Manchester Art Gallery

With everyone staying home to save lives, the pressure to get creative and do something artful with all the free time you might suddenly have can be very high. We get that and don’t want to add to that pressure.

If you do feel the need to get involved in making things, our curators and learning team have gathered together activities and suggestions to inspire your creativity at home. This page is work in progress for us too, and over the weeks we’ll add to it and provide links to other sources of ideas too. Happy making!

Creative Challenge

Let our associate artists Sam Owen Hull and Venessa Scott inspire you with challenges to exercise creativity at home. Using ideas and activities from their artist tours at the gallery they have found new inspirations and household items to explore materials, be playful and create art.

These activities have been created to support teachers delivering a lockdown curriculum but they’re so good and so inspiring, we’ve made them available for everyone!

If you’d like to share your creations, contact us at mageducation@manchester.gov.uk

A Creative Challenge for The Manchester College

We have teamed up with The Manchester College to ask past, present and future students to share an insight of their lockdown experience using art from our collections.

All you need to do is:

Select one or more pieces of art from the below grid
Share the images on Instagram with a message or story about how it relates to your lockdown experience

Tag @themcrcollege @mcrartgallery #creativechallenge #BeAmazingTMC

For More information on Visual Art courses at The Manchester College visit:  tmc.ac.uk/visual-art

For Image information click here

Making Conversation

Making Conversation is an open access group which – before the Covid 19 restrictions – encouraged members of the public to visit the gallery, look at art, explore ideas and make something in response!

The session is put together by a team of local artists; Niki Colclough, Naomi Kendrick and Helen Newman and we invite you to join in this month’s workshop. If you make something in response to this month’s inspiration and would like to share it, please take a photograph of what you create and email it to nicola.colclough@manchester.gov.uk

Making Conversation: October activity

Animals and Us

Workshop guide by artist Naomi Kendrick

Animals have featured in art since humans first began to make marks on a cave wall. Animals come into our lives every single day in some way; birdsong, guide dogs, food, clothing, cats on YouTube, activism, pets, faith, gambling, cartoons. The list is endless. Many people describe how animals are a source of comfort in difficult times, such as those we find ourselves in now.

What role do animals have in your life?

Where do you come across images of animals?

How do you think animals are shown in the artworks below, what do they represent?

Have animals helped you in any way this year?

Can you create your own animal artwork? How will doing this make you feel? Will it make you smile, think differently, or maybe event cry? How might other people interpret your art work? Will they see it like you or could they read something else into it entirely

This work can take any form you like. What about a poem on a post-it-note or a life-sized oil painting of your tortoise? Please don’t feel pressure to make something perfect, this workshop is all about enjoying the process, have fun with it!

If you want to join our Making Conversation network email a picture of your work to Learning Manager Kate Day and you will be included in and receive a copy of our Making Conversation monthly e-newsletter which can include any comments you want to make about your work and responses to the work by the workshop artists.

kate.day1@manchester.gov.uk

Try these materials: tea, coffee or spices mixed with water to create paint, handmade brushes using sticks, feathers leaves and string, envelopes, wrapping paper, biro, nail varnish, string, wool, fabric scraps, collage your junk mail, sculpt with your recycling, take photographs on your phone…

Here are some animal artworks in the gallery’s collection, enjoy spending time with each one, take your time and enjoy noticing as much as you can. Focus on one element at a time, the layout, colours, materials, light and shadow, what you think the story of the artwork might be.

Enjoy! Naomi x

Making Conversation: September activity

Working, employed, zero hours contract, unemployed, volunteer, freelance, keyworker, carer, stay at home parent, retired, apprentice… What does work mean to you?

A chance to reflect on and share your different experiences of working life during lockdown. Of course, if you don’t feel you want to go there, simply enjoy and respond to these fantastic artworks in whichever way you wish. Download September’s Making Conversation activity as a pdf.

Making Conversation: August activity

We think now may be a good time to reflect on and share your different experiences of life during lockdown. Of course, if you don’t feel you want to go there, simply enjoy and respond to these fantastic artworks in whichever way you wish. Download August’s Making Conversation activity as a pdf.

Making Conversation: July activity

Hi everyone, Niki, Helen and I hope you are ok and enjoying the spells of nice weather. This month’s theme is colour! A joyful thing to focus on and there is so much more of it around at this time of year, in nature, our clothes and even our food (if you enjoy fruit and salad!).

I have selected three colourful artworks from the gallery collection for you to spend time with, enjoy and respond to if you wish (see the instructions below). But your exploration of colour doesn’t have to stop there, have a look around you what colours can you see? What feelings do you associate with different colours? Are there more colours in an object than first meet the eye?

What to do This activity has three simple steps 1.Spend time with the artworks 2.Think about what they mean to you 3.Make something in response. As ever don’t feel pressure to make anything precious, there is no right or wrong here, just enjoy the art works and the process of playing with materials. We look forward to seeing what you have been up to!

Spending time with the Art Work

Grab a cuppa and a biscuit, sit comfortably and allow yourself to spend time with each artwork (follow the links and click on the image to see a larger version) You might want to write down notes about what you notice, but you don’t have to. First of all, just notice your first impressions of the artwork, do you like it, does it remind you of anything, does it make you feel a certain way, do you have questions about it? Then, take your time to notice the following aspects of the artwork:

Composition – What shapes make up the artwork, how much
space is around them…
Colours – you could try focusing on one colour at a time for example noticing all the different shades of blue, and then all the different shades of pink. Is the colour you are noticing one solid colour or made up of different shades, how does light and dark affect it, does the colour remind you of anything or make you feel a certain way?

Letting your mind wander

What might the story of this artwork be? Why do you think the artist has created this and what might they be trying to say? (it doesn’t matter if you don’t think you know this!) Does the artwork relate to you and your life in anyway?

Starting to make

What you make in response to these three artworks entirely up to you! Think back to the artwork and how you felt about it and start to play with the materials.

Here are a few suggested materials you could use from around the house to make your artwork with:

Loo roll tubes, envelopes/junk mail, old magazines, packaging,
biro, pencil, string, rubber band, tape, scissors, wrapping paper,
camera/smartphone, old fabric/clothes, wool things from the
garden/pot plants and of course anything else you might want
to use.

A few reminders of different types of art you could try should you want a prompt: Poems, songs, letters, drawings, costumes, photography, collages, rubbings, prints, sculptures…

Enjoy!
Naomi

Making Conversation: June activity

Hello, we hope that you are well. First, let us tell you about Making Conversation, our monthly group for anyone who likes to think about, talk about and have a go at making art! We usually meet on the last Tuesday of every month 1-4pm, in the studios at Manchester Art Gallery. Currently, whilst the gallery is closed, we are doing these making activities at home, and we would like it very much if you joined us.

The first thing we do is spend time with an artwork, thinking about what it means to us and then making something in response.

Below are two paintings from the gallery’s collection, you can choose one or do both. If you would like to look at these, or more of the paintings from the gallery, you can view the collection here.

What to do

Spend time with the Art Work
Grab a cuppa and a biscuit, sit comfortably and allow yourself to spend time with the painting. You might want to write down notes about what you notice, but you don’t have to.

First of all, just notice your first impressions of the painting, do you like it, does it remind you of anything, does it make you feel a certain way, do you have questions about it?

Then, take your time to notice the following aspects of the painting, one by one

Composition – What shapes make up the painting, how much space is around them…

Colours – you could try focusing on one colour at a time for example noticing all the different shades of blue in the painting, and then all the different shades of pink.

Light and shadow – scan the painting looking first for all the brightest parts, and then explore all the areas of shadow

Texture – Notice the different textures in the painting, soft, shiny, scratchy, smooth…

Let your mind wander

What might the story of this artwork be? Why do you think the artist has painted this and what might they be trying to say? (it doesn’t matter if you don’t think you know this!) Does the painting relate to you and your life in any way?

Start making

This is an opportunity to make something inspired by the images, you can use any format you like. For example, you could make a drawing, a painting, play some music, set up a scene on your kitchen table and take a picture, write a poem, make a collage from scraps, or think about sewing.

Be creative with the materials you have around the house, here are a few suggested materials you could use:

Kitchen paper tubes, envelopes/junk mail, packaging, biro, pencil, string, rubber band, tape, scissors, wrapping paper, camera/smartphone, old fabric/clothes, wool things from the garden/pot plants and of course anything else you might want to use….

Focus on the joy of making, there is no right or wrong.

If you would like to share what you have made, or like more information about the Making Conversation group, you can email nicola.colclough@manchester.gov.uk

This activity has been designed by Naomi Kendrick, local artist & group facilitator. Making Conversation is supported by Helen Newman.

Making Conversation: May activity

This month we have three artworks for you to respond to, should you wish! You may feel like responding to one or all three, its up to you.

This activity has three simple steps:

1. Spend time with the artworks

2. Think about what they mean to you

3. Make something in response ( See below for details )

Please don’t feel pressure to make anything precious, there is no right or wrong here, just enjoy the artworks and the process of playing with materials. We look forward to seeing what you have been up to!

Artworks

Spending time with the Artwork

Grab a cuppa and a biscuit, sit comfortably and allow yourself to spend time with each artwork (follow the links and click on the image to see a larger version) You might want to write down notes about what you notice, but you don’t have to.

First of all, just notice your first impressions of the artwork, do you like it, does it remind you of anything, does it make you feel a certain way, do you have questions about it?

Then, take your time to notice the following aspects of the artwork, one by one

Composition – What shapes make up the artwork, how much space is around them…

Colours – you could try focusing on one colour at a time for example noticing all the different shades of blue, and then all the different shades of pink.

Light and Shadow – scan the artwork looking first for all the brightest parts, and then explore all the areas of shadow

Texture – Notice the different textures in the artwork, soft, shiny, scratchy, smooth… 

First of all, just notice your first impressions of the artwork, do you like it, does it remind you of anything, does it make you feel a certain way, do you have questions about it?

Let your mind wander

What might the story of this artwork be? Why do you think the artist has created this and what might they be trying to say? (it doesn’t matter if you don’t think you know this!) Does the artwork relate to you and your life in anyway?

Start making

What you make is entirely your choice, follow your imagination ?….Think back to the artwork and how you felt about it and start to play with the materials.

Here are a few suggested materials you could use from around the house to make with:

Cardboard tubes, biro, pencil, string, rubber band, tape, scissors, wrapping paper, camera/smartphone, old fabric/clothes, wool things from the garden/pot plants and of course anything else you might want to use….

A few reminders of some different kinds of making that you could try: Poems, letters, drawings, costumes, photography, collages, rubbings, prints, sculptures…

Enjoy!

And don’t forget to share your work with Niki if you’d like it included in next month’s Making Conversation newsletter.

Lubna Tahir: How to paint a leaf in truck art style

The relationship between chai and truck art is a very strong one. Special strong tea, called Karak Chai, also known as Truck Chai has always been drunk by Truck drivers during travelling to help keep them awake. Before it was only available at the Dhaba (roadside cafe) on highways but it has started to be widely available in cities in Truck art inspired cafes. These cafes and their drinking vessels and furniture are adorned with eye catching Truck art designs and motivational quotations. Everyone can now enjoy Truck art and a cup of Karak tea.

Karak Chai recipe

Karak Chai is made with black loose tea leaves, crushed cardamom, saffron, sugar and milk.

Recipe for Karak Tea by Nazia from Burnage Library Talk English

You will need:

Water
Milk
Loose black tea or tea bags
Green cardamom pods/ saffron if available
Sugar (optional)

Instructions

What to do…

First boil one cup of water in a large pan
Add 3 to 5 cardamom pods
Add 3 tea bags or 2 tablespoons of loose tea
You can now add sugar if you want
Then add 3 cups of milk and stir all the ingredients
Simmer for about 5 minutes
Mix well
Discard tea bags or strain loose tea
Now the tea is ready to drink!

Keeping up to date

New activities will be published here and our social media channels:

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