Visual Arts Planning: Insects and Minibeasts

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Be inspired to explore minibeasts and insects through observational drawing & making, with this unique selection of artist led teaching resources from AccessArt workshops for children and young people, including those with learning disabilities.

Please feel free to add links to other resources, or share your experiences and ideas, via the comments box below.

Drawing and Painting Insects and Minibeasts

Drawing Minibeasts – using a continuous line, graphite and oil pastel

Working from images of flies, spiders, ants, crane flies and beetles in a drawing workshop for ages 6 to 10. By Paula Briggs director of AccessArt and author of Drawing Projects for Children (Black Dog Publishing) Working from images of flies, spiders, ants, crane flies and beetles in a drawing workshop for ages 6 to 10. By Paula Briggs director of AccessArt and author of Drawing Projects for Children (Black Dog Publishing)

Minibeast Artwork by Tracy McGuinness-Kelly

Artist Tracy McGuinness-Kelly leads pupils to create a beautiful collaborative piece of work, inspired by minibeasts, for permanent display inside their school. Artist Tracy McGuinness-Kelly leads pupils to create a beautiful collaborative piece of work, inspired by minibeasts, for permanent display inside their school.

Drawing with Tape on Walls with Rebecca Hoyes

Artist Rebecca Hoyes transforms a marquee wall into a tree of life with gaffe and electrical tape. Artist Rebecca Hoyes transforms a marquee wall into a tree of life with gaffe and electrical tape.

Drawing Exotic Insects from the Insect Room in the University of Cambridge Museum of Zoology

Drawing insects from the Cambridge University Museum of Zoology ‘handling collection’ with Sheila Ceccarelli Drawing insects from the Cambridge University Museum of Zoology ‘handling collection’ with Sheila Ceccarelli

Drawing Insects with an H Pencil

Teenagers from AccessArt’s Experimental Drawing Class, experimented with using an H pencil to draw insects with Sheila Ceccarelli. Teenagers from AccessArt’s Experimental Drawing Class, experimented with using an H pencil to draw insects with Sheila Ceccarelli.

Drawing Insects in Black Pen

Teenagers from AccessArt’s Experimental Drawing Class, experimented with using a black pen to draw insects with Sheila Ceccarelli. Teenagers from AccessArt’s Experimental Drawing Class, experimented with using a black pen to draw insects with Sheila Ceccarelli.

Drawing Insects Big

Drawing insects from the Cambridge University Museum of Zoology ‘handling collection’ with Sheila Ceccarelli. Working big (A1), you can experience a sense of freedom to experiment with mark making and gesture and there is literally the space on the paper to easily work with form, space and contour as well as play with the vast array of possibilities presented by a variety of drawing materials. Drawing insects from the Cambridge University Museum of Zoology ‘handling collection’ with Sheila Ceccarelli. Working big (A1), you can experience a sense of freedom to experiment with mark making and gesture and there is literally the space on the paper to easily work with form, space and contour as well as play with the vast array of possibilities presented by a variety of drawing materials.

Drawing Insects in Wire and Tracing Shadows in Black Pen

Students were given a piece of modelling wire (approx. 1m long) and were asked to use the wire to ‘draw’ an insect. The purpose of this exercise was to help ‘see’ and draw form and to make line drawings whilst really thinking about the quality of line achievable in black pen. Students were given a piece of modelling wire (approx. 1m long) and were asked to use the wire to ‘draw’ an insect. The purpose of this exercise was to help ‘see’ and draw form and to make line drawings whilst really thinking about the quality of line achievable in black pen.

Making Minibeasts and Insects

Making Insect Sculptures

Making Insect Sculptures by Paula Briggs and Sheila Ceccarelli from AccessArt Making Insect Sculptures by Paula Briggs and Sheila Ceccarelli from AccessArt

Brave Young Makers: Year Three Pupils at Ridgefield Primary Transform Materials into Birds and Insects

This workshop presented year three pupils at Ridgefield Primary School with real design and making challenges as they worked to a brief to ‘create birds and insects for their school tree’. By Sheila Ceccarelli This workshop presented year three pupils at Ridgefield Primary School with real design and making challenges as they worked to a brief to ‘create birds and insects for their school tree’. By Sheila Ceccarelli

Making Insects and a Cockatoo at Castle School

Students at Castle School Cambridge enjoy the challenges of constructing in mixed media with Sheila Ceccarelli. Students at Castle School Cambridge enjoy the challenges of constructing in mixed media with Sheila Ceccarelli.