Monsters & Mythical Creatures

St Margaret’s School’s Year 9  girls designed a monster or mythical creature as the main character for a children’s book. The task was inspired by workshop run by Bruce Sheratt, combining art therapy principles and gestalt colour theory into classroom teaching.

This is the introductory task to the unit of work designing a monster or mythical creature as the main character for a children’s book.

The task was inspired by workshop run by Bruce Sheratt, combining art therapy principles and gestalt colour theory into classroom teaching.  The students learn some basics about using ink and brush technique. The first task to try and paint parallel flowing organic lines in different thicknesses, then parallel lines in zigzag mechanical lines. It’s harder than you think! They then fill the negative spaces with pattern.

Then we discuss intuitive mark making letting a mythical creature (combination of creatures) emerge! We do sometimes look at books to source ideas for creatures, especially more detailed parts like claws or birds wings. The girls get a sense that illustration isn’t always tight and constrained and they get some great starting points for their monster designs.