This resource explores why warm up drawing exercises help improve drawing outcomes and experiences.

When used appropriately, warm up drawing exercises can really affect the type of work children produce during the main part of a drawing session. Here are just some reasons why you should consider incorporating warm up exercises into a drawing project:

• They help make a clear transition, for example between the rest of the school day and a creative activity.

• They can be used to introduce new materials.

• They can set the scene.

• They can open minds and challenge misconceptions.

• They can plant seeds of new ideas or ways of working.

• They provide a way to enable the children to explore through a guided activity.

• They can help boost confidence.

• They can demonstrate intention.

• They help children follow instructions.

• They can provide a starting point for later reflection.

• They provide the opportunity for repeated practice

• They can surprise, wake up, or settle down a jaded class.

Warm ups are also beneficial to the teacher or facilitator: by thinking through which warm up will be most appropriate for your session, you will be forced to clarify and dissect the aims of your drawing session.

Most of the warm ups in our resources will take only five to ten minutes. Like any exercises they can and should be repeated regularly to get the most out of them, and like any skill, the children will quickly improve with practice.

Inventing your own Warm Ups

After a while, you will want to invent your own warm ups to serve your own needs. Consider the following:

• The outcome of the warm up should help create a bridge to the beginning of the main drawing session. Think about where you want to take the children to in the main session (i.e. is it about a material, a technique, a concept…?) and work backwards from there.

• Consider potential stumbling blocks both in the main session and in the warm up. Can you split the activities up into smaller stages to help overcome these?

• Think about where the children are at NOW in terms of experience. What new experiences or foci would you like them to have?

• Keep it simple, small, short – do not overload a warm up exercise.

• Do it yourself: what is it really like to do what you’re asking them to do?

• Leave time at the end for reflection as a group to share experiences.

This is a sample of a resource created by UK Charity AccessArt. We have over 1500 resources to help develop and inspire your creative thinking, practice and teaching.

AccessArt welcomes artists, educators, teachers and parents both in the UK and overseas.

We believe everyone has the right to be creative and by working together and sharing ideas we can enable everyone to reach their creative potential.

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Back to Curriculum Planning for Art

The resources below are accessible to AccessArt members. Please consider joining AccessArt (£42 for a single user, £96 for a multiuser membership. AccessArt is a UK Charity and all membership fees are used to develop further resources.

Year 1 (age 5) through to Year 6 (age 11)

Accessible Printmaking Techniques PDF

PDF download which describes simple printmaking techniques including block printing, linoprinting, monoprinting and screen printing, which can be explored by pupils with minimal equipment.

Carbon Paper Monoprints

A low tech, low mess, way to make monoprints. Pupils draw through carbon paper to create a monoprint on the paper below. Colour can be added by using oil pastel on the carbon paper. Lots of potential to encourage children to diversify their mark making. Suitable for all year groups.

Printing processes that use everyday materials to develop a creative focus for anyone, anywhere By Ruth Purdy

Here are some starting points from which your really accessible printing projects can begin; from printing from plasticine to using everyday objects to make prints. Enjoy!

Painting the Savannah by Chloe Williams

Working on a ambitious scale, artist Chloe Williams shows what can be achieved with printmaking techniques in an early years setting.

Poetry and Printmaking by Ann Bridges

Printmaker Ann Bridges shares her love of poetry and printmaking in this illustrated resource, which enables young children to make imagery inspired by poetry.

Monoprints

Using monoprints to free up the drawing process. Simple process using acetate, printing ink, rollers. Pupils draw on top of the acetate and the pressure transfers the “print” onto the paper below. Pupils can experiement with layering drawings and varying the presuure of their mark-making. Monoprinting is an inuitive, freeing process which generates lots of experiemental work. Suitable for all year groups.

Aluminium Foil Printing by Paul Carney

Artist Paul Carney shows us Aluminium printing. Aluminium printing provides a low cost and more manageable alternative to the process of etching and engraving used in industry and throughout history.

Mayan Tabletop Eraser Printing Project

Little hands explore carving with lino-tools to create printing blocks out of erasers to create repetitive designs on fabric.

Making Collagraphs

Using cardboard, string, found objects and pva glue to create a “plate” ready for printing. If no printing press is available, you can use the pressure of your hand, or a clean roller. Children can explore one or multi-colour printing. The collagraphic plates are also beautiful objects in their own right. Suitable for all year groups.

Block printing: Creating repeat patterns using letters with Andy McKenzie

Working with artist Andy McKenzie to create repeat patterns of letters using block printing.

How to Make a Tessellated Design

How to make a simple tessellated design using a cardboard stencil.

Printmaking with Salvaged Sticky Back Aluminium Foil, Mixed Media and Cardboard

A dynamic printmaking session using sticky-back foil to make printing plates and a car to apply print pressure!

Collagraphs Inspired by Architecture

Students create collagraphs inspired by architecture with Paula Briggs.

Year 5 (age 10) and above

Eraser Printmaking

Using linocutting tools to make printing plates from erasers. Simple, repeatable images which can be used to explore pattern or to make logos. Due to the sharp tools suitable for Year 5 children or older.

Collagraph, Collage and Stitch: Make a Image of Your Home on Fabric

Artist Andrea Butler shares how to create a collagraph and print on fabric.

Making a Collagraph Print by Suzie Mackenzie

Artist Suzie Mackenzie shares her collagraph process with AccessArt.

Lino Print

Easy (Speedy) carve lino now means it is easier for children to carve and print with lino. Pupils can print in a single colour, or experiement with more colours. The area carved away does not print, so linoprinting gives pupils the opportunity to explore negative and positive/reverse designs. Due to the sharp tools needed to carve lino prints this activity is more suitable for children in Years 5 (age 10) and above. Ensure you use safety cutting boards to encourage pupils to cut away from themselves.

LinoCut – An Artist’s Perspective

Printmaker James Green shares his passion for making linocuts.

Exploring Cyanotype by Maru Rojas

Artist Maru Rojas describes how to make cyanotype prints by resting plant material on senstised paper, or making plates from acetate.

The Intaglio Process: An Artist’s Perspective

Artist Neil Woodall shares how he makes an intaglio print.

AccessArt Resources to Support Printmaking

AccessArt is an evolving collection of resources and further resources are being added over time. Please register with AccessArt to receive updates.

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