In this pathway, for ages 5-16, we explore still life painters who focus on food as subject matter and inspiration. Use their work as the basis for conversation in the classroom, and then use the AccessArt resources below to enable pupils to explore structural ways to create a connection.
If you use this resource in your setting, please tag us on social media: #InspiredBy @accessart (facebook, twitter) @accessart.org.uk (instagram) and share the url. Thank you!
Claire Harrup uses a wide variety of techniques to create her work including painting, relief printing, stencil printing, collaging and taking rubbings.
Claire’s work often comes from client set briefs. Claire adapts her process to create work for food packaging, editorial pieces and illustrations for recipe books.
Find out more about Claire’s journey into illustration in this ‘Which Artists?’ post.
Nicole Dyer is a contemporary painter who experiments with mixed media materials such as paper mache in their paintings, putting a twist on the traditional still life painting.
Their paintings are often a commentary of consumerism and contemporary society.
Use Jan Millers exploration of Sushi as an example of how you can bring lots of creative experimentation into still life classes by scaffolding your lessons. Find a breakdown of activities found in this resource below to help you adapt the activities for your class…
Explore A Breakdown of Resources for Scaffolding a Still Life Project
Begin by using and adapting this resource for younger and older students to get students taking photos of their own still life compositions. Follow on by creating gestural drawings of your chosen food.
Explore a mixed media approach using watercolour washes of food with this resource. Or try experimenting with painting food using acrylic paint here.
Work individually or in a group to experiment with the the surfaces you draw on by adapting this resource.
If you want to explore some printmaking like Claire Harrup or Jan Miller, here are some accessible techniques.
Pedagogy in 250 Words: 'How to Use Artists Work as Inpiration in the Classroom'