Observations on Art Making with Children
Using Natural Materials
I had the pleasure and privilege of teaching a summer school art class to 5th grade students in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin this year. David M. Bird, if you don’t already know, is an artist and internet sensation found on Instagram here and his own website here.
David M. Bird is an artist and photographer that formerly worked for the Lego company. He decided to begin his Becorns project while watching mother nature, birds especially, in his own backyard. His main focus, and one that the children and I went back to often, was to try and create characters that evoked a story. Many students are used to mainly working on screens and 2D type works found the natural materials a refreshing change of pace.
I was able to procure a hot glue, wire, the inevitable googly eyes as well as other materials some found in my own back yard, like black walnuts. Although we had no actual acorns at first, by the end of summer students from Northside Elementary began bringing some in to use for multiple characters. I took orders using the Dremel tool to help drill holes for eyes or appendages, keeping the students out of harm’s way with power tools. Students also used twigs, grass, thread, old wires, yarn, and many other materials too.
The first day we used white glue, and although we made progress, it was clear I needed to get that glue gun. It was endearing to watch students help one another, laughing and enjoying some art making during the summer. We watched several of David M. Bird’s YouTube videos to gather inspiration. Mr. Bird would generally, involve the wild life in photo shoots engaging birds, chipmunks and squirrels…we weren’t able to docuent our version of Becorns that way, but we did take them outside, and chat about the possibilities of what our black walnut friends were up to on the playground or in a nearby tree stump.
In general, the class went over well. Students were fascinated by Bird’s use of natural materials and emulated his work making characters of their own. One student created a bag for her figure, another a spear. I would make these characters again in the future. It’s a great way for students to explore the tactile nature of art materials, to look at mother nature in a connected way, and create something new and unique!
