 2 with some more warm up exercises. We played a game called pass the face; exploring the emotions and expressions our characters might need.

llustrator Amy Pennington joined us once more to run our popular illustration course.

Playing Seriously

In our first Art Club session back at Merton Park Primary School, after the Christmas holidays, we began to explore ideas around building, structures and machinery.

I have been interested the idea of ‘serious play’ for a while in the work that I do; that is playing with ideas or materials with a purpose.

Artist Abigail Hunt lead our two day Christmas art course for children, supported by Sabrina Smith Noble who adapted activities for younger children.

We investigated the limitless possibilities of paper for decoration, sculpture, collage and problem solving, sometimes with a curious Christmas twist.

Artist Abigail Hunt lead our two day Christmas art course for children, supported by Sabrina Smith Noble who adapted activities for younger children.

We investigated the limitless possibilities of paper for decoration, sculpture, collage and problem solving, sometimes with a curious Christmas twist.

We arrived with trepidation on Tuesday morning hoping that our animals had survived the night. To our relief they were still hanging at the edges of our camp, looking even more beautiful as the morning sun shone through the leaves.

This half term Children’s Art School have teamed up with the BIG DRAW to go Wild on Wimbledon Common with Artist and Forest School practitioner Philippa Snell.

I have always loved autumn on Wimbledon Common and enjoy exploring with my two boys; making dens, soaking up the last of the autumn sun, chasing the leaves and wallowing in the mud. It’s  such a wonderful time and place to get creative outside.

Pelham After-School Art Club (Autumn Term Project)

For the first session at the Merton Park After-School Art Club, we decided to take advantage of the late September sun and do some drawing outside. Our focus was on leaves and the variety of shapes they form.

We began by exploring lines and shapes using graded pencils. We experimented with both quick sketches and more detailed studies of the leaves.

On Day 2 of The Art of the Game – our summer Art course for Children devised by artist Sarah Carne - we began by sorting and arranging the numbers into a board.

It was easy to see the mistakes we had made! But we found solutions for all the little glitches!

On this beautiful summer’s day, artist Sarah Carne began our children’s art course by involving them in games to get us making decisions and choices.

We then worked in teams to think about things that make us happy and healthy.

Will you go up? Or down?

This summer artist Sarah Carne will explore in The Art of the Game –  our two-day children’s art course with children – the possibility of building a human scale game similar to snakes and ladders incorporating issues that interest them. These ideas could could be as broad as recycling, climate change, school uniform or the length of their holidays.

They will be encouraged to share and debate opinions – and perhaps disagree, whilst developing skills in making: design, painting and building.

Day 2 of our Magazines for Kids by Kids course, and artist Ania Bas continued to lead the team of editors in the production of their magazine.

The group began to bond through decision making and collaborative action. Teams were formed for specific tasks and the children worked together to inspire and advise each other.

Slowly ‘The Artist Times’ emerged!

At the Children’s Art School Half Term course children worked as a team of editors to design and create their own magazine by kids for kids.

We looked at magazines and planned what we would like to include.