Play Eat Run

Today I was playing with an idea for the year 7's but you might like to try it for your children.

 It could even be a 3D Mother's Day card if you want to keep them busy for a couple of hours this week-end.

 

Somebody bought in an interesting cookie box this morning. When you take the white cone off it folds open like a star. So we were thinking how this could work as a construction activity for the wee tackers. I photocopied one side and the base then cut them out and printed them onto stiff paper. This one is on water colour paper but you could use any card that goes in your printer. The template was on A3 sized paper.

We thought about how a twelve year old could transfer a bit about themselves onto the "Identity Pyramid". That sounds very New Age doesn't it? How about the "Cone of Self" or the "Me Prism"?
Mine shall be known as "Fishboy Facets". Each side is another side of his lovely personality....strings, piano, swimming, football and himself. Everything runs into the next as his busy life is getting a bit like that.

 The base and tip were made from a photocopy of a little canvas I painted a while ago for something else. It's just about him, now, this year. I didn't get too gushy as it is an example for other boys the same age.

 

It's up on my desk for a while till we've used it here but I'm looking forward to giving it to him. He can hang it on a string or sit it on his desk or, more likely, lose it under some dirty football socks. Ephemeral art!

Scissors, Paper, Rocks

Remember this pretty peck of pebbles from the beach?

I thought I'd put my money where my mouth is and do something with it. So I cut (scissors) some nice thick water colour paper and drew on it with charcoal.

Then I made up a purple solution of the old Condy's Crystals and dipped the paper in it. BTW, did you know Condy's Crystals were once considered de rigueur for chook farmers to flavour their chooks water and  rid them of parasites. As it is a caustic solution, they may well have been rid of their chooks' digestive tracts too.

When it oxidises, it changes from purple to brown.

Then comes the magic science part. With some plain lemon juice, bottled or fresh, the paper can instantly be bleached back to white. It can be spattered on, or brushed or dripped. The edges can be bleached back too. The random organic nature of the runs is part of the charm of anything  on watercolour paper.

Then some colour can be added back over with water colour pencils and a wet  brush. Maybe a little white pastel can highlight bits and pieces. I'm still playing with this in between classes.
The yellow rock up the top is still my favourite just like in the photo.