The project was based around a painting called The Bard, by an artist called John Martin. Bards were medieval people who used songs, poems and music to convey their thoughts and feelings. The painting illustrates a poem called The Bard by Thomas Gray (1757). In the painting, the last surviving Welsh Bard is depicted standing on a cliff top, cursing King Edward’s troops below for their hatred and oppression before throwing himself to his death in the raging waterfall below.

The pupils visited the Laing Art Gallery with Miss Hopkins to look at the original painting in more detail. They analysed the colour and textures used, and discussed how the picture made them think and feel. They then took part in a painting workshop to experience colour mixing and to try out brush techniques etc. They also acted out the scene through drama activities to familiarise themselves with the story behind the painting.

After the visit, the children spent some of their Art/ D&T lessons working on the painting so that they could recreate it by making a 3D model. The children experimented with painting techniques and painted various parts of the picture.

They then cut out and assembled their pieces to recreate the Bard as a 3D model. The results were outstanding, as I am sure you will agree!

The completed model is now on display in the Year 4/5 classroom, along with poetry that the children have written about the story of the Bard.

Visit the Laing Art Gallery website to find out more at www.takeonepicture.org/