Library through the ages

Davies has finished his display stuff ready to be put up tomorrow. I’ve blogged a bit about it already but the whole story in order to keep it in one place for my own reference:

Davies noticed before Christmas that there was an area in the library where people can display their artwork (and things like flyers for plays or events, planning proposals etc. In short it’s a large space where subject to a few small restrictions people can display pretty much whatever they want by prior arrangement). He said at the time that he’d like to do that and I said I’d book the space for him but decided to wait and see if he expressed the wish again. He got various art materials for Christmas and after a few experiments with his watercolours said he’d like to do a display at the library again, so I booked space for February to give him time to plan and create his display.

By himself Davies came up with the idea of doing a sort of ‘library through the ages’ series of pictures. While he knows that libraries haven’t been around since the Stone Age he liked the idea of using buildings throughout the ages and turning them into the sort of libraries people of that period would have had, if they’d had them. This tied in well with his ongoing interest in architecture and buildings, meant he got a better idea of history timelines and also coincided with a couple of museum trips where we looked at things like costume, culture and leisure pursuits. Added to his previous learnings about various things and with the aid of just four pages in an illustrated encylopedia he came up with eight pictures which he drew and coloured in one day while I was at work.

After looking at the display space at the library again and talking more about the quality of work he *really* wanted to be displaying, aswell as the magnitude of the project he decided he would redo the pictures using his watercolours and some really decent quality watercolour card. We talked about techniques and he liked the one used on someone else’s display of watercolour drawn over with black ink to define the picture. We talked about each picture and he sketched in basic detail in pencil before using paint.

It’s been a fairly long project which we’ve come back to at various points over the last week or so, stopping when he’s had enough and allowing paint to dry of course! It’s certainly not been without minor tiffs between him and I as actually assuming the role of ‘teacher’ or ‘instructor’ with him as pupil doesn’t sit very well with either or us. He has had the chance to not continue at all stages and while he’s admitted it was tough and not even necessarily enjoyable at all stages he is very proud of and pleased with the finished set. He reckons he’s learnt loads – both in terms of technique of sketching and painting and drawing in aswell as the historical stuff we’ve covered in doing the series and the ‘life lessons’ of seeing something through, through the tough bits :).

We’ve done colour washes, experimented with different amounts of paint and water, mixed colours in the pallet and on the paper, looked at the method of making up layers of colour, learnt the patience required in waiting for areas to dry before moving on and seen the various stages of creating a finished piece. Finally we talked a bit about each picture before deciding on a small description to go with each one. I have certainly encouraged and suggested but definitely not coerced or been in charge and all the ideas, inspiration and creativity from initial idea to what made it into each picture have been Davies’.

The Stone Age.
Neanderthal man lived in caves, lit fires, wore animal skins and did cave drawings.

The Egyptians
Build pyramids in the desert.

The Greeks
Built beautiful temples to their gods.

The Romans
Were great soldiers.

The Vikings
Were sea pirates who raided the coasts of Britain.

The Middle Ages
Jesters entertained Lords and Ladies.

The Elizabethans
Wore fancy clothes and Shakespeare wrote plays.

Present Day
I borrow books and films from the library.