Paul Carney, educational consultant and author has created six activities for AccessArt that meet the National Curriculum needs of both Science and Art & Design. The following resources explore methodical and chance drawing processes, together with visualisation, adaptation and memory drawing activities. The projects encourage observation, recording, creative thinking and invention; skills fundamental to the roles of artist and scientist.

Adapted from the book ‘Drawing for Science, Invention & Discovery’ by Paul Carney

www.paulcarneyarts.com

Methodical Drawing

This activity demonstrates how drawing is used by scientists as a means of recording and cataloguing large amounts of complex information. It shows you how and why drawing can help us to better understand the objects we are studying and the importance of organising and sorting information.Read More

Serendipity Drawing

Many of the world’s greatest inventions have occurred by chance. This activity shows you how chance plays an integral part of the making process in art and shows you how artists try to manipulate it to further their creative purposes.Read More

Trial and Error Drawing

Mistakes aren’t an unwanted outcome of the creative process, they are integral; a vital part of making. In this session we learn how to develop our working memory so that we might understand the creative process of action, mistakes and action better.Read More

Adaptation Drawing

This session is designed to explain the cognitive approach used by scientists to utilise the properties of one material for another, quite different purpose. It will also assist in developing pupil’s ability to cognitively imagine and invent.Read More

Visualisation Drawing

Can we learn how to improve our ability to visualise complex sequences of information in our mind? Artists and scientists use this skill when thinking about the possible future stages of their work, but can we learn how to get better at it, so that we might become more successful practitioners?Read More

Doppleganger Drawing

Many people find drawing difficult so I’ve developed this simple technique to show you how you might improve your drawings. What I want you to do is to hold your fingers out like this in front of you, and I’d like you to try and start moving them in synchronisation.Read More

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.

A collection of imagery and sources which you can use to prompt drawing in schools and community groups. 

Please note that this page contains links to external websites and has videos from external websites embedded. At the time of creating, AccessArt checked all links to ensure content is appropriate for teachers to access. However external websites and videos are updated and that is beyond our control. 

Please let us know if you find a 404 link, or if you feel content is no longer appropriate. 

We strongly recommend as part of good teaching practice that teachers watch all videos and visit all websites before sharing with a class. On occasion there may be elements of a video you would prefer not to show to your class and it is the teacher’s responsibility to ensure content is appropriate. Many thanks. 

Ice

Use the film below to enable children to explore drawing icy landscapes. Try to create a sense of momentum – for example you might pause the video 4 times and ask the pupils to make a 1 minute, 2 minute, 3 minute and 4 minute drawing at each pause. 

Encourage close and slow looking by talking as they draw – use your voice to attract their attention to features of the landscapes.

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This is featured in the ‘Life on Ice’ pathway

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Handmade plasterboard

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Ice Worlds

A collection of imagery and sources which you can use to prompt drawing in schools and community groups. 

Please note that this page contains links to external websites and has videos from external websites embedded. At the time of creating, AccessArt checked all links to ensure content is appropriate for teachers to access. However external websites and videos are updated and that is beyond our control. 

Please let us know if you find a 404 link, or if you feel content is no longer appropriate. 

We strongly recommend as part of good teaching practice that teachers watch all videos and visit all websites before sharing with a class. On occasion there may be elements of a video you would prefer not to show to your class and it is the teacher’s responsibility to ensure content is appropriate. Many thanks. 

These resources are free to access and are not a part of AccessArt Membership.

Athletes

Use this collection of films as source material for pupils exploring the human form during sports. In the first instance you might want to pause the videos as suitable points to enable the children to carefully look at the main forms and details. Try to create a sense of momentum – for example you might pause the video 4 times and ask the pupils to make a 1 minute, 2 minute, 3 minute and 4 minute drawing at each pause. 

Encourage close and slow looking by talking as they draw – use your voice to attract their attention to features of the athletes. 

When pupils are more experienced, you can also try getting them to make their drawings as the videos play – making quick gestural sketches. 

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Visual Notes

Find out how pupils can respond to artists work in sketchbooks

Show me what you see

Enable close looking and drawing with this exercise

A collection of imagery and sources which you can use to prompt drawing in schools and community groups. 

Please note that this page contains links to external websites and has videos from external websites embedded. At the time of creating, AccessArt checked all links to ensure content is appropriate for teachers to access. However external websites and videos are updated and that is beyond our control. 

Please let us know if you find a 404 link, or if you feel content is no longer appropriate. 

We strongly recommend as part of good teaching practice that teachers watch all videos and visit all websites before sharing with a class. On occasion there may be elements of a video you would prefer not to show to your class and it is the teacher’s responsibility to ensure content is appropriate. Many thanks. 

Inspirational Stadium Designs

Use the film below to enable students to explore inspirational stadiums around the world. Try to create a sense of momentum – for example you might pause the video 4 times and ask the pupils to make a 1 minute, 2 minute, 3 minute and 4 minute drawing at each pause. 

Encourage close and slow looking by talking as they draw – use your voice to attract their attention to different qualities.

Try the same exercise using different materials, ie handwriting pen, ink and nib, using a ruler to make all the lines etc.

When pupils are more experienced, you can also try getting them to make their drawings as the videos play – making quick gestural sketches.

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Explore Stadium Design

Explore architecture and stadium design with this pathway

Show me what you see

Enable close looking and drawing with this exercise

using sketchbooks to make visual notes

Find out how pupils can respond to artists work in sketchbooks

A collection of imagery and sources which you can use to prompt drawing in schools and community groups. 

Please note that this page contains links to external websites and has videos from external websites embedded. At the time of creating, AccessArt checked all links to ensure content is appropriate for teachers to access. However external websites and videos are updated and that is beyond our control. 

Please let us know if you find a 404 link, or if you feel content is no longer appropriate. 

We strongly recommend as part of good teaching practice that teachers watch all videos and visit all websites before sharing with a class. On occasion there may be elements of a video you would prefer not to show to your class and it is the teacher’s responsibility to ensure content is appropriate. Many thanks. 

Polar Bears

Use the film below to enable children to explore drawing polar bears. Try to create a sense of momentum – for example you might pause the video 4 times and ask the pupils to make a 1 minute, 2 minute, 3 minute and 4 minute drawing at each pause. 

Encourage close and slow looking by talking as they draw – use your voice to attract their attention to features of the polar bears.

Watch the full documentary The Polar Bear Family & Me

public domain animal CC0 photo.

public domain animal CC0 photo.

Free public domain CC0 photo.

Free public domain CC0 photo.

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Pathway: Using Art To Explore Global Issue

This is featured in the ‘Using Art To Explore Global Issue’ pathway

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Pathway: Making Birds

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Collaging with Wax Crayon Rubbings