Year 2: Drawing Cuddly Toys Using Texture and Viewpoint

 In year 2 last term, we explored and described different ways to shade in order to show texture. Can you see how we used the pencils in different ways?
We also looked closely, talked about and drew objects from different viewpoints: the front, back, and both sides. 
Here are some of our drawings of cuddly toys using shading to show the texture.

Djembe in Y2

Year 2 children are expanding their skills on the Djembe. They have learned a third sound called the slap and practised cyclic patterns based on three sounds. They really enjoyed singing an African song’’Chey, chey kule’’ and had a go at playing a multilayered pattern using percussion instruments.

 

 

Year 2 Explore and Draw

In year 2 art, we have been developing our observational drawing, experimental mark making, and thinking  about how we can use composition to create artwork.

The exercises and projects encouraged the children to begin to develop hand-eye coordination through slow and paced looking.

We have tried lots of fun drawing activities such as: blind drawings, feely drawings, continuous line drawings, and backwards forwards drawings.

We used a variety of drawing materials including: pencil, biro pen, handwriting pen, paint, chalk and charcoal.

We drew the same set of objects from different viewpoints.

We even used a story for inspiration to fire our imagination.

Surprised!

In year 2 art, we have been responding to the painting Surprised! By Henri Rousseau as part of the National Gallery's Take One Picture project. We discussed the painting in detail thinking about what we could see, hear, feel and smell.

The children were particularly interested in what the tiger could be looking at. This started another discussion about what other animals, birds and insects could be nearby- perhaps camouflaged. 

From photographs, we drew the other creatures using sketching pencils.

Wassily Kandinsky inspired paintings

In year 2 art, we have explored several paintings by the artist Wassily Kandinsky. We thought about how they made us feel, the colours, the techniques used and that it is abstract.

Here is one of his paintings:

Then we responded with our own Kandinsky inspired work. We learned how to control the brush to paint more precisely. We used bold, bright colurs. We used primary colours and then mixed then to make our own secondary colours.

Starry, Starry Night

In year 2 art, the children have been exploring different types of paint and how to apply it to the page.

They have also been exploring colour mixing with primary and secondary colours.

This week they looked carefully at paintings by Vincent Van Gogh - particularly Starry Night.

Then they responded to the painting with their own starry nights. 

They applied thick acrylic paint using a selection of different size and shape brushes, corrugated cardboard, and the end of a paintbrush handle. This enabled impasto and sgraffito techniques to be explored.

Here are some of their finished pieces.

Hundertwasser Houses!

In year 2 art for the past four weeks, we have been designing and making houses. We learned about the artist and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Here are a few of his buildings. We used them as inspiration for making our own houses.

First we had to roll out the clay to an even thickness; cut out the windows and door; roll the clay into a cylindrical shape; and finally score and slip the join. This was the hardest part!

In the second lesson, we had to prime our houses using a mixture of white paint and pva glue. This would give the clay a bit of extra strength and provide a bright background on which we could add colour. We also attached a cardboard base to help them stand a little more sturdily. In the next lesson we added acrylic paint using primary colours.

Lastly, in week 4, we made roofs, additional doors, shutters, slides and anything else that we thought our houses needed.

Here are some of our completed Hundertwasser style houses! 

Which one would you want to live in?

3D Clay skills and techniques

In year 2 art, we are learning how to use clay in different ways. It can be very tricky to use as it dries very quickly so we have been learning how and when to add water. We have practised rolling clay to an even thickness, and inlaying different coloured clay. We have also made ‘vegetables’ in response to a story by rolling, pinching and pulling coloured clays. We have been learning how to use scoring and slipping techniques to join pieces of wet clay.

Rolling, shaping clay and smoothing the cracks.

Our inlayed clay 'worms' in response to a story with some arching ones too.

Pinching, pulling, scoring, slipping and joining our clay.

Our magic vegetable gardens including: cabbages, carrots and turnips, in response to a story.

Printmaking in Year 2

In year 2 art this week, we have explored a second type of printmaking. 
We indented designs into  polystyrene tiles using a pencil, then inked up the tile using printing ink.

We made repeated prints pressing firmly onto the back of the tile. 

After our first set of prints we indented more of our design into our tiles and layered over some of the original prints. This created the effect of two colours in one print- with the original colour left where the extra detail was added.

Incredible, imaginative, inventions!

In year 2 art, we looked at some of the inventions of the famous artist Leonardo Da Vinci. For example:

After sketching objects that might be needed, the children designed new machines that they thought would be useful. They could talk about the different parts in great detail. 

Here are some of the designs which include: flying machines, learning machines, a mobile cafe, and a cleaning machine! Many of them include a disco ball and coffee machine, which I think you'll agree are essentials.

Year 2 Art: Plop!

In year 2 our focus in art is exploring and drawing. We have drawn the character Plop from the story The Owl Who was afraid of the dark. We have been working from our imagination in response to the story. We have used paint, chalk and oil pastel to create different effects.

Here are some of our finished drawings:

Children moving up to year three

Please be aware that as your child enters year three in September they will need to pay for their lunches- if they are not entitled to a free school meal.


If you are unsure whether your child is entitled to a free school meal then you call and check with Sally Delaney on 01708 434343


Have a lovely holiday!