Youth Arts Open Fund 2023/24: Exploring East Lothian Land, Sea and Sky Through the Seasons

Stormy Sea and Sky

An Autumn Art Workshop with North Berwick Youth Project - Girls Group. Inspired by Storm Babet (October)

As the autumn air settled over East Lothian, the North Berwick Youth Project Girls Group gathered at the Hope Rooms in North Berwick for an art workshop as part of our Youth Arts Open Fund project.

The recent Storm Babet provided the perfect backdrop for our creative session, with its dramatic waves and gusty winds transforming the coastline into a dynamic canvas.

Embracing the spirit of "Exploring Land, Sea & Sky through the Seasons," the group set out to capture the raw energy of the stormy seas. Armed with watercolours and plenty of texture-making mediums and materials like salt, crackle paste, and clingfilm, the girls created atmospheric studies that reflected the moody seas and turbulent skies outside the window.

The workshop began with a brief overview of materials, references and a quick demonstration to show accessible techniques in approaching watercolour in a fun, accessible way. We had also had a discussion about mindfulness in creative practice, being present in the moment, encouraging the girls to observe and reflect on the changing autumn landscape. As the wind howled outside, the group learned how to use watercolour and texture to focus on the interplay of water and sky.

The crackle paste created intriguing patterns reminiscent of foamy waves, while the salt scattered across wet watercolour produced a effect mimicking sea spray. Clingfilm, when applied to wet paint, formed unique organic shapes that perfectly captured the unpredictable nature of the visible coastline–including Bass Rock!

Throughout the session, one-on-one guidance was provided, allowing each participant to explore their creativity freely without the pressure of a specific end goal.

As the workshop progressed, it was great to see the group become increasingly absorbed in their work, using art as a means to process and express their creativity. 

By the end of the session, each participant had created a unique, abstract piece that captured the essence of Storm Babet's visit to North Berwick. These artworks will form part of group exhibition in May 2024, where the young artists will have the opportunity to showcase their seasonal journey through art.

This autumn workshop not only honed the girls' artistic skills but also deepened their connection to their surroundings in East Lothian, demonstrating how art can be a powerful medium for engaging with and understanding our environment.

Kat 👩🏼‍🎨