Opening Out: Shells and Sketchbooks

By Tobi Meuwissen

In this activity, learners experiment with a range of drawing tools and materials to create both observational and experimental mixed-media drawings.

In the session, they begin by making a concertina sketchbook using tracing paper, before experimenting with ink and a range of drawing materials, moving onto close observational drawing of shells, to fill their concertinas with drawings in inventive and creative ways.

The three drawing exercises, along with the warm-up activity, are carefully scaffolded to help children develop their skills step-by-step. Each activity builds on prior learning, reinforcing understanding of both the subject matter and the materials, while encouraging children to make connections and informed choices about their next steps.

This activity was facilitated with Year 4 learners at Beaver Road Junior School over a 1.5-hour session, but it can easily be extended or adapted, with opportunities to use the exercises as warm-ups across different sessions. It also comes with plenty of scope to adapt the exercises to the needs or aims of your learners.

Log in as a member below to access the full resource.

 


Please log in here to access full content.

Username
Password


Remember me
Forgot Password

 

To access all content, I would like to join as…

An Individual

Creative practitioners, educators, teachers, parents, learners…


An Organisation…

Schools, Colleges, Arts Organisations: Single and Multi-Users



AccessArt is a UK Charity and we believe everyone has the right to be creative. AccessArt provides inspiration to help us all reach our creative potential.



You May Also Like…

making a blind contour drawing

Finished blind contour drawing of lace

Experimental mark-making tools

Home Made Tools and Ink by Andrea Butler

Nests: Materials, Tools and Sketchbooks

Using a bamboo pen


Insect Cubes

You May Also Like…

Drawing insects big

Final drawing of Rhinoceros Beetle on loan from Cambridge University Museum Of Zoology

continuous line minibeasts

Lovely red "eye balm"

iridescent insects

An embossed drawing of a butterfly.


Fruit Plates

You May Also Like…

working on black paper

Fish Painting by Jan Miller

cut paper still life collage

Still Life Collage by Charlotte Puddephatt

graphic inky still life

...with shadow


Making the “AccessArt For All” Banner


Curiosity and Kindness: Prompt Cards for Making

You May Also Like…

AccessArt art week 2026: Curiosity and Kindness

Kindness and Curiosity Art Week Logo by Tobi Meuwissen

AccessArt art week 2026: Curiosity and Kindness Activities

Medals by Jan Miller

explore other art week themes

Collage Plant by Jan Miller

Prompt Cards for Making

AccessArt Making Prompt Cards Saatchi Learning Workshop By Lala Thorpe

roots and shoots

Roots and Shoots Made From Found Materials

playful making inspired by nnena kalu

Finished Group Sculptures Inspired by Nnena Kalu by Lorna Greenwood


Finding Kindness in Marks Made by Artists

You May Also Like…

AccessArt art week 2026: Curiosity and Kindness

Kindness and Curiosity Art Week Logo by Tobi Meuwissen

AccessArt art week 2026: Curiosity and Kindness Activities

Medals by Jan Miller

explore other art week themes

Collage Plant by Jan Miller

Experimental mark-making tools

One Strand Canvas Tool Marks by Andrea Butler

the anatomy of a pencil

Horizontal: And use the tip of the pencil as though it is an extension of your own finger

Finding Marks Through Drawings Made by Artists

Two maraboos (Twee maraboes) (c.1914) by Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita. Original from The Rijksmuseum. Digitally enhanced by rawpixel. CC0


Splendour and Opulence Inspired by Klimt

What We Like About This Resource…

“We really love how Nichola devised and facilitated this activity, giving learners complete freedom whilst limiting certain elements such as colour palette. This activity incorporates a journeyful approach, in which the experiments all come together to form a shared outcome, and celebrate every learners exploration, which we love!” – Tobi, AccessArt

 

You May Also Like…

visual notes

St Hilary School, Year 4

sculptural environments inspired by hockney

Sculptural Environment Inspired by Hockney by Natalie Deane

Multimedia Response to Yayoi Kusama

Mixed Media Paintings by Clare Boreham


Dizzy Tins

You May Also Like…

Drawing Hands

Continuous Line Drawing of a Hand

Paint your corner shop

Final Green Peas Tin By Tobi Meuwissen

animating hands

Sequential Hands

redesigning food packaging

Close up of Final Packaging by Tobi Meuwissen


Adapting AccessArt: Woolly Scarves and Long Sketchbooks

You May Also Like…

Using pastel to capture texture

8

collaging with wax crayon rubbings

Wax Resist Collage by Tobi Meuwissen

concertina landscapes

Landscape Concertina by Saoirse Morgan


Collaged Costume for Cardboard Figures

You May Also Like…

Speech Bubble Challenge

Speech Bubbles and Cardboard Fashion Figures

alternative fashion

A scarf and jacket on painted cardboard.

making 2d and 3d fashion designs

attaching to the mannequin by Paula Briggs

See This Resource Used in Educational Settings…

Nicole Dubertrand Process Art at HP Home Education group
Nicole Dubertrand Process Art at HP Home Education group
Nicole Dubertrand Process Art at HP Home Education group
Nicole Dubertrand Process Art at HP Home Education group
Nicole Dubertrand Process Art at HP Home Education group
Primary 1, Glenwood Primary School, Nichola Dalton artist educator
Primary 1, Glenwood Primary School, Nichola Dalton artist educator
Primary 1, Glenwood Primary School, Nichola Dalton artist educator
Primary 1, Glenwood Primary School, Nichola Dalton artist educator


Speech Bubble Challenge

You May Also Like…

Collaged Costume for Cardboard Figures

Final Cardboard Fashion Figures by Tobi Meuwissen

Word and image: creating new narratives

Text and Image Word Play by Joe Gamble

Talking heads

Talking Heads by Tobi Meuwissen


Drawing With Two Hands

You May Also Like…

see three shapes

3shapes

Feely Drawings

Sketching as you feel

Ten minutes, five times a week

Continuous line drawing of a Hoola Hoop

CPD recording: drawing with two hands

Inky Drawing of a Banana Using Two Hands by Joe Gamble


Adapting AccessArt: Plinth People

This Project Uses The Following Resources…

Plinth people: Sculptural Self Portraits

Once the plaster was set the cardboard was removed. The corrugations gave the plinths an architectural feel

Quick Clay Figurative Sketches

Quick clay figurative sketch


Landscapes Inspired by John Piper


Transforming Letters

You May Also Like…

cut out typography

Cut Out Typography By Tobi Meuwissen

typography for children

Upper and lower case "C" inspired by twigs

drawing with scissors

AccessArt Survey for Primary Schools

CPD Recording: Transforming Letters

Cutting and Arranging Letters by Charlotte Puddephatt


Talking With Your Hands


Co-Design in the Classroom

You May Also Like…

Our Creative Community: A pupil-led Project

Prepping Letterpress by Natalie Deane

Visual Arts Pedagogy

Paper Bag Made From Garment Pattern Paper


Dreaming With Watercolour

You May Also Like…

let me inspire you by emma burleigh

Colourful mixed media painting by Emma Burleigh

Globe paintings

Globe Paintings with Stephanie Cubbin

introduction to watercolour

Creating a watercolour wash

See all send resources

Benton Dene School by Clare Boreham

See This Resource Used in Educational Settings…

Primary 1, Glenwood Primary School, Nichola Dalton artist educator
Primary 1, Glenwood Primary School, Nichola Dalton artist educator
Primary 1, Glenwood Primary School, Nichola Dalton artist educator
Primary 1, Glenwood Primary School, Nichola Dalton artist educator
Primary 1, Glenwood Primary School, Nichola Dalton artist educator


How I use my Sketchbook as a Painter, by Rachel Thompson


Word and Image: Creating New Narratives

You May Also Like….

Teenagers write in invented text

Letter to Self - SC - Reid

Teenagers write in invented text

Graffiti floor - teenagers SC

Monoprint to explore poetry

Cass uses her sketchbook to collect ideas and work

3d Visual Maps

Typeface in response to name