In November 2023, The Amelia Scott welcomed Year 2 students from The Wells Free School for a fun-filled day inspired by classic portraits and artistic expression.
The day began in the Learning Suite, where the children learned about what makes a portrait and the different styles they had been studying. They excitedly identified works by famous artists like Pablo Picasso, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Vincent Van Gogh. They were also introduced to fascinating portraits by lesser-known artists such as Giuseppe Arcimboldo and Velazquez. The kids enjoyed figuring out which portraits were realistic and which were more abstract, and they did a great job spotting self-portraits, even the tricky ones!
We then had a lively discussion about the elements of a portrait, including the sitter and the objects around them, sparking some very clever and funny ideas from the students.
To help them recognize facial expressions, we played a fun game where everyone mimicked different emotions. This helped the kids connect with the portraits they would see in the galleries.
The group was then split into two. One group headed upstairs to explore the galleries and find interesting characters, while the other group stayed in the Learning Suite to get creative. They made three different self-portraits using chalk on black paper, watercolours, and coloured pencils. Later, the groups swapped so everyone had a chance to both explore and create.
The children's portraits were a wonderful mix of realistic drawings and experimental techniques, bursting with creativity! The Amelia Scott is thrilled to have provided such an inspiring day for these young artists, helping them learn, explore, and express themselves through the timeless art of portraiture.
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