Artist's studio

'You can never do too much drawing.'
Jacopo Tintoretto

Charlie has set up a studio in his bedroom. He has spent hours drawing and painting in there every day. He completes his other subjects first thing (he was delighted when he earned a silver certificate for ConquerMaths), then he's free to do what he wants.

 

Charlie's first painting with his new paints

One of his latest drawings

I have given him a book I'd originally given to my older son several years ago, which has been collecting dust on the bookshelf: 'Drawing for the Artistically Undiscovered' by Quentin Blake and John Cassidy.

Described as 'for people who want to draw but don't mind starting at the beginning', this book is not particularly concerned with teaching techniques. Instead, it has a far more ambitious aim: 'to give you the ability to sneak into the heart of your subject by going direct'. As the author says:

'One can spend weeks on a marvelous painting of a rabbit, accurate to the tiniest detail - and yet still miss its essential rabbit-ness. And then dash off a funny little sketch in a few lines - and pin that bunny's soul to the paper.'

Here are some of Charlie's drawings, alongside the great Quentin Blake's:

 

Last Friday, we spent a couple of hours painting ceramics at a local pottery cafe. It was very relaxing.

Charlie chose to paint a mug

First layer of paint

Decorations added

The workspace

The finished product a day later, after it had been in the kiln

And a surprise at the bottom of the mug

This week we are doing art projects from a wonderful book called The Usborne Art Treasury. Pictures to follow!