Fluorescent Fireworks

During the first week back after half term, talented textile artist Barbara Veena Scialo brought the colours and luminous magic of bonfire night into the classroom.

The children used black, textured sugar paper and chalk pastels to create dynamic at times explosive drawings of the night sky, lit up with the beautiful chemistry of colour and pattern of fireworks.

To use the pastels to full effect, the children learnt different drawing techniques: to blend and rub the chalks to soften the edges of the dissolving fireworks into the sky and to use swift rotating feather-like mark making to produce the effects of movement and energy.

Gradually, they built up several delicate layers of marks using tonal variation to create depth, lastly embellishing the stardust with a sprinkle of glitter for metallic sparkle.

The colours sing out against the backdrop of the darkness of a Wintry night sky.

See how the fireworks sizzle and pop in front of your eyes!  You can almost hear them…BANG!