Year 4 Art: Storytelling through drawing - charcoal

In year 4 we have explored different ways to draw using charcoal. We created different tones, textures and atmospheres by using the charcoal (and a little white chalk) in a variety of ways. 

Over three weeks, we made a concertina book telling the poem The Owl and The Pussycat by Edward Lear using illustrations only. 

Here are some of our finished pieces:

Reduction Printmaking: Jungle leaves

In year 4 art, we have been learning the process of reduction press printing. 

We used the drawings and plan from our previous lesson and 'worried away' the surface of a small piece of polystyrene in order to make our first print. 

 

Then we inked up the roller in the printing tray and applied it to the polystyrene. After that, we pressed it onto the page producing a first print, and a ghost print. We experimented by rotated the block to see what it would look like.

We then produced second colour prints from Press Print reduction block after 'worrying away' more of the surface and inking up in a second colour. We adapted and modified our work as we thought we needed to. 

Finally we produced third colour prints from Press Print reduction block after 'worrying away' more of the surface and inking up in a third colour.

The results are amazing. You can clearly see where the polystyrene has been adapted each time.

Green grass, leaves, trees, and bushes galore!

In year 4 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.

We were most interested in the plants, grass and trees that fill the painting and camouflage the tiger. We noticed many stripes and repeated patterns which made us think about printmaking. We drew from photographs rainforest plants and planned how we will print them next lesson in three colour stages. The detail noticed is amazing. Well done year 4!

Surprised! Henri Rousseau

Still Life

In year 4 art, we have been exploring still life. We looked at some of Cezanne’s still life paintings; the colours, the brushstrokes and the composition.

Then we made our own still life compositions and photographed them. Here are a few of them:

After that, we looked closely and carefully to draw them in detail. We had to think about the size and position of each object compared to each other and where they would fit on the page.

Next lesson we will be exploring how we can use colour on our still life work.

Carefully Crafted Coil Pots

In year 4 art for the past three weeks, we have been making coil pots. It is a skillful process and here's how we did it.

Firstly, we rolled out a piece of clay to an even thickness and cut it into a circle or oval shape to be the base. Then we rolled out four or five long coils to the same length (making sure they would fit around the base). Then came the most important part: scoring and slipping the clay and joining all the coils. After that we made decorative shapes to top the pot and smoothed the clay for a perfect finish.

In the second lesson, we primed the clay using a mix of pva glue and white paint. Also, we designed our colours and patterns.

In the final lesson, we painted the clay to our design!

Here are some of our final pieces. 

Inspired by Sol Lewitt

In Year 4 art, we looked the work of Sol Lewitt. He created sets of written instructions or guidelines which others could follow to create his Wall Drawings so we did just that for his work #118. 

Then we created art work with our own rules so that others could recreate our work. 

Why don’t you have a go?

Sensory Pictures

In year 4 art this term, we have been thinking about mindfulness and so made sensory pictures. We drew patterns onto paper then punctured holes and made bumps using pens and pencils (depending on the size and shape that we wanted to create). We made sure to have a piece of corrugated card underneath the paper to make precise patterns and to prevent the pencils from sliding around. It was very calming and we enjoyed feeling the textured patterns that we had created.

Year 4 art: The Owl and The Pussycat by Edward Lear

Last half term, Year 4 used charcoal to for different effects. The created such scenes as fierce thunderstorms, huge storms at sea, whipping winds, and calm tranquility. They also drew a scene using toys. Here is some of their creations:

They then illustrated the classic poem The Owl and The Pussycat by Edward Lear in a concertina book.

Year 4 Mathletics Certificates!

 Year 4 Mathletics Certificates!

Well done to these children in year 4 who have achieved bronze and silver Mathletics certificates this week! Keep up your outstanding dedication to home learning in year 5!

Year 4 Mathletics Certificates!

 Year 4 Mathletics Certificates!

Well done to these children in year 4 who have been awarded their bronze and silver Mathletics certificates this week! 

Greece Bake Biscuits!

 Greece Bake Biscuits!

As a part of our design and technology lessons, year 4 have designed, baked and decorated biscuits this week. See the pictures below for the delicious creations that Greece class made!