Screenprinting at Ulster American Folk Park

A wonderful exhibition, Warriors of the Plains, in the Ulster American Folk Park was recently on loan from the British Museum. It was used as inspiration for a screenprinting day with groups of children, teenagers, and adults. They made stencils of objects from the collection such as beaded moccasins, painted animal hide, axes, feathered head dresses, and many more beautiful artifacts. 

The results speak for themselves!

Story making with Cinemagic at Island Art Centre

Cinemagic asked me to deliver a story making workshop based around Dr Seuss's books, with 15 children aged 7-10 in Lisburn's Island Art Centre. We all worked together to make a spin-off story about a turtle called Mack from Dr Seuss' book Yurtle the Turtle. 

Our new story was draw on a huge roll of paper first and then transformed into individual books. Some participants included writing, whilst others opted for illustrated books. Everyone made a front cover using colourful foam sheets. 

So our story begins...

Here is Mack, the turtle who won his freedom from the controlling, power hungry, Yurtle the Turtle. 

With Mack's new found freedom, he made his way along the sweetie path and arrived at Sweetie Land. There are all sorts of characters there to greet him; lolly ladies, liquorice lads and jelly angels. 

He makes his way up ice cream mountain, gathers speed as he swirls towards the top and zooms off into outer space!

He passes many planets, galaxies, shooting stars and... aliens who start attacking him! A battle between turtle and alien continues until... Mack uses Cola to make the aliens burp and pass out. (Random!)

He spots a time machine and heads straight for it. The time machine transports him back in time, just in time for dinner. And what a feast it is! 

Here is the full story with its creators. 

The group work on their individual story books, making sure to title their story!

 

Masks Around the World

During Cedar Lodge School's after school art program, we are investigating masks from around the world. 

The group investigated African masks first. There are so many different styles across the continent! We draped clay over small pots to give a 3D shape. Some are wide and round, others are long and thin. Pupils then added features such as eyes, noses, mouths and other surface details. Colourful acrylic paint brings them to life!

The pupil's also looked at Balinese Masks. These are still being carved from wood today in Bali and are used in theatre performances. The facial features are exaggerated to get as much expression as possible. Pupil's made their own inspired Balinese masks from coloured paper.