This is the third of six resources in the series: ‘Drawing for Science, Invention & Discovery Even If You Can’t Draw’ by Paul Carney, educational consultant and author.  The projects enable teachers of both art and science to approach drawing from a new perspective. You can see all of the resources here.

By Paul Carney 

Introduction: 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.

Notes for Teachers

• Learning Objectives

  • To enhance and improve our working memory.
  • To learn how to embrace mistake making as part of the creative process of drawing.

• Age Range

  Suitable for 7-16 years.

• Time Required

  The activity takes approximately one hour.

• National Curriculum Targets: Art & Design

  Key Stage 2 and 3: Pupils should be taught to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas and to improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing.

• National Curriculum Targets: Science

  To develop an understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them.

  Key Stage 2: They should begin to recognise that scientific ideas change and develop over time.

  Key Stage 3: Pupils should understand that science is about working objectively, modifying explanations to take account of new evidence and ideas and subjecting results to peer review.

  KS3 Scientific attitudes: Understand that scientific methods and theories develop as earlier explanations are modified to take account of new evidence and ideas.

  KS3 Experimental skills and investigations: Make and record observations and measurements using a range of methods for different investigations; and evaluate the reliability of methods and suggest possible improvements.

  Key Stage 4: Experimental skills and strategies: Making and recording observations and measurements using a range of apparatus and methods. Evaluating methods and suggesting possible improvements and further investigations.

  Working scientifically might be embedded by substituting the subject matter of the exercise for something within the content of biology, chemistry and physics, such as cell structure, anatomical features or chemical bonds.

• Things You’ll Need

  A4 paper, pencils, subject sources.

• Extending The Lesson

  Making the source image more complex should result in an increase in challenge.

• Supporting The Lesson

  Simplifying the source image will make the exercise easier.

• Assessment Guidance

  Look for accuracy of information recorded and remembered, rather than the skill of execution.

• Artist Links

  Henry Moore used this technique to draw, especially his air raid shelter drawings.

  https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/henry-moore/henry-moore-room-guide/henry-moore-room-guide-room-5

  You might also look at the scientific drawings of Santiago Ramon y Cajal and use these as the subject matter for the exercise.

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_Ram%C3%B3n_y_Cajal

• Cross-Curricular

  How might we adapt this exercise in other subject areas to help us remember key visual information?

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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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Pathway: Life on ice

This is featured in the ‘Life on Ice’ pathway

using sketchbooks to make visual notes

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Handmade plasterboard

Making Painted and Sewn Landscapes

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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AccessArt Olympics Resources

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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

using sketchbooks to make visual notes

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Pathway: Making Birds

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Collaging with Wax Crayon Rubbings

One: Casting

Exploring mark making into wet clay, mould making, mixing and pouring plaster

Two: Patterns in Nature, Line and Wire

Using drawing to look at designs and patterns in nature to inspire the creation of wire sculpture

Three: Taking Rubbings and Making Compositions

Recording the surrounding world by taking rubbings

Four: Block Printing

Learners are introduced to block printing

Five: Monoprinting

Exploring texture, pattern and mark making through monoprinting

Six: Steps to Observational Drawing

Four steps to enabling observational drawing

Seven: Making Sculpture

Learners explore sculptural principles of form, space and balance

Eight: Wax Resist and Scraffito

Introducing colour with wax resist and scraffito techniques

How to Run a Life Drawing Class

Introducing Hester and providing an overview of how Hester sets up and facilitates a life class.

An Introduction to Life Drawing

Getting started with life drawing and some simple warm-up exercises to help you become familiar with your drawing materials and the life model.

Capturing gesture

Hester provides some helpful advice along with a series of short drawing exercises, that will enable you to identify the essentials of a pose and successfully record the movement and gesture of the life model.

Drawing the head

Drawing faces can be daunting, but Hester explains how you can tackle them successfully using simple and logical steps.

drawing hands and feet

Hands and feet are tricky subjects and often get omitted because the forms seem too complicated to draw. Hester shares a secret shortcut to understanding and drawing these complex forms …think mittens and socks!

Understanding Foreshortening

When drawing the life model, it can be difficult to process your view of a 3D form into a 2D representation. Hester explains clearly and concisely how to successfully achieve a foreshortened figure to create the illusion of space in your drawings.

Using Tone

Hester explains how to use tone effectively to give your drawings more definition and an increased sense of volume and suggests ways of using tone when drawing short poses, that will build your confidence and skills.