I did two back-to-back workshops with KS1 at Mickelhurst Primary School today, with thanks to previous Contents May Vary co-curator Martha Distin-Webster for the invite. We read The Very Hungry Caterpillar and I talked them through the process of making a Cap Stories caterpillar. Cap Stories originated from my Welland Festival 2019 Associate Artist project and I’m in the process of mounting the resultant caps from that for Elland Library. This spin off is using the same premise of illustrating stories inside thrown away / recycled bottle caps but using a well-known story this time instead of personal/social stories of Elland.
The conversations about the book and the illustrations in the book were great. One child couldn’t find the right dark shade of blue for the plum and we discussed Eric Carle’s use of different tones to create his plum illustrations.
Another child, who is obviously very bright and creative, sped through the task with excellent technical accuracy and understanding, and was asking, “What do I do next?” We talked about drawing things from the story but also creating your own narrative from your imagination. I suggested, on the spot, a ladybird, anything! He drew several insects more and explained his logic too.
Another child was in a ‘can’t draw’ funk and I suggested starting with a simple orange: a circle coloured orange. He drew five oranges (for his five caps). That would’ve been fine and illustrating the five oranges in the story but he was visibly upset by the situation. I don’t know what was said by peers or teachers but he was adament it was wrong. What were his favourite foods? I asked. Garlic bread. Round pizza garlic bread or baguette garlic bread? The baguette style. OK, I said This is how I would draw a simple baguette with the outline and diagonal lines. What colour is garlic bread? he asked. I looked at the crayons and limited colour-range pens. This would’ve been better with watercolours, I thought. Hmmm… brown I reckon – what do you think? He nodded.
I said quite a few times that there wasn’t really a ‘right or wrong’ way to do their picture and it was theirs to make in whatever way they wanted. I think they really excelled in the putting the picture together part where they could see the caterpillar starting to look like a caterpillar and they could situate it within a landscape of their making. I told them I loved how they were all so different and showed their individual style. Brilliant work KS1!
I put together a little slideshow of their work on my blog: https://capstories.home.blog/schools-workshops/
On Monday, KS1 made an army of brilliant caterpillars! On Tuesday, I will be in dialogue with Vicki at Parley by Parlour. On Wednesday, KS2 have the challenge to make a variety of ingredients illustrations to go into George’s Marvellous Medicine saucepan…
