Lesson video

Hello everyone.

How are you today? I hope you're feeling good.

My name is Miss Afzal, and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson.

I'm feeling really good about that, 'cause I love teaching art and because today we're looking at materials, which I think should be so interesting.

Our lesson is called Evaluate the use of materials and techniques.

It comes from the unit of work First sustained project: working from a theme.

So if you are ready with some energy, focus, and enthusiasm, we'll begin our lesson.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can evaluate the impact of different materials and reflect on their strengths and limitations.

We have some keywords in our lesson.

Let's go through them.

Technique, materials, evaluate, and purposefully.

So what do these words mean? Technique is the specific method or way an artist uses materials to create their work.

Materials, the physical substances or tools an artist uses to create their work.

Evaluate, to carefully judge or assess something by considering its strengths, weaknesses, and overall effectiveness.

And purposefully, doing something with a clear goal, reason, or intention.

These are our keywords.

Let's look out for them.

Let's listen out for them.

They will be coming up in our lesson today.

Our lesson is called Evaluate the use of materials and techniques, and it has two learning cycles.

First of all, the impact of materials and techniques, and then evaluating the success and challenges of materials.

We're gonna be getting right into how it is to work with these materials.

But first, let's look at the impact of materials and techniques.

So what is meant by materials in art? Pause here and share with someone nearby.

What do you think? Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Materials are the physical substances, or we could say the ingredients, artists use to create artwork.

They can be traditional, experimental, or even found objects.

Each material affects the artwork's appearance, texture, durability, and meaning.

Why does understanding materials matter? Pause here and share with someone nearby, what do you think? Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Some materials invite touch and interaction.

Mm.

I feel like this would be so lovely to touch.

And some materials create smooth surfaces.

Have you purposely invited interaction with materials used in your artwork? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Jun.

"When making this cell sample, I made it with the intention that people would want to touch the surface.

I used embroidery and textured paint." The flexibility or rigidity of materials impacts how an artwork feels physically.

Wire, clay, and modroc allow for 3D, dynamic forms, whereas paint and pastels are more flat and static.

Pause here and share with someone, what are you more drawn towards? Materials that are more 3D and dynamic, or ones that are more flat and static? Thanks for sharing.

Have you used flexible materials purposefully? Pause here and share with someone if you have done that and perhaps how you did this.

Thanks for sharing.

Let's hear from Laura.

"I purposefully used paper dipped in plaster to express emotion.

I was exploring materials which looked strong but were actually fragile." I love that juxtaposition.

Materials can carry symbolic or cultural meanings.

For example, using recycled objects or found materials can purposefully comment on sustainability or consumerism, encouraging viewers to think about waste, overconsumption, and environmental impact.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Why might an artist choose to use found materials in their work? Is it A, because they're easier to use, B, to avoid learning new techniques, or C, for symbolic or environmental reasons? Pause here and share with someone, why do you think an artist might choose to use found materials in their work? Well done if you selected answer C.

Indeed, it is for symbolic or environmental reasons that an artist could choose to use found materials in their work.

Weaving is one of the oldest traditional textile techniques.

It dates back thousands of years to ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Indigenous cultures worldwide.

Many cultures have distinctive weaving styles and patterns rich with symbolism, such as Navajo rugs, Kente cloth in Ghana, or Japanese Kasuri textiles.

Many artists purposefully use traditional techniques, like weaving, combined with non-traditional materials.

This fusion creates hybrid artworks that combine traditional craft skills with contemporary art ideas.

It challenges the notion of weaving as purely textiles, opening up new visual possibilities.

Pause here and share with someone your impressions of the weaving we can see in front of us on the screen.

Thanks for sharing your impressions.

Have you tried purposefully combining traditional techniques with unexpected or non-traditional materials? Pause here and share with someone if you have.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Andeep.

"I explored weaving with clay.

The result is a ceramic object that resembles the textile structure but is rigid and breakable.

I could combine thread with the clay too." I love these ideas.

Love you're taking that, Andeep.

Izzy is considering the materials and techniques she has used in her work.

"I used paper quilling on a butterfly wing to create texture.

This traditional technique is believed to date back to ancient Egypt.

It became popular in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries." I can see why.

Really effective and really beautiful.

"It would be interesting to use this traditional technique to express a contemporary issue." I really think it would.

"Fusing is an ancient technique used by Egyptians and Romans.

I had the opportunity to explore fusing wire and glass frit to create cell structures." Love this work from Jun.

Many artists purposefully blend traditional techniques with modern materials, including el Seed, a street artist who merges traditional Arabic calligraphy with modern graffiti styles and spray paint on urban walls, Nick Cave, who creates wearable sculptures called Soundsuits, blending textile crafts, traditional sewing, and modern materials like plastic and found objects, Margaret Wertheim, who is co-founder of the Crochet Coral Reef project and uses crochet to model coral structures, combining art, maths, and environmental activism.

So we can see there are a number of artists purposefully blending traditional techniques with modern materials.

Some materials dry quickly, like acrylic paint and ink, forcing speed and spontaneity.

Have any materials forced you to work quickly? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Alex.

"I created this painting with acrylic inks, which dry very quickly.

This forced me to work spontaneously and embrace the flow of the process.

I really enjoyed the challenge of adapting to this fast-paced way of working." Love hearing that.

Some materials are slow-drying, like clay, making it ideal for sculptural work and detail refining.

Have you used slow-drying materials in your artwork? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Let's hear from Aisha.

"I used modroc to create a vessel as part of my 'Messages' project.

The modroc took about 20 minutes to start drying, which gave me time to alter the structure when I needed to." And now it's time for your first task.

I would like you to describe how your material choices have impacted your art.

Consider the following, aesthetic impact, how the material affects the visual outcome.

For example, using ink creates bold, fluid lines, while fabric adds softness or pattern.

Meaning and mood.

Materials can carry emotional or cultural meaning.

Using thread might suggest connection or care, while metal could feel industrial or strong.

So pause here while you have a go at this task of describing how your material choices have impacted your art.

I'll see you when you're finished.

It's good to be back with you.

How did you get on with that task of describing how your material choices have impacted your art? Let's hear from Jun.

"Using an acrylic pour as a base for cellular structures created exciting, unpredictable patterns.

I enjoyed not knowing exactly how it would turn out.

The poured layer influenced the next stage of my personal response." And here's Alex.

"I wanted to work onto a map so needed to find the most suitable material for this.

The map was old and had a shiny surface so pencil didn't work too well.

I tried drawing with biro, which I felt I could control, then added areas of acrylic ink." Great choices, Alex.

And now we're onto our next learning cycle, evaluating the success and challenges of materials.

Many artists face challenges using materials and techniques.

It's common for our materials to behave unpredictably, which can influence both the creative process and the final outcome.

Struggling with materials or techniques isn't failure.

It's how artists learn what works.

Magical mistakes, we sometimes call them.

Common challenges of art materials, paper and card, it tears easily when wet or overworked.

I wonder if you've had that experience.

Warping and buckling when glue or paint is applied.

Paint, the acrylic dries too fast to blend easily.

Streaking or brush marks can appear unintentionally.

Coverage can be unpredictable.

Textiles and stitching.

Fraying edges, especially with loose weaves.

Needles or threads can tear paper.

Inks and pens.

Bleeding through paper.

Smudging before drying.

Permanent marks which cannot be undone, Clay.

Cracking as it dries.

Heavy and fragile once fired or set.

Takes time to dry/fire before being able to paint or glaze.

Mixed-media combinations.

Some materials don't adhere well.

Differences in flexibility or absorbency can cause warping, cracking, or separation.

Hard to predict how different materials will react or age.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Why is it important to test materials before using them in final work? Is it A, to use a old supplies, B, to see how they behave, or C, to copy someone else's idea? Pause here while you decide why it's important to test materials before using them in final work.

Well done if you selected answer B.

Indeed, it's important to test materials before using them in final work to see how they behave.

Some artists are well known for experimenting with materials as part of their creative process, including Jessica Stockholder, who combines blending paintings, sculpture, and everyday objects in vivid installations.

She sources extension cords, buckets, carpets, stools, and plastic containers and assembles them into large-scale installations.

Veronica Ryan, who uses natural materials, seeds, fruit shapes, thread, plaster, to explore memory, migration, and healing.

And Jeff Koons, known for using industrial processes and materials like stainless steel with mirror finishes, which blurs lines between craft, design, and fine art.

So these are just some artists who are well known for experimenting with materials as part of their creative process.

What does it mean to evaluate the materials used in artwork? Pause here and share with someone.

What do you think? Thanks for sharing.

To evaluate the materials used means to carefully assess how they behaved and responded during the creative process.

How they contributed to the success of the final outcome matters.

It really does.

Why does evaluating materials matter? Pause here and share with someone.

What do you think? Thanks for sharing.

Evaluating materials improves future work.

Understanding how materials behave helps you make better choices next time, improving your results.

Evaluating materials supports problem solving.

Evaluating reveals what worked well and what didn't, guiding you to adjust techniques or try alternatives.

Evaluating materials deepens artistic intent.

Reflecting on materials connects technical decisions to the meaning or feeling you want to convey.

Evaluating materials builds confidence.

Knowing how materials respond boosts your confidence to experiment and take creative risks, what art is all about.

Evaluating materials documents your process.

Keeping track of successes and challenges creates a record that supports your growth and learning journey.

Perhaps you had some answers like these.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Evaluating materials can help you solve problems you had during your process.

Pause here and decide, is this true or false? Well done if you selected true.

And now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause here while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

"It helps you solve problems during your process because it lets you understand what caused issues so you can adjust your techniques or choose different materials next time." And now onto our next task, evaluate the success and challenges of materials used in your artwork.

The evaluation could be made digitally, written, or recorded as voice notes.

Observe carefully.

Pay attention to how each material behaves, its texture, drying time, flexibility, and how it interacts with other materials.

Evaluate honestly.

Think about what worked well and what didn't.

Challenges are parts of learning, so don't be afraid to note mistakes or unexpected results.

And connect to your outcome.

Evaluate how the materials affected the look, feel, and meaning of your artwork and how this influences your choices in future projects.

So pause here while you have a go at evaluating the success and challenges of materials used in your artwork.

I'll see you when you're finished.

It's good to be back with you.

How did you get on with that task of evaluating the success and challenges of materials used in your artwork? Let's hear from Jun.

"With my mixed-media cells, I experimented with acrylic paint, PVA, and hot glue.

I found the hot glue quite hard to control, but it did stick well.

I tried adding colour to the hot glue, which took many attempts using different paints." And let's hear from Izzy.

"I chose to make a mixed-media tree stitched onto layered paper.

It was a challenge not to tear the paper, which I resolved once I got the tension right.

I learned that it was better to stitch into thicker layers.

I'm pleased with the effect as it has a lot of texture and interest." Pause here and share with someone your impressions of Izzy's finished artwork.

Thanks for sharing your impressions.

And finally, I'd like you to share with each other your artwork, but not to share what were your successes and challenges of the materials you used, but see if the other person can have a go at working out what perhaps some of those successes or challenges might have been just by looking at your artwork.

Pause here while you do this.

Thanks for having a go at that.

I wonder if you were able to accurately work out the successes and challenges of the materials used in each other's artworks.

In our lesson, Evaluate the use of materials and techniques, we've covered the following.

Many artists explore and experiment with different techniques and materials purposefully to understand how they behave and interact.

This practical, hands-on approach reflects the way artists often develop ideas through testing, combining, and layering, rather than beginning with a fixed final outcome.

Evaluation is important in analysing how effectively chosen materials and techniques contributed to the intended concept or visual outcome.

Well done everyone for joining in with this lesson.

It was great to explore materials, how they react, what they get up to when combined, when layered, and so on.

And great to get into that analysis and really looking at how your materials have played a part in creating your final outcome.

I hope you've enjoyed this lesson.

I've really enjoyed teaching you, and I'm looking forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.