On a crisp, frosty morning we trekked off through the Bega Valley to Bermagui for a day of art with the lovely Matt Jones.
While we were all trekking north in our toasty warm cars, Matt trekked off to his studio to meet us there, on his funky vintagey, freezing cold bike.
Contrast was the theme of today's art class. The kids took charcoal and had to draw lines all over their brown paper. Each line had to be different from the one before it. They drew light lines and dark lines, thick lines and thin lines, jagged lines and straight lines. Lots and lots of contrasting lines.
They also took an eraser and drew lines with it over the top of their charcoal creations.
Matt asked the kids if their hands were dirty yet. Once their hands were filthy with charcoal they were then able to use their fingers and hands to make lines on their paper.
Next, the kids had to draw shapes with charcoal. Contrasting shapes all over the paper.
The camp outside Mister Jones;)
After a lovely and busy morning session we went off to have a well-earned lunch break and play at the park. I also had to pop into one of my favourite little shops - The Pineapple House. How could I resist?
When we finished lunch it was back to Mister Jones for the afternoon art class. Matt took a long strip of brown paper and stuck it to the floor. The kids then took charcoal and drew contrasting lines and shapes on the page. Matt asked them to stop and move to another spot along the paper, throughout the activity.
Then the kids added some white chalk to their work. Then an eraser. Then some white paint.
Then they stuck torn up bits of old road maps randomly onto the paper.
Doesn't it look fantastic!
Next, Matt took another big, long strip of brown paper and stuck it to the floor. He then asked the kids to grab some charcoal and draw some lines and then shapes on the paper.
Next came some colour. The kids then turned the artwork into a road and added street scapes and landscape pictures to the charcoal drawings. Cars, apple trees, castles, funky houses, wetlands and forests appeared like little coloured jewels on the black and brown background.
Team work:)
What a great day. The kids had so much fun creating wonderful abstract art. Lewi really got into the spirit of the artist's passion - he was covered, from head to toe, with charcoal. Today I've had the pleasure of washing his art clothes. The little black charcoal spots that remain, all over his pants, will be a lovely reminder of the fun we had at Mister Jones.
Thanks again, Matt:)
