Art Start is a new group suitable for all to explore and start looking into the world of Art and Artists.
Unlike many craft or art sessions avaliable we will look at a new artist in each session, from Picasso to Leonardo Da Vinci, from Henry Moore to Stubbs. Using a range of Artists and their works as a starting block we will begin to explore a range of media and techniques, from paint splattering with Pollock to printing with Warhol.
Art Start is a drop in session that will be running at different locations through Exeter, these groups are open to all only limited by the rules of the centres we are located at. Our aim is to create an oppurtunity for everyone, no matter age or ability to have a chance to explore art materials, techniques and styles, to make a mess and have fun. Through the use of art and the activicties planned we will be encouraging children to develop not only motor skills both fine and gross but also observational skills, communication and social skills. One of our aims is to encouraging children of all ages to do the majority of work themselves - a helping hand is always avaliable - but the idea is that the adults do not take over, this means that often the finished product may not be what we or parents are necessarily expecting.
Whilst engaging even the youngest member of the groups through the actual practical/doing we will look at Art works by a range of different Artists. Through discussing these works of Art and talking about different techniques used by the Artists we will hope to encourage the childen to broaden their vocabulary and speech/conversation patterns, develop their awareness and observation skills and start to explore feelings in a very safe and secure environment. Often developing associations of different emotions and emotional responses is not foremost in curriculum based settings, here childen will learn about their own feelings and reponses in a safe, secure, secondary manner, whilst they are having fun.
Art Start sessions will be free (charges maybe payable to the locations visited) and there will be no commitment required do as little or as much as you wish, if you would rather just watch and look at art prints than join in there will be no problems, again if you would rather just use the materials avaliable than follow set projects then again no worries.
The sesions are run by a NCH volunteer and has had the relevant training and checks to work alongside children either with their parents or in a child care setting with qualified play workers.
