Art Activities

Our regular workshops may have been postponed for now but that doesn't stop us! - Our artists are busy creating workshop ideas to post on this page to help maintain our creative wellbeing. We have made them public and free to access. There's painting tips and print making ideas for you to explore below ︎︎︎

In this section:

1. ︎ Mixed media Art Project
2. ︎Painting Tips for Beginners
   
3. ︎︎Sgraffito (scratch art)
4. ︎︎Monoprinting
5. ︎Collagraph Printing
6. ︎︎Abstract Sound Painting

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Activity 1

︎︎Mixed Media Art Project



Watch the tutorial above to learn how to make a mixed media art project using drawing materials, collage and paints. This work has been supported by funding from MK Community Foundation.

Activity 2

︎︎Plaster Casting


Join Sophie as she teaches you how to make simple plaster casts from household objects and natural materials. This work has been supported by funding from MK Community Foundation.

Activity 3

︎Painting Tips for Beginners

Looking for tips to help improve your painting techniques or not sure where to start? Watch our video tutorial for handy hints and tips. Try recreating each exercise yourself to practice.

This tutorial covers:

1. Introduction and materials
2. The difference between water colour and acrylic paints (start time approx. 40 sec.)
3. Shading and tone (start time approx. 9 min 30 sec.)
4. Mixing colours / the colour wheel (start time approx. 15 min)
5. Using grey paints (start time approx. 27 min)

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Activity 4

︎︎Sgraffito (Scratch Art) Tutorial

Join Arts for Health MK artist Sophie as she demonstrates how to make your own vibrant sgraffito artwork yourself from home.


Materials:

• Thick paper / card
• Oil Pastels
• Stick (e.g. a cocktail stick)
• Pencil
• Black paint (acrylic)
• Washing up Liquid
• Paitbrush
• Paint/Pallet
• Tracing paper (optional)

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Activity 5

︎︎Monoprinting Tutorial

Learn 3 easy monoprinting techniques using materials you have at home, experiment to create abstract artworks and printed drawings.

Materials:

• Acrylic paint
• Paint brush
• Plastic wallet
• Masking tape
• Paper towel
• Water/pot
• Palette knife (optional)

Activity 6

︎Collagraph Printmaking Tutorial:

Watch our two part video tutorial to learn how to create your very own textured collagraph print from home, no printing press required!

Download the materials and step by step worksheet here

Activity 7

︎︎Abstract Sound Paintings

Materials

• Watercolour paints
  
• Water pot / water
  
• Paint brushes
  
• Paper (ideally thicker than copier paper)

Instructions:

1. Find yourself a quiet spot, away from background conversations
2. Listen to your surroundings, can you hear bird song, the hum of a road or running water?
3. When you are ready take a large paintbrush and dip it in water only. Brush this across your paper to dampen it.
4. Start painting! Respond to the sounds around you as you make your brushmarks and lose yourself in the painting process
5. Change the colours or speed you apply the paint to mimic the sounds you hear
6. There is no right or wrong when you are finshed try another

See the video below for an example or turn up the volume to create your own sound painting with the same audio.

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Share your creations with us on social media!
︎@artsforhealthmk
︎ @arts_for_health_mk_collections
︎ @Arts for Health Milton Keynes

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