Take a Line for a Walk

Aboriginal Art

The Dreaming is the English word that is the most acceptable to the aboriginal people but does not come close to explaining all that it really means. Aboriginal artists paint what comes to them in dreams or repeated visions and it is the natural world that creates a link between the Dreaming and the people. In traditional Aboriginal society dancing, singing, making implements, weaving baskets and body decorations are not considered to be separate activities called art and design - they are all part of the Dreaming and a part of normal daily life.

Look at some aboriginal paintings then ask the children if they remember any of their dreams. Can they paint their dreams using some elements of aboriginal art?

Alexander Calder

An American 20th Century artist, Alexander Calder created playful, 3-dimensional artworks. He was particularly known for his large sculptures and mobiles - works of art that move. Calder’s training as a mechanical engineer meant that he could use his background to produce these art forms that were new and surprising to the public. He also produced a number of abstract paintings which often contain repeated lines and shapes in bold colours.

Look at the paintings of Alexander Calder and talk about the shapes and colours in them. This will help inform the children’s own work. Alternatively, look at Calder’s mobiles and try to make one with card and string.

Jackson Pollock

Pollock’s work is characterised by what appear to be a mass of drips and squiggles. In fact, Jackson Pollock was a leading exponent of Abstract Expressionism, an art movement that is sometimes referred to as ‘action painting’. Pollock received huge publicity for the fact that he poured and dripped the paint onto the canvas. He was respected by other artists for his deep commitment to painting and his refusal to compromise and change his style to something more conventional.

After looking at Jackson Pollock’s paintings and talking about them, use large sheets of paper and paint in squeezy bottles to do some action painting. Another method is to use water on a dry playground then take photographs before the water dries.