Schools Online Project In association with the Cornwall Museums Group and Cornwall Council Background to the collection Learning resources and content for the Cornwall Council Schools Art Collection Online In 1961 the then Cornwall County Council received an anonymous donation of 100 with a simple note saying To help Primary School funds. It was agreed that it should be used to purchases pieces of artwork for the benefit of local school children. The Council wrote to John Piper, Peter Lanyon, Lady Epstein and Barbara Hepworth asking if they may be able to sell something at a reasonable price. They all replied and the Schools Art Collection was born. In 2011 the fine art collection was transferred to the Royal Cornwall Museum. The Council and the museum are working together to increase access and use of the collection by Cornish schools, as well as enjoyment of the collection by the general public. The collection now comprises over one hundred pieces of artwork, sculpture and pottery. These works chosen from the collection are a representation of descriptive landscapes showing varied styles and techniques that depict the beauty of the natural Cornish landscape. Working in collaboration with Secondary schools we have decided to develop an online exhibition focusing on five pieces of art belonging to the collection. We hope that this will allow for the opportunities to get involved with visits to the museum for workshops as well.
Notes on the Artists: Wilhelmina Barns- Graham Wilhelmina Barns-Graham was born in 1912 in St Andrews, Fife. She attending Edinburgh College of Art (1932-37) and moved to St. Ives in 1940. She became a member of the Newlyn Society of Artists and the St. Ives Society of Artists. She was a significant British artist of the 20th century, working mostly in painting and print making; she referred to her drawing as a discipline of the mind. Michael Strang Michael Strang has a Diploma in Art and Design (Hons) from Wimbledon and Camberwell Schools of Art (1968-1973). He paints mostly in oil paints but sometimes in water-colour; he mostly concentrates on landscapes and his works can be seen in the Cry of the Gulls Gallery Fowey.
Jeffery Camp Jeffery Camp was born in 1923 in Suffolk, he studied at Lowestoft and Ipswich Schools of Art between 1939 and 1940 and at Edinburgh College of Art from 1941-1944. He was awarded the Andrew Grant travelling Scholarship in 1944 and 1945. He taught at Chelsea School of Art as well as Slade school of Art and is now Jeffery Camp RA. Much of his works are related to landscapes and natural elements with his personal experiences and love for the environment. Michael Canney Michael Richard Ladd Canney was born in 1923 in Falmouth Cornwall; his father was the vicar of Pencoys. From 1947 to 1951 he studied at Goldmiths College School of Art in London (alongside Bridget Riley, Mary Quant and Molly Parkin). He was a close friend to the artist Roger Hilton and his abstract influences had a lasting impression on his landscape mixed media paintings. Alan Lowndes Alan Lowndes 1921 1978 was a British painter born in Heaton Norris Stockport, he was known primarily for his scenes of northern life. He was close friends with many of the St. Ives School of painters and spent some of his time in St. Ives. He was mostly a self-taught artist studying at night school. ordinary people and every-day life. His work depicted Alan Lowndes 1921 1978 left school at 14 and was apprenticed to a decorator. After seeing active service in the Middle East and Italy during WW2 he studied painting at Stockport College. His early works depicted the lives of working men and women in their own environments. Alan Lowndes first came to Cornwall in 1954, where he bought a house in St. Ives in 1959. His work has been compared to Lowry, choosing to paint local people going about their daily lives wherever he lived. Who these resources are for: The learning resources are aimed at both Primary and Secondary level pupils and their teachers to use in the classroom or in individual study. The Royal Cornwall Museum also provides facilitated access and learning opportunities both at the museum site in Truro or through a loan box scheme for schools and academies.
Curriculum links: Key Stage 1 Pupils should be taught: to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work. Key Stage 2 Pupils should be taught to develop their techniques, including their control and their use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design. Pupils should be taught: to improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay] about great artists, architects and designers in history. Key Stage 3 Pupils should be taught to develop their creativity and ideas, and increase proficiency in their execution. They should develop a critical understanding of artists, architects and designers, expressing reasoned judgements that can inform their own work. Pupils should be taught: to use a range of techniques to record their observations in sketchbooks, journals and other media as a basis for exploring their ideas to use a range of techniques and media, including painting to increase their proficiency in the handling of different materials to analyse and evaluate their own work, and that of others, in order to strengthen the visual impact or applications of their work about the history of art, craft, design and architecture, including periods, styles and major movements from ancient times up to the present day.
(DfES National Curriculum 2014 - Art and design programmes of study: key stages 1, 2 and 3, published September 2013)
Sea Forms by Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, 1959 Tempera painting on card Key Stage One Theme: Colour and shape : Activities: What can you see in this picture? Which colours can you see? Can you see any shapes that you recognise? What does this picture make you think about? Think about other things you might see in the sea and draw your own picture. Perhaps you could think about your home or your garden and draw something that you can see there. Create a scribble design on a piece of paper draw or scribble an all-over design, trying to make shapes of different sizes as you draw. You could even try this with your eyes closed while you imagine a shape or object. Then, using any media, colour in all of the shapes to produce a finished abstract composition. Key Stage Two Theme: Different Media and technique What is in this picture, what is the subject matter? Do you think it is painted from imagination or from real life? What do you think the artist is trying to convey in this picture? How do you think the artist has been influenced by the landscape and the area in which she lived when she painted this picture?
Activities Research Wilhelmina Barns-Graham and look at her other paintings. How do they compare with this painting? Seaforms was painted in 1959. Find other paintings from this time and compare the use of media and the techniques used. You could create your own painting from a landscape that means something to you. Try replicating your painting using different materials e.g. paint, print, pencil. Try describing the shape of something to a friend without actually telling them what it is and see if they can draw it from your description. Key Stage Three Theme: Historical styles and movements Describe the painting in terms of: Activities Style is it abstract, impressionist or real Medium Subject matter Composition Use of colour what colours has the artist used? Do any colours dominate the painting? Do the colours used create atmospheric effects? Shape describe the shapes. Which are positive, and which negative? Are there any organic or biomorphic shapes. Can you see geometric shapes? Form What can you see in this painting? What is the artist trying to convey and how does he/she do this? Why do you think he/she painted this scene? Consider scale, perspective, detail, space, distance, cultural references. Think about the landscapes that are portrayed and influenced the artist then, both in terms of political and historical landscape. Compare with the landscape of today and how that might influence artists working now. Research how history and current affairs have influenced the way artists and art has developed and the artistic movements in the past. Look at other artists associated with the works of art that may have influenced some of the landscapes. How has the artist been inspired by sense of place, both in terms of the place he/she was working and the artists he/she was working alongside. Create your work using different media and techniques
Research artistic movements and create your pieces working within different particular styles
Badgers Cross rising moon by Michael Strang, 1990 Oil painting on board Key Stage One Theme: Colour : What can you see in this picture? Which colours can you see? Can you see any shapes that you recognise? What does this picture make you think about? Activities Try mixing colours together and then make a picture of your own with the colours you have made Key Stage Two Theme: Different media and techniques Activities What is in this picture, what is the subject matter? Do you think it is painted from imagination or from real life? What do you think the artist is trying to convey in this picture? How do you think the artist has been influenced by the landscape and the area in which he lived when he painted this picture? Research Michael Strang and look at his other paintings. How do they compare with this painting?
Badgers Cross was painted in 1990. Find other paintings from this time and compare the use of media and the techniques used. Key Stage Three Theme: Historical styles and movements Describe the painting in terms of Activities Style is it abstract, impressionist or real Medium Subject matter Composition Use of colour what colours has the artist used? Do any colours dominate the painting? Do the colours used create atmospheric effects? Shape describe the shapes. Which are positive, and which negative? Are there any organic or biomorphic shapes. Can you see geometric shapes? Form What can you see in this painting? What is the artist trying to convey and how does he/she do this? Why do you think he/she painted this scene? Consider scale, perspective, detail, space, distance, cultural references. Think about the landscapes that are portrayed and influenced the artist then, both in terms of political and historical landscape. Compare with the landscape of today and how that might influence artists working now. Research how history and current affairs have influenced the way artists and art has developed and the artistic movements in the past. Other artists associated with the works of art that may have influenced some of the landscapes. How has the artist been inspired by sense of place, both in terms of the place he/she was working and the artists he/she was working alongside. Create your work using different media and techniques Research artistic movements and create your pieces working within different particular styles
Laetitia and a Cornish Tin Mine by Jeffery Camp, 1967 Oil painting on canvas Key Stage One Theme: Shape, form, colour : Activities What can you see in this picture? Which colours can you see? Can you see any shapes that you recognise? What does this picture make you think about? Create your own landscape picture using coloured card or paper cut into shapes. Try and use different thicknesses of card to create perspective. Choose one or two simple shapes that you like or are familiar with and create a painting around them using only three colours. Key Stage Two Theme: Different Media and technique What is in this picture, what is the subject matter? Do you think it is painted from imagination or from real life? What is the first thing you see in this picture? Now look carefully and see what other detail you can see? What do you think the artist is trying to convey in this picture? Who do you think is the person portrayed in the picture? How do you think the artist has been influenced by the landscape and the area in which he lived when he painted this picture?
Activities This picture is built up by layers of detail creating perspective. Create your own landscape using a similar technique of layering shapes and colour. Key Stage Three Theme: Historical styles and movements Describe the painting in terms of Activities Style is it abstract, impressionist or real Medium Subject matter Composition Use of colour what colours has the artist used? Do any colours dominate the painting? Do the colours used create atmospheric effects? Shape describe the shapes. Which are positive, and which negative? Are there any organic or biomorphic shapes. Can you see geometric shapes? Form What can you see in this painting? What is the artist trying to convey and how does he/she do this? Why do you think he/she painted this scene? Consider scale, perspective, detail, space, distance, cultural references. Think about the landscapes that are portrayed and influenced the artist then, both in terms of political and historical landscape. Compare with the landscape of today and how that might influence artists working now. Research how history and current affairs have influenced the way artists and art has developed and the artistic movements in the past. Other artists associated with the works of art that may have influenced some of the landscapes. How has the artist been inspired by sense of place, both in terms of the place he/she was working and the artists he/she was working alongside. Create your work using different media and techniques Research artistic movements and create your pieces working within different particular styles
Coast to Coast by Michael Canney, 1964 Gouache and collage painting Key Stage One Theme: shape, line, colour : Activities What can you see in this picture? Which colours can you see? What do the colours represent? Can you see any shapes that you recognise? What does this picture make you think about? Does the title of this piece change the way you see the painting? Think about what colour means to you. You could try looking at photographs or go for a walk and look at the colours you see around you. Create your own painting using those colours to create the images you like. You could make your own picture using torn strips of coloured paper. Try using different colours to create the same picture. Do different shades create a different mood or feeling? Key Stage Two Theme: Different Media and technique This is an abstract collage painting. What can you see in this picture?
Which colours can you see? What do the colours represent? Can you see any shapes that you recognise? What does this picture make you think about? Does the title of this piece change the way you view the painting? Activities Think about what colour means to you. You could try looking at photographs or go for a walk and look at the colours you see around you. Make your own picture using torn strips of coloured paper. Select a theme for your picture and find pictures or colours that relate to that theme in magazines etc. Tear these into strips and create your own collage with them. Key Stage Three Theme: Historical styles and movements Describe the painting in terms of Style is it abstract, impressionist or real Medium Subject matter Composition Use of colour what colours has the artist used? Do any colours dominate the painting? Do the colours used create atmospheric effects? Shape describe the shapes. Which are positive, and which negative? Are there any organic or biomorphic shapes. Can you see geometric shapes? Form What can you see in this painting? What is the artist trying to convey and how does he/she do this? Why do you think he/she painted this scene? Consider scale, perspective, detail, space, distance, cultural references. Think about the landscapes that are portrayed and influenced the artist then, both in terms of political and historical landscape. Compare with the landscape of today and how that might influence artists working now. Research how history and current affairs have influenced the way artists and art has developed and the artistic movements in the past. Other artists associated with the works of art that may have influenced some of the landscapes. How has the artist been inspired by sense of place, both in terms of the place he/she was working and the artists he/she was working alongside.
Activities Create your work using different media and techniques Research artistic movements and create your pieces working within different particular styles
Fishing Boat by Alan Lowndes, 1966 Oil painting on board Key Stage One Theme: Shape, line, colour : Activities: What can you see in this picture? Which colours can you see? Are there any colours that dominate the picture? Do the colours complement each other? Can you see any shapes that you recognise? If you were standing on the harbour wall looking at this boat would you be able to hear anything? Would you be able to smell anything? Close your eyes and imagine you are there? Describe what you can see, hear, feel and smell. Draw your own picture, perhaps you might like to add some of the things you imagined for example a seagull? Close your eyes. Think about the sounds you can hear and draw shapes to show those sounds.
Key Stage Two Theme: Different Media and technique Activities What is in this picture, what is the subject matter? Do you think it is painted from imagination or from real life? Has the artist painted everything he can see or has he been selective? What else might there have been in this scene? How do you think the artist has been influenced by the landscape and the area in which he lived when he painted this picture? How does this picture make you feel? If you were standing on the harbour wall looking at this boat would you be able to hear anything? Would you be able to smell anything? Close your eyes and imagine you are there? Describe what you can see, hear, feel and smell. You might like to paint your own picture of a similar scene. Perhaps you could zoom out and paint the scene from further away what else might there be in the picture? Or you could zoom in and paint the boat in more detail. Perhaps you could show the boat returning to harbour. Would it look very different, what might there be on board now? How would a different time of day change the colours and atmosphere of your painting? Key Stage Three Theme: Historical styles and movements Describe the painting in terms of Style is it abstract, impressionist or real Medium Subject matter Composition Use of colour what colours has the artist used? Do any colours dominate the painting? Do the colours used create atmospheric effects? Shape describe the shapes. Which are positive, and which negative? Are there any organic or biomorphic shapes. Can you see geometric shapes? Form What can you see in this painting? What is the artist trying to convey and how does he do this? Why do you think he painted this scene? Consider scale, perspective, detail, space, distance, cultural references.
Activities Think about the landscapes that are portrayed and influenced the artist then, both in terms of political and historical landscape. Compare with the landscape of today and how that might influence artists working now. Research how history and current affairs have influenced the way artists and art has developed and the artistic movements in the past. Other artists associated with the works of art that may have influenced some of the landscapes. How has the artist been inspired by sense of place, both in terms of the place she was working and the artists she was working alongside. Create your work using different media and techniques Research artistic movements and create your pieces working within different particular styles Acknowledgements: This webpage was created by the Learning Team at the Royal Cornwall Museum and is funded and supported by the Cornwall Museums Group. Thanks to Maxine Whitbread-abrutat (Art Teacher) - for her help in creating the content of this resource.