Spring Update – Uniquely Art Group

Our members have been enjoying working with different materials and creating some very interesting work. Using objects made of glass and decorating them with glass paints. In the photograph (Sun Catcher)  you can see how our members have very carefully painted on the glass which is a sun catcher when put by a window. You can also see a canal boat in the middle and making it special to our member, by putting their name on it. These glass objects can be made into many different designs and painted with a wide choice of glass paint colours. Also, our members were creative working with glass jars.

Ordinary household jars can be turned into some very useful ideas. As you can see in the photographs (Glass Paint 1, 2, 3). They can be decorated using different colours and patterns or just having them as sweet jars. Again, by putting a name on it to make it extra special.

Another material our members liked working with was wooden objects. In the photograph (Canal Boat) of a canal boat that was painted by our member who is very interested in canal boats, and has the opportunity to steer them in the summer time. Using his own choice of colours and learning to use suitable paints for wood enjoyed completing the boat. We also had some wooden leaves that were painted, again choosing their own colours, as seen in the photograph (Painted Leaves).

We are introducing our members to a variety of materials and paints to enable them to choose what they want to do, and seeing what gives them the most satisfaction in working with, and always achieving results that they are happy to take with them.Working on canvas is another material that we have been using, and a palette knife instead of a brush, and oil paints to create backgrounds. Using pastels on surfaces like Daler board, hardboard. In the photograph (Trees – Painting) of the trees, our members have been learning about size and colour and background/shadows. The importance of the position of the eye-line. (Trees viewed from beneath usually have darker colours because of shadowing, also, a flower or plant has a plan-form shape rather than from side).

Our group members are really enjoying learning and working with the many choices they are being given. Our small group has been steadily developing their skills in art, and also, their social skills in the group. Our members are happy and confidently interacting with each other, by showing each other their work and seeing other ideas being created, and showing support and praise to each other. They are learning to share materials which is encouraging eye contact, and cooperation and team work, which is a very positive outcome that is being achieved by giving them this wonderful opportunity to express themselves.