YOUNG ARTS Collage 2007

"Progress" at The Watts Gallery - Collage workshop 14 - 15 June 2007

The Watts Gallery at Compton was the setting for two exciting one-day workshops for 30 ten year old pupils from St Polycarps RC Primary School and 30 eleven year old pupils from Waverley Abbey CE Junior School. These took place on the 14th and 15th June respectively. Sponsored by the Young Arts Group of the Farnham Decorative and Fine Arts Society, it was led by the Educational Project Leader at Watts Gallery, Dr Desna Greenhow who was an inspiration to the pupils.

The day began with an introduction to the paintings of G.F.Watts and in particular, attention was focused on his painting titled “Progress” hanging in the main Gallery. Each group divided into two groups and took it in turns to work at both the main project viz., the large collage based on the painting “Progress” and another task. St Polycarps enjoyed the making and mounting of silhouettes and Waverley Abbey studied the Celtic art found in the Cemetery Chapel and also did charcoal drawings in the Gallery itself.

Brewers Ltd of Eastbourne provided the Young Arts Group with 7 splendid books of Wallpaper samples and we were also given some beautiful fabrics by two of our FDFAS members. June 5th saw the Young Arts volunteers hard at work preparing for the event and it certainly proved very worthwhile indeed.

Each collage was created on its backing board directly in front of the actual painting, on the floor of the Gallery and involved meticulous observation of “Progress” as they worked. The splendid results of their efforts were first displayed in the Sculpture section of the Watts Gallery but they were returned to the Schools for their Open Days. It is hoped the two collages can be returned to the Watts Gallery for the Summer holiday period. They would be a welcome addition for the Family Day on 22 July at Watts Gallery, Compton.