Explode the myth that you can’t draw!
Everyday items around us can be used to create images, sculptures and beautiful art. This activity encourages everyone to work together to create and document their tours, journeys and time on the farm or in the countryside in different ways with different materials you may not have considered.
You will need
Stuff!
- Granular stuff like feed, seed, gravel, sand
- ‘Waste’ stuff like damaged vegetables or fruit
- Found stuff like leaves, twigs, stones, sticks
You might want to have some other stuff like chalks, crayons or felt tips and stuff for joining things like staplers, tape or glue. Think if there is stuff that you use on your farm that could do these jobs.
Three sets of cards
Make three sets of cards. Using different coloured card for the different types of words will make them easier to sort and re-use as a resource. You might want to think about getting them laminated if they will be handled a lot. Use permanent ink if they could get wet or damp.
Numbers
Make a set of cards with numbers 1-10 on them. If you are working with large groups you might want to duplicate the numbers so you have a set of 20 cards. If you are working with very young children you might want to do 1-5.
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Colours
Make a set of cards with different colours on. You might want to have simple basic colours like red, green, yellow or try more adventurous words like ‘burnt’, ‘fresh’, or ‘sunkissed’. You need to make sure that the word colours you choose will fit the materials you have to hand. Participants will be very frustrated if they get the word blue and there is nothing appropriate in the materials. You might want to change these colours with the seasons.
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Shape words
Make a set of cards with different words that relate to shapes. For example: 'spiral', 'pointy', 'zig zag'.
N.B. Artist top tip: use words like 'circular' rather than 'circle', 'triangular' rather than 'triangle'. This will allow participants some freedom from being too rigid in their interpretation of the shapes.
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Now what?
You might want to divide into small groups or let people work individually. Each group gets a card from each set (i.e. a number, a colour and a shape). The task is to use the materials that you have to build a ‘pattern’ that reflects those words. They might lay out swirls of feed on the floor; they might make a pattern out of carrots; or they might staple leaves together. Its about having fun with materials and recording their 'story' or journey rather than making a permanent picture of ‘something’.
Remember
Take photos of the finished works as they can't be taken home in one piece!
For more drawing ideas: