A group of Year 5 pupils from Northdown Primary School, Margate, spent a sunny afternoon this week at the Turner Contemporary on Margate seafront.
Walking a short distance from the gallery building, the children worked together on an activity called Conduct a Doodle where they used charcoal on a stick to depict the elements around them. Closing their eyes, they listened to the beach sounds around them before being challenged to draw voices and the wind.
Sand was added to build up some texture in line with Turner’s techniques and sea water used to mix the paints. Toothbrushes were brought out for flicking paint for the sea spray.
“I felt like a real artist,” said Kira, age 10.
Guided by the gallery’s Engagement Assistants, the youngsters explored Turner’s art and learnt about the history of the artist.
Yad, aged 9, said: “The workshop was the greatest thing I’ve ever been to. It was so calm and I loved the painting.”
Christina Goldsmith, Northdown’s Inclusion Manager, explained the idea behind the trip: “Having the chance to create art outside on our local beach was so rewarding for our older children. The concentration on their faces as they replicated the beauty around them was lovely to see.”
The visit will be followed up next week with the gallery coming in to deliver the session in school to the rest of the year group with the help of the pupils who attended the workshop.
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