Brilliant Makers with Sharon Gale

Artist and Educator Sharon Gale shares a collection of resources to inspire both in the classroom and after-school clubs. The resources lay an emphasis on the power of making and how 3d thinking can foster creative problem solving, dexterity, composition and design.

Our motto at AccessArt is “Making is important. Knowing how to use tools, and materials, is key to unlocking the imagination and has potential to transform the world.”

We hope that by collecting and sharing resources that inspire making, we are taking positive steps to develop our network of Brilliant Makers Clubs. We want to join together individuals, schools and organisations who recognise the importance of making as a vital part of a child’s education and life long learning.

Abstract Face – Relief Sculptures

In this construction and painting resource, students make an abstract face, relief sculpture from cardboard, adding colour, texture and metal findings. The sculpture is attached to a wooden dowel which is inserted into a plasticine-made stand.

This simple clay pot making resource is not the traditional way of making coil pots but it’s lots of fun and by using different paint effects, the end results can be very interesting. We worked on this project for two, two hour sessions.

In this particular workshop, the subject matter had to link with KS2 Geography and the topic of rivers. Students were asked to research their favourite creature or plant, that made the British riverside its home. They made their miniatures from clay and painted their chosen wildlife onto them.

This resource uses plasticine like thick impasto paint. Colours can be mixed by layering small pieces of plasticine straight on a mountboard background, or blended by hand before applying to the background. Simple tools like toothpicks and teaspoons can be used to create interesting textures

Textile and graphic artist Sharon Gale shows pupils in the Art Cabin at Northaw CE Primary School in Hertfordshire, how to make colourful, painted Newspaper Animal Heads.

In this three stage resource, students make a circular medal from clay depicting their own profile, look at examples of fun lettering and devise a short, fun or meaningful phrase to paint inside their portrait profile

Abstract Face – Relief Sculptures

In this construction and painting resource, students make an abstract face, relief sculpture from cardboard, adding colour, texture and metal findings. The sculpture is attached to a wooden dowel which is inserted into a plasticine-made stand.

Decorative Clay POts

This simple clay pot making resource is not the traditional way of making coil pots but it’s lots of fun and by using different paint effects, the end results can be very interesting. We worked on this project for two, two hour sessions.

Clay Portrait Miniatures

In this particular workshop, the subject matter had to link with KS2 Geography and the topic of rivers. Students were asked to research their favourite creature or plant, that made the British riverside its home. They made their miniatures from clay and painted their chosen wildlife onto them.

Painting with Plasticine

This resource uses plasticine like thick impasto paint. Colours can be mixed by layering small pieces of plasticine straight on a mountboard background, or blended by hand before applying to the background. Simple tools like toothpicks and teaspoons can be used to create interesting textures

Newspaper Heads

Textile and graphic artist Sharon Gale shows pupils in the Art Cabin at Northaw CE Primary School in Hertfordshire, how to make colourful, painted Newspaper Animal Heads.

Clay Art Medals

In this three stage resource, students make a circular medal from clay depicting their own profile, look at examples of fun lettering and devise a short, fun or meaningful phrase to paint inside their portrait profile