Children in Year 6 had a great day out at Bowes Museum on Wednesday 19th November when they took part in a Portraits and Portraiture Workshop. By studying painting by world famous artist Giovanni Antoni Canaletto, with artist Beth, they learnt things paintings can reveal through expression, setting and pose. The children then used expression, posture and pose to create characters from the paintings. During the workshop the children took turns posing as characters from the Second World War while the others sketched them. At the end of the workshop the children had the opportunity to look around the museum.

Children posing as different characters in the painting.

To make the most of their Bowes Museum visit Vicky, a professional artist from the museum, came into school the next day to show the children how to make sculptures. Year 6 children discussed and planned what character they were going to create based on the Second World War. They chose characters such as Hitler, Winston Churchill, German, American and British soldiers as well as a child evacuee. They talked with Vicky about what their characters actions, pose and stance would be then they sketched their character. When they had finished their sketch they worked alongside Vicky as she showed them step by step how to make an armature (frame) using garden cane, scrunched up paper and masking tape. This frame was then attached to a baseboard using wire, the children then painted their armatures. The children had great fun making them and the finished characters looked absolutely fantastic!

Sketch of one of the characters.

Children making the body of their character.

A finished armature.

Can you spot who the characters are?