Project Ideas
It is sometimes difficult to get started with projects, so we thought we would list some of our past projects and some guidelines to deciding what might work in your school or organisation. This section gives you a snapshot of what could happen in visual arts workshops and projects.
Mosaics
East-Side runs a number of mosaic projects across London. Mosaic projects are a good way of involving children in every aspect of the process. At one school in East London, we have produced a mosaic exploring the theme ‘Games from around the World’. The students that took part in the project ranged from 6-11 and were involved in priming the boards and breaking the tiles as well as in designing and producing the art work. Mosaic projects are a great way of encouraging collaboration and team-work.
Character Portraits
East-Side’s Character portraits projects are perennially popular with teachers and students alike. The project explores symbolism with students who interview each other exploring preferences and then produce symbolic portraits of each other using a variety of techniques including drawing, charcoal, pastels, collage and paint.
Window Art
Inspired by natural forms and patterns used in Islamic art each student in our window art project created a square which formed part of a larger collaborative piece. Students had the opportunity to experiment with colour and texture using vinyl and Perspex and the final piece produced in this workshop is now displayed in the main foyer of a North London school.
Mask Making
East-Side Educational Trust runs a variety of mask-making and mask work projects. One school approached us to work with them to produce spectacular masks inspired by The Lion King to celebrate the opening of a new building at the school. The project was targeted at Year 8 students who produced an array of impressive headpieces which were bright and expressive using strong colour contrasts and were high quality and had a durable finish making them suitable for long-term display. The workshops involved concept design, template design, cardboard and paper construction, painting and decoration.
Animation & Cartoon Drawing
Explore the world of animation before it became digital, where you communicated your creativity from your brain to your hands! Participants will be able to make traditional animation devices including Comic Strips, Storyboards, Flip books, Zoetropes, and Thaumatropes. Students will be encouraged to explore their creativity by designing cartoons and animations that are funny and attractive to a range of audiences.
Artists in Residence
Host an artist! Many schools and community centres invite artists from all sorts of different disciplines - visual arts, dance, music and theatre - to work with groups of young people. We can help you choose an appropriate artist for your group, plan the residency and contribute to staff training and development throughout the process.
Carnival Arts
Explore the fun, excitement and colour of a lively carnival without even leaving the country! Create your very own carnival inspired art-work, including masks and headpieces, giant puppets, flags and banners, or even carnival clothes. Use music and movement to finish with a carnival procession!
Drawing
For beginners or those who are more experienced, we offer drawing skills workshops which focus on developing observational and technical skills using pencil, charcoal and pastel. Work from real life or have fun with experimental mixed media!
Illustration
Use practical drawing, painting and collage techniques to experiment and create images in your own original style on subjects of your choice! Learn about style and composition and create posters, cartoons or storybooks!
Junk Art (from recycled materials)
Discover your hidden artistic talents in this funky junk workshop, where you will turn other people’s rubbish into amazing pieces of three dimensional art! There’s no limit to what you can make!
Kite Making
Let your imagination fly and create your own kite from colourful card and collage materials. Design, draw, construct and transform - your ideas will be shaped into kites of all shapes and sizes!
Multi-Cultural Arts
Look at visual art and storytelling traditions from all over the world - Africa! Australia! India! China! Japan! - and be inspired to create your own art pieces based on your favourite images and techniques!
Murals
Think big! Do you have an empty wall space that needs some attention, or would you like to create a large banner for display? Working in groups, ideas will be woven into inspired and impressive life size colour paintings! Smaller murals can also be created in groups from handmade felt or textiles and paper collage!
Painting
Sometimes working with a specific theme, such as portraiture, the environment, or emotion, depending on the focus of the group, participants will be inspired to create their own unique artworks on paper or canvas. Participants will look at colour, composition and brushwork. They will use mixed media and drawing to decide on images, and have fun experimenting in the process of uncovering and developing their own original painting styles.
Screen Printing
Learn how to use a silk screen frame, stencils and ink to create simple and beautiful designs on paper or fabric. Build up different printed layers and explore the world of masking and colour to great effect!
Sculpture
Explore the world with your hands! Use clay, plaster, metal, wood or recycled materials to create three dimensional objects inspired by drawings, figures from real life, movement and music, or just weird and wonderful shapes from your imagination. Professional sculptors will train you in the specialist techniques you will need to bring your ideas to life!
Textile Art
Experiment with papermaking (from recycled paper and/or plant fibre), fabric collage, sewing, patchwork, quilting and feltmaking to create small or large scale pieces of art! Enjoy tactile, hands on activities which will weave your ideas into colourful and unusual representations for display or perhaps even to wear!
Visual Images & Poetry
Look at photography, painting and drawing as inspiration for word-play! Creative, fun and educational, these workshops will explore the relationship between words and images, discovering new ways to tap into and inspire the creative processes behind poetry-writing.
Photography
There are many different sorts of photographic experiences that can be enjoyed and appreciated no matter what age you are! Learn about how a camera works – create one from a paper box; use ‘solar paper’ to make images 'magically' appear; use disposable and digital cameras to discover the world of visual reproduction! Our photography workshops can be tailor-made for beginners or more experienced groups.
Filmmaking
Our filmmaking workshops will take students through the entire process of making a short film and will involve elements of acting, writing, directing, filming, and if the facilities are available, post-production editing. Students will be given the opportunity to develop their own ideas for a film, devise and act-out scenarios, and then film their work using various camera techniques. They will also get the opportunity to see how films come together by joining in the editing process.