Art Gallery

Welcome to our art gallery. We hope you enjoy looking at our amazing artwork.

SUMMER TERM 6 2022

Southborough's African Arts Festival

Pupils will be taking part in activities planned for our first ever arts festival, and the theme this year is AFRICA! The children will be learning all about Africa through art, music, dance, literacy and drama. Through art, the children will explore and discover the many arts and crafts produced in this amazing continent. 

Year R

This term, YR have been very busy creating and painting their own 3D African necklaces. They have used a combination of materials to make these embellished necklaces and have been able to develop their skills in cutting, shaping, and joining, whilst having a lot of fun!

Beaded jewellery is an important part of the traditions of many tribes across Africa. African beaded jewellery and beadwork takes many different forms.

Have you ever wondered what these beads symbolise?

In most African tribes, beads embody beauty, tradition or culture, strength, marital status, age, power and warrior-hood. Beads vary in material. They can be made from bone, glass, horn, seeds, shells, stones, and fossilised materials.  Each colour bead represents a specific and significant aspect of their culture; however these can vary from tribe to tribe.

Year 1

This term, Y1 have been learning to weave using a circular cardboard loom and a variety of wefts to create these beautiful African inspired circles. They have had to develop their fine motor-skills to weave the weft under and over the warp threads. They especially enjoyed selecting their own colours inspired by the African baskets.

Basket weaving in Africa is an ancient skill that is still very much alive today. Basket weaving is an important part of community life and is also recognised as a highly expressive art form. Traditional African baskets are made from grasses, raffia, palm, sisal, cane, papyrus, and vines (depending on the local habitat). In recent times, the materials have changed to include man-made creations like plastic, wire, and recycled products. The design of the basket is created by weaving with different colours. Dyes are obtained from natural sources like roots, barks, fruit and berries, leaves, clay, dung, or various combinations of the above.

Year 2

Y2 have been busy this term drawing Adinkra symbols and making their own Adinkra printing blocks from card and foam. They used these blocks and paint to handprint cloth just like the Ashanti people. Adinkra cloth is a hand-printed fabric made in Ghana by the Ashanti people. Adinkra cloth was traditionally made for royalty to wear at religious ceremonies. The Adinkra cloth tells stories through pattern and symbols and each symbol has a meaning. Different combinations of symbols tell a unique story. Which symbol or symbols would you choose to represent yourself? Leadership? Creativity? Strength?

Year 3

Y3 have been busy this term drawing and painting Ndebele dolls. They have also designed and made their own 3D Ndebele dolls combining different art and craft skills to make felt dresses and beaded necklaces. They have used their painting skills to create the detailed Ndebele faces.

The Ndebele are known for their use of brilliant colours and striking geometric patterns.

Ndebele homes, clothing and jewellery are all decorated in this style. Ndebele people are also known for their beautiful and colourful beaded jewellery.

These dolls come from the Ndebele people in Southern Africa. Ndebele dolls are made by the women in the tribe. The beaded patterns have meanings that are linked to Ndebele rituals. When a young woman is preparing to marry, she is given a doll that she names and cares for. Her first child is then named after the doll. In addition to strengthening the Ndebele cultural identity, the beaded Ndebele dolls are now an important export item and much needed source of income for the Ndebele woman.

Year 4

This term, Y4 have been learning all about African masks. They have designed and made their own mixed media 3D masks using a variety of materials and embellishments. 

A mask is a covering for the face or the head. In many cultures, masks are an important part of traditional rituals. For thousands of years, African peoples have used masks in ceremonies. There are many types of masks in Africa. Each mask tells a different story. The shapes, colours, and sizes of African masks have special meanings for different cultures. Masks that represent animals are popular. Artists use various materials to make African masks. Leather, metal, fabric, and wood are the most common. Artists often decorate the masks with paint, shells, glass, fibres, horns, or other items.

Year 5

This term, Y5 have been learning all about African Yoruba Crowns. They used oil pastel to draw and capture the beauty of these sculptural objects. In pairs, the children went on to make 3D papier-mache crowns which were then painted and embellished with Yoruba designs, patterns and beads.

Yoruba crowns are worn by the Yoruba kings of Nigeria. Yoruba kings wear these beaded crowns to display their power and status.These beaded cone-shaped crowns are full of mythology and symbolism. Each part of the crown has a meaning:

The birds signify the king’s ability to cross into the spirit realm. The low-hanging tassels shield the eyes, reminding others that the king is a spiritually unique being. The veil is also said to protect onlookers from the king's powerful gaze. The faces on the crowns represent and honour ancestors. The repeated patterns suggest the ‘circle of life’.

Year 6

This term pupils spent the first couple weeks making props for the Lion King production. We hope you got to see these amazing 3D creations during the live performances.

Y6 pupils spent the rest of the term working collaboratively to create textile murals inspired by the British/Ugandan artist Zakwena MacIver.  Zakwena Maciver is a Ugandan-British artist who turns words into titanic pops of colour on city streets all over the world. She creates a little bit of Africa on every street. She is currently one of the UK’s most exciting contemporary black artists.

Zakwena uses words (typography) and phrases in her work surrounded by kaleidoscopic African patterns and bold colours influenced by her African heritage. Her phrases are painted prayers and meditations; her work is full of mindfulness. Her work is full of positivity and joy. Y6 have worked collaboratively to recreate three of our school values inspired by Zakwena’s style using felt and a mosaic effect.

SUMMER TERM 5

Year 2

This term our children will be looking at sculptures and 3D form. Pupils will research and investigate existing sculptures created by artists through sketches and drawings in their art journals. Pupils will develop their  drawings skills to represent 3D form in their drawings using pastels. Later in the term, pupils will have the opportunity to work with clay to make their own sculptures.

Year 3

Unfortunately due to Covid, Year 3 have needed this term to complete their emoji keyrings which were started in Term 4. I think you will agree that the end results are fantastic and were worth completing (see Spring T4). We will be doing a mini project instead of this terms planned activities. 

Year 4

This term pupils will be investigating, researching and making sketches and drawings of Egyptian art, specifically Egyptian cartouches. Pupils will learn all about hieroglyphics and will design their own Egyptian cartouche which spells out their initials. Later in the term, pupils will use their designs to make a clay cartouche developing their clay skills and techniques.

Year 5

Unfortunately due to Covid, Year 5 have needed this term to complete their tote bags which were started in Term 4. I think you will agree that the end results are fantastic and were worth completing (see Spring T4). We will be doing a mini project instead of this terms planned activities. 

Year 6

This term Year 6 pupils will be using Tinkercad (3D printing software) to design and make an object to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee! 

Pupils will start the term researching and investigating the crown jewels before planning designs based on their own ideas in their sketchbooks.

Pupils will then create 3D representations of their 2D designs using Tinkercad software.

Here are just a few of the finished Tinkercad designs:

SPRING TERM 4

Year 2

This term our children have been investigating, designing and making free-standing structures in DT.

The children have had great fun designing and making models of playground equipment such as climbing frames, swings and slides.

Year 3

This term our children have been designing and making their own plush fabric keyrings in DT.

The children have learnt how to turn a 2D drawing into a 3D product, as well as develop their pattern and sewing skills.

Year 4

This term our children have been learning all about mosaics. The children have enjoyed investigating and making studies of Roman and Islamic art, before looking at the famous mosaic work of Antoni Gaudi. Later this term we will be making our own mosaic coasters. Check back here for the final pieces!

Year 5

This term our children have been investigating, designing and making their own Spring/Easter tote bags in DT. The children have designed and created their own appliqué designs and will be sewing these onto their bags. Later this term, the children will learn all about 'seam allowances' and will use running-stitch to sew their bags together. Check back here for the final results!

Year 6

This term our children have been investigating, designing and making 'frame' structures in DT.

We started the term creating 3D frames of a variety of shapes using straws and pipe cleaners. The children have also learnt how triangulation improves the stability and strength of frame structures.

Later this term, the children will be designing and making popsicle bird feeders based on all of their learning. Check back here for the final products!