A Doodle

The following post is taken from The Art Book For Children - Book Two, text by Amanda Renshaw, published by Phaidon, pages 10-13. Do you ever doodle when you're bored? As you add more lines and shapes, do things sometimes emerge that are recognizable as animals, birds, or even people? One day, Henry Moore was playing with a piece of wax, pushing and prodding at it with his fingers and thumbs until he thought it began to look like a strange head with horns, a beard and a long thing nose. As he kept playing with it, the shape grew a crown and became, he thought, like the head of a king. The fact that it looked more like a king's head to him than any other kind of head might have been because he'd recently been reading stories about kings, queens and princesses to his daughter Mary. When he had finished the figure with the king-like head, Moore made a body and then added another person. King and Queen started life as a small piece of wax that you could hold in your hand and became a bronze sculpture that is 5 feet, 4 inches high. It now sits near the brow of a hill in Scotland looking south over a reservoir toward the English border. Have a look at the pictures below.

King and Queen on Glenkiln Estate, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Although this king and queen have no country to reign over, they do seem to command the beautiful landscape around them as they sit regally and serenely surveying their imaginary kingdom. Moore made the king and queen appear regal by keeping the figures simple. Their feet are placed firmly on the ground in front of them. They sit comfortably, but don't slouch, and their hands, placed on their laps and on the bench, help them to appear calm and still. Next time you start doodling, don't stop! Just imagine what it could turn into!

Hanging Sculpture

Materials: paper (I used white, but any color will do.) markers, crayons, or colored pencils scissors stapler, tape or glue

Step 1: Create drawings/designs on your paper. For my sculpture, I used three drawings, but you could use more if you wish.

Step 2: Use scissors to cut your pictures into strips. (Cut straight lines across the paper.)

Step 3: Bend each strip so that it forms a circle shape. Use a stapler to connect the ends. (You may also use tape or glue. Remember if you use glue, you must have patience and wait for the circle shapes to dry.)

Step 4: Once you create your first circle, loop them together to form a chain. I used a center circle and then attached various chains. See how many ways you can hang your sculpture. Only hang your sculpture where an adult has given you permission!! I used my refrigerator and hung mine with magnets!

Paper Plate Instrument

Materials: 2 paper plates stapler, tape or glue uncooked rice (uncooked popcorn kernels, small twigs, small rocks, or shells will work too!) markers, crayons or colored pencils

Step 1: Begin with two paper plates. Turn them over and create designs/pictures by drawing with markers, crayons or colored pencils.

Step 2: Turn one of the plates over and place a handful of uncooked rice (or one of the other materials listed above).

Step 3: Place the empty plate on top of the filled plate. Be careful to line up the edges. Use a stapler around the edges to keep the plates together. (Tape or glue may be used as well. Remember if you decide to use glue it you will have to be patient and let it dry overnight.)

Step 4: After the paper plates have been put together, shake and play your Paper Plate Instrument!! You've created art with rhythm!! Enjoy!