Creative Corner with Primrose Art Club

Written by Amy Stevenson from Primrose Art Club

Amy has loved delving into a range of creative activities since childhood due to her Granny offering space and materials. She opened Primrose Art Club to provide other children with the same opportunities.

We’re spoiling you this issue with two imaginative art activities to have a go at! The first uses pastels and the different leaves you can find on an autumnal walk, whilst the second is a simple, sparkly paint craft that can seem almost magical as the watercolours zip along the salt crystals.

Chalk Pastel Negative Space Art

You will need: 

Card/paper

Chalk pastels/chalk

Leaves

Collage paper (optional)

Scissors (optional)

Glue (optional)

What to do:

1. Think about what the leaf shapes remind you of – an easy one is teardrop-shaped leaves look a bit like a candle flame.

2. Next, select the appropriate colours and hold your leaf down on the page. Rub the side of the chalk/pastel over the edge of the leaf onto the paper until you have a ring of chalk around the leaf (experiment with using the chalk’s tip too).

3. When you lift the leaf off the paper, there should be a blank shape surrounded by chalk/pastel. Add other lines to help make the shape look more like the object you are trying to create (e.g. draw string to attach fairy lights together).

4. (Optional) If you have glue, scissors and collage paper, cut out and stick on a shape such as a candle. If you plan to do this, create the paper shape first so you can work out where your chalk/pastel negative space needs to go.

   
   

Salt Painting Christmas Card

You will need:

Thick card

Paint brush

PVA glue

Table salt

A tray larger than your card

Watercolours (a cheap palette set will do the job)

A water pot

What to do:

1.     First, lightly sketch your shape onto the folded card (e.g. snowflake, star, tree, bauble).

2.     Use a glue spreader or, if your bottle has a pointed nib, squeeze the glue directly onto the card to trace your shape. Keep in mind that the salt will stick wherever there is glue.

3.     Place your card in a tray and sprinkle salt all over the glue. Gently tap it to loosen excess salt and re-sprinkle the excess salt on any areas where the glue is bare.

4.     Leave the glue to dry for an hour. If the glue is too wet, the salt painting is not as effective.

5.     Dip your brush in water and then into the paint. Paint a dot on the salt and watch as the colours travel along the salt crystals. Adding different colours not only looks good but also adds tons of fun.

6.     After you have finished painting the salt, you could also add a painted background or write Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays.