MATERIALS
The materials and tools used in these workshops are very simple. The higher the quality used the more rewarding and enjoyable the sessions are. However, the programme is designed to work with all grades of paint.
A simple basic list for the workshops consists of: brushes, paints, support surface, (primer), palettes, aprons.
Brushes
Brushes should be as large as possible, clean and flexible. Finer brushes should be kept for the year 5 and 6 sessions. It is important that the children do not get entrapped in detailed work and see their work as a whole.
Paints
Normally schools have ready mixed poster paints. These can be used but their disadvantage is that they are soluble once dried making over painting in layers pretty well impossible. One solution is to mix PVA glue such as wood glue (not the school washable type) with the paint. This is labourious and disruptive during sessions. The ideal is artists' acrylic paints. These dry to a permanent and water resistant surface and can be purchased in pure bright colours which when mixed maintain their vibrancy.
For large quantities tubs or buckets are better value for money. For smaller numbers bottles with nozzles allow a more controlled means of delivery into palettes.
Surfaces
Any surface such as paper, card or medium density fibre board (MDF) works well. MDF is possibly the better of the three since it does not distort, cockle or warp under normal circumstances. This of itself may not be important but it makes display and mounting much easier as all pieces can be accurately cut to the same size and placed side by side on a simple framework for an impressive display as a large single work.
Primer
If you are using MDF it is advisable to prime the surface with acrylic primer. This serves to regulate the absorbancy of the surface at render it white so that paint applied to it appears brighter and unaffected by the brown colour of the MDF, (which can be used for effect when not working on pure colour).
Two thin coats of primer applied with a broad brush are sufficient and dry quickly between coats.
Palettes
It is essential that each child have their own palette. This encourages a better control and understanding of colour mixing by being able to see through exactly what the consequences of a particular action is and judge how colour translate from palette to surface.
Palettes with six wells or more are good in that the colour mixes are kept separate and "families" of colours can be kept in some logical order.
Aprons
A good idea!
Plastic Spoons
For ladelling out the paint into palettes from tubs or buckets. One spoon per colour.
Newspaper
Covering tables with newspaper saves time in clearing up at the end of a session.
Bucket of Water
To drop dirty brushes whennot in used prior to washing. This keeps the acrylic paint soft. If the paint is allowed to dry it becomes harder to clean off the brushes.
