Picturing Landscapes

Email a Friend Email a friend 

The following has been designed to give you information in advance of your visit to Manchester Art Gallery so that you can get the most out of your morning or afternoon activity session.

Aims:

Front view of Manchester Art Gallery with tram going past

  • To introduce and welcome visitors to the gallery building and the collections
  • To explore different ways artists have portrayed landscapes through discussion and completing a variety of tasks inspired by contemporary and historical art
  • To allow pupils to formulate their own opinions on differing approaches to art
  • To experiment with texture, pattern and colour to create your own art work
  • To develop an awareness of the gallery as a learning resource
  • To expand the vocabulary for describing surfaces and textures of different landscapes, tone, lighting and viewpoints

What happens in a session:

  • The pupils will have the opportunity to look at a variety of landscapes and cityscapes, where artists have interpreted the subject matter using different materials, approaches and scales of work
  • Students will study the content, form, process and mood of a variety of paintings
  • Students will create an observational drawing of Manchester’s cityscape whilst on the gallery
  • In the practical session in the studio, all pupils use observational drawings collected within the visit to create their own textual artwork using print techniques
  • A gallery educator who will stay with the group throughout will lead the tour

Preparation:

  • Prior to the visit discuss the value of directly experiencing 'real' objects through a gallery visit
  • In the classroom, discuss what a landscape is and the artist’s view of the work, along with students’ viewpoints. Look at examples of artists' paintings and drawings of landscapes. Bring in holiday snaps of landscapes, cityscapes and seascapes to compare.
  • Explain the reasons for no touching or eating in the galleries, i.e. for the protection and conservation of artworks
  • Bring a minimum of 1 adult to 10 pupils and ensure that adults are briefed to be aware of their supervisory role and responsibilities for engaging the children

Follow up:

  • Using the observational drawings collected within the visited explore mixed media techniques with students creating a unique personal viewpoint
  • Use the information collected to inform critical studies and contextual analysis of the student’s current course of study
  • Encourage students to revisit the gallery to collect further information or to use the collection as a starting point for future project work and inspiration when receiving the examination questions

For more information including booking, parking, facilities and a downloadable risk assessment, please go to plan your visit.