Material Ideas

Need some ideas for what materials you can use to create your work, or how to use things which you might happen to have on hand? Read on below.

If you do have more conventional artist materials, you are of course welcome to use those too! You are free to create and submit whatever you would like.

PENCILS, PENS

drawing, illustration, write a haiku, draw a map, create a pattern

WAX CRAYONS, CHARCOAL

relief rubbing of textured surfaces, objects, trees, leaves

PAINTS

watercolour, oil, acrylic, craft — paint a scene, create an abstract work, even just mix one perfect colour

MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPER

with tape or glue, create collages — use images, type, or both; layer things, use juxtaposition, tell a story

CRAFT PAPER, SCRAP PAPER

with scissors or a knife and cutting mat, cut shapes out (see Matisse video below), you can arrange the shapes into an abstract design or create a scene

PHONE OR CAMERA

take photos, use free apps to edit or draw on top of your photos, create a digital collage

COLOUR SCHEMES

look for colour schemes in the natural spaces around you and send them in. If you don't know how, see my instructions below!

NATURE SCULPTURE

Look around you for leaves, stones, sticks, and other objects which you can arrange into a sculpture or shape. Remember not to do any harm and return things to where they came from. Watch the video below about artist Andy Goldsworthy.

REPURPOSED SCULPTURE

What objects do you have at home that you could create a 3D sculpture from? You could use things from your recycling bin or household objects. Take photos from different angles and share these as your submission.

Henri Matisse Cut Outs

From ArtFundUK (2014) — Jacky Klein presents a sneak peek at Tate Modern's dazzling new exhibition, which brings together Matisse's late-period abstract collages.

How to use Instagram to create a colour palette

The images below show one way to make a colour palette, just by using your phone. You can use other apps, design software, MS Paint, or actual paint, pens, or pencils. Whatever works for you and communicates your colours, so I can use them in the collages.

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Artist Andy Goldsworthy

Goldsworthy creates artworks in the natural environment from things he finds. This article has tons of pictures of his work, which may inspire you to create something similar.

Andy Goldsworthy Land Art, source: boredpanda.com

Andy Goldsworthy Land Art, source: boredpanda.com