Mixed Media Collage Workshop

On the 12th and 13th of February 2015 I led a couple of enjoyable workshops with primary aged children working with mixed media to create collaged landscapes.

The children were split into two groups. The younger children (4 to 7 year olds) and the older children (7 to 11 year olds).

They had been studying their local area and more specifically the valley of Ennerdale. Using images (and their real-life experiences) for inspiration the children created collaged landscapes of the area.

The younger children used coloured paper to create the background of the landscape and then added cotton wool, matchsticks and other collage materials to add texture and depth.

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The older children also used paint which they combined with sawdust, washing powder, salt and other collage materials to create textured paint effects.

The children all had a very messy but fun time and produced some fantastic art-work to go with their topic at school

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Here are some of the finished art-works:

 

This fantastic river was created by combining pva glue, blue acrylic paint and woodshavings. Reflective aspects were achieved by the addition of scraps of plastic cling-film.

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This piece was created with a night scene in mind and includes an owl made by cutting a small section of a white feather.

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This scene includes a hill created in collaged paper and the water of the lake was formed with the careful application of water, blue and white poster paint and washing powder.

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Although incomplete this piece shows delicate and careful application of coloured paper to create a uniform mosaiced lake.

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This piece has been finished with a pva varnish and cotton wool clouds

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Other Completed Works:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Victorian Lady crochet in the style of Mini-Me

Having tried various outfits and styles for Mini-Mes I decided to attempt a more complex costume and so I looked to historical outfits for inspiration. I decided to try an 1870s Victorian inspired style.

As I was making the whole figure and clothing from crochet I knew I would be restricted to the level of detail and accuracy as I did not want the finished figure to be too bulky or unbalanced.

I started initially with a basic Mini-Me body shape of head, body, arms and legs. I knew I needed to make the body shape the contours of the altered body-shapes popular of the time which would require a narrow waist and bustle shape. I decided the easiest and strongest way to do this would be to re-create a corset and bustle from crochet and wire. This would then lead on to adding all sorts of interpretations of accurate detailing for the time period. I also made her some knicker-bockers in white with pastel blue trim.

 

I made a petticoat to cover the bustle and reach to the floor with a scalloped edge to imitate a lacy trim.

 

I moved on to working on the outer layers which would be the parts of the outfit that would be most noticeable in the finished character. 

Whilst looking at various pictures of both original art from the era as well as modern replicas and museum pieces I settled on a simple way to imitate the layered detailing of a skirt with apron and train. I made each piece in a rich emerald green with a black trim. At this stage I had still to attach her arms which gave her a rather bottom-heavy feel but I hoped this would become less so once the top parts of her body and outfit were added.

 

Next I made her jacket, again replicating a simple interpretation of the fashion of the time and fitted it to her and added her arms.

 

Now she was clothed I worked on her hair. To make this I created her a head of hair in a similar way to making most Mini-Me’s hair, with a “hair spider” I sewed this onto her head and then began to style it initially using pins and then sewing the hair on. I created a style based on the fashion of the time with some curls hanging loose down the back but the main body of the hair piled on her head.

 

She was finally coming together and beginning to look the part.

 

I added a little more detail by giving her some basic plain brown boots to represent traditional Victorian leather boots.

 

Finally I made her a black hat embellished with green flowers which I attached securely to her hair helping to give her hairstlye the stylised shape of the period.

 

She was finally complete and fully dressed to the period. A little Victorian Mini-Me!