Lesson video

Hi everyone, I'm Miss Mia.

I'm so glad you've joined me for this lesson today.

In this lesson, we're going to dive even deeper into creating some amazing artwork inspired by the rainforest.

I hope you're ready and you've got your imaginative thinking switched on.

Let's get started.

In this lesson, you'll be creating a collage of a rainforest plant using frottages.

Your keywords are on the screen now, and I'd like you to repeat them after me.

Collage.

Layering.

Texture.

Frottage.

Fantastic, let's find out what these words mean.

So a collage is an art form where various materials are combined to create a new whole.

Layering involves placing materials on top of each other to create depth in art.

Texture is the feel or appearance of a surface.

Frottage is making an artwork by rubbing over a textured surface with a media to see the pattern underneath.

Great, let's move on.

Now, this lesson is all about creating a collage.

So we're going to be using our collage skills, using the rainforest as our inspiration.

There are two lesson cycles in this lesson.

Our first lesson cycle is to create frottages to capture different textures.

And in our second lesson cycle, we're going to move on to creating a collage using our frottages.

I'm super excited about this lesson.

Let's begin.

Oh, have a look at this.

So how do you think the artist uses charcoal to create texture? Have a think.

We can see here that the artist is using charcoal.

Now there must be something that's been placed underneath the paper, so by rubbing the charcoal over the paper, we can actually see a pattern appearing on the paper.

Now texture is the way something looks and feels.

And on the screen here we can see some stones and rocks, a leaf and a closeup picture of bark.

Now how would you describe the texture of these objects? Have a think.

Now you may have said that the stones and rocks appear to look bumpy or even feel quite rough.

This leaf looks waxy and can feel smooth.

And lastly, you could describe the bark as flaky and feeling quite crumbly.

Over to you.

True or false? Texture in art is only about how something feels when you touch it.

So pause the video here and click play when you've got the answer.

So, what did you get? If you got false, you are correct.

And this is because texture can also be how something looks like it would feel, even if you can't actually feel it.

Great, let's move on.

Frottage is when you make an artwork by rubbing over a textured surface with a media to see the pattern underneath.

You may remember doing this before.

Max Ernst's "The Petrified Forest," 1929, Xu Bing's "The Wall and the Road", 2024, and Faheem Majeed's "Demise Shrouds," 2017, are also examples of frottage.

These artists also create frottages by choosing a textured surface to create rubbings from.

True or false? Frottage is when you draw a texture from memory without rubbing over it.

You can pause the video here and click play when you're ready to rejoin us.

So, what did you get? If you got false, you are correct.

Frottage is made by rubbing over real textures to create patterns.

It's not something that you create from memory because that will become a drawing and that's quite different to creating a frottage.

Now, when it comes to creating a frottage, we need to choose a textured surface.

And we can see on the screen here we've got bubble wrap.

You're then going to hold your drawing tool to the side, as this works best.

You're then going to rub over the surface, applying even pressure.

Hmm, have a look at this rubbing here.

What advice might you give to improve it? You may have said using harder, even pressure, and the side of the tool will help create a clearer and more consistent rubbing.

And this is super important if we want to enhance what our frottage looks like.

I do.

I'm going to find a textured surface in the classroom, in this case, I've used bubble wrap, and then I'm going to pick a marking tool.

I've chosen to use a coloured crayon, and then I'm going to create a rubbing of it.

And you can see that here.

Your turn.

I'd like you to find a textured surface in the classroom, pick a mark making tool and then create a rubbing of it.

Off you go and click play when you're ready to rejoin us.

So how did you do? So Andeep had a go at this.

Let's see how he did.

He says, "I found lots of interesting textures like the rough wall and the bumpy table.

When I used the crayon, the rubbing showed all the little details I didn't notice before." I wonder if you found the same? Now you're going to move on to the main task for this lesson cycle.

You will be creating your frottage and you're going to be doing this by taking some paper and searching for at least three different textures around you.

You're then going to use crayons to rub over and make sure your textures are bold and easy to see.

Think about the colours that you're using and how much pressure you are applying.

You could try using other drawing tools, such as white sticks or even charcoal.

You could look outside too, if you're allowed.

You can pause the video here.

Off you go, have fun.

Remember, you are looking for a textured surface that you can place your paper on top to create the rubbing.

Have fun and click play when you're ready to rejoin us.

So, how did you do? Well, you may have created something like this.

You can see here that there are different textures that have been captured through rubbing using different coloured crayons.

Let's move on.

Now for our second lesson cycle, we are going to be creating a collage.

Now, a collage is an artwork made by glueing different materials like paper or fabric on to a surface.

Have a look at this image.

What can you see? What textures or materials can you notice? Now I can see different shapes and sizes of leaves all made from paper or card in various colours like light greens, light yellows, and even browns used for the stem.

Some of the paper I can see is really smooth, while other pieces have been cut into to create a rough, bumpy like texture.

This actually makes the leaves look quite realistic.

If I was to create this collage, I would think about using maybe shiny or patented card to add more detail, which would create a more lively and layered look.

I wonder if you spotted those details as well? Let's move on.

Now, Anna Hymas's "Bunch of Flowers in a Chinese Vase II, 2020, Benjamin West's "Plant Machina I, 2020, and Sarah Battle's "Big Elephant, Little Mouse," 2014, are examples of collage.

The artists use different media, which shows us that we can also use different media to create collage.

So in this lesson, what we are going to do, is use our frottages to create a collage of an exotic rainforest plant.

Aisha and Andeep are describing the texture of this painting.

Andeep says, "The bark looks rough with lots of small lines," and I have to agree with Andeep.

The bark does look quite rough.

And by adding a variety of small lines, it makes the bark look more realistic.

Aisha says, "The leaves look smooth and shiny." I think it's quite important to remember that.

"The grass appears uneven and spiky." Now.

there are many species of plants that you can find in a rainforest.

Examples of this include orchids.

Now you may have seen orchids in the supermarket, or you might even have orchids at home.

These plants can also be found in a rainforest.

Another exotic plant that can be found in the rainforest as well is the bromeliad.

For this bromeliad, we can see that it is very colourful, very vibrant, and it's presenting us with a rich red.

And one more example of a plant that we might see in a rainforest are passion flowers.

And you can see that on the screen.

Can you think of any more? You may have said, a kapok tree, a cacao plant, a rubber tree, lobster-claws.

Well done if you managed to list another rainforest plant.

Let's move on.

Over to you.

I'd like you to pick one plant below and discuss its texture.

So, you've got two options here.

Option A is orchids, and option B is a bromeliad.

Words you might use to describe the texture are rough, waxy, smooth, shiny, or prickly.

Off you go.

You can play the video once you've finished describing the plant's texture.

So how did you do? Well, you may have described an orchid as having really smooth petals.

On the other hand, you may have described the bromeliad as having waxy and smooth leaves with very prickly petals.

Well done if you managed to discuss the textures of the plant.

Let's move on.

Children now decide which plant they want to base their collage on.

Aisha says, "I'm going to make up my own exotic plant using my imagination." Jacob says, "I'm going to search the internet using my tablet." And Andeep says, "I'll do both.

First, I'll find an exotic plant from the internet, then I'll make it my own by adding different textures." Now, to create a collage, you will need to cut or tear materials like paper, fabric, photos.

Then, glue them on to a surface to make a picture or design.

And you can see that happening here.

I do.

I'm going to tear a piece of paper into the shape of a leaf or a petal.

I'd like you to have a go.

You can pause the video here and click play when you're ready to join us.

So how did you do? Well, using our hands creates natural uneven edges, which reflects the texture of the petal or leaves.

Moving on.

Using scissors can help you cut neat, straight stems, sharp edges, and small details, like veins, that are hard to tear.

I do.

Now, I'm going to cut a piece of paper into the shape of a leaf or a petal.

What do you notice? I'd like you to have a turn.

You can pause the video here and click play when you're ready to rejoin us.

Here we can see that the leaf is being cut using scissors.

Now, using scissors creates clean, precise edges, making it easier to add neat details to your artwork.

This helps to add texture as scissors can create sharp defined edges that contrast with rougher, torn pieces.

What do you notice? Now, as artists, we can choose which method we use when creating our leaves.

So, I would say you can use scissors for neat straight edges and small details.

And then you can tear for rough natural shapes.

Over to you.

With a partner, discuss which parts of the flower you would cut or tear, and explain why.

So you're going to be talking about what you'd do for the stem, leaf and petal.

You can pause the video here and click play when you're ready to rejoin us.

So, what did you discuss? Well, for me, I would pick to use scissors to cut the stem because this would give me precision and more control of what I'd like for it to look like.

And it would also reflect the sharp, bumpy edges.

For the leaf, I would choose to tear it, and that's because I want the leaf to look far more natural and organic.

And for the petals I might mix it up.

I might have some petals that are torn and some that are cut.

This is to show that some leaves, some petals, are going to be more spikier than the others.

Now, it's up to you, as the artist, to decide what you're going to do, whether you're going to tear or cut certain parts of your plant.

Let's move on.

Now using your rainforest image as inspiration, you can begin to arrange your collage.

You're going to be starting off with the big pieces.

You're then going add smaller pieces, and you're going to overlap for depth.

You can then check the layout, and glue in place.

That would be the last step.

So have a look at this collage arrangement.

What could be improved? Have a think.

You may have said that using overlapping layers creates depth.

So actually bringing those pieces that you can see at the top, so the petals more closer together and overlapping some of them, will create the depth required to enhance your collage.

Over to you.

I'd like you to order these steps to arrange your collage.

So the steps are, A, arrange big pieces, petals or leaves.

B, check the layout, C, glue in place, and D, arrange smaller pieces, stem, anther and filament.

You can pause the video here and click play when you have ordered those steps.

So how did you do? Well, the first step is what? You're going to arrange your big pieces, so your petals, leaves.

And then step two is to arrange the smaller pieces.

This is your stem, anther and filament.

Then for step three, you're going to check the layout.

And lastly, you're going to glue them into place.

Only when you're happy with your arrangement should you glue into place.

So, we're now going to move on to the practise task.

And you may have noticed a little sign there with me.

So you can find examples of photos of plants if you click on to additional materials.

Now, what you're going to do is use your frottages to create your own collage of a rainforest plant or exotic plant.

To create a collage, you will need to cut or tear materials like paper, fabric, photos.

Then you're going to glue them on to a surface to make your design.

Off you go.

Remember, you are the artist, so you will be choosing whether you cut or tear certain parts of your plant.

And lastly, before glueing , make sure you are happy with the arrangement of your pieces.

Off you go, have fun.

Click play when you're ready to rejoin us.

So, how did you do? You may have created something like this.

Fantastic.

We have created a collage of an exotic plant from our frottages.

Now let's summarise our learning.

In this lesson, we were using collage skills, using the rainforest as inspiration.

You now understand that using rubbing techniques can create different textures on paper.

You also understand that layering and overlapping add depth and texture.

And lastly, choosing when to tear or cut helps create the shapes and details needed in a collage.

Thank you so much for joining me in this lesson.

I really hope you enjoyed creating your collage from the frottages that we created.

I look forward to seeing you in the next lesson.

Bye.