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

Autumn Hues

Exploring Gullane and North Berwick's Seasonal Landscape

As autumn swept across East Lothian, our YouthLink project continued to flourish, with multiple sessions held at the North Berwick Youth Project youth clubs in both North Berwick (Hope Rooms) and Gullane (Recreation Hall). The children and young people (CYPs) embraced the changing season, drawing inspiration from the rich autumn landscapes, shrubs, and berries that adorn our coastal communities.

These autumn-themed workshops proved to be popular, with different groups taking turns to use the various art materials. The enthusiasm was encouraging as the CYPs immersed themselves in creating stunning textural studies using a variety of mediums including watercolour, gouache, and ink.

To capture the essence of autumn, the CYPs carefully selected a colour palette that reflected the warm, golden hues of the season. The young artists experimented with mixing these colours, learning how to create the perfect shades to represent the changing leaves, ripening berries, and the soft, autumnal light across the landscape.

A highlight of the sessions seems to be the exploration of different techniques to add interesting marks and textures to the artwork. The CYPs were particularly excited to work with crackle paste, which created intriguing patterns reminiscent of dry leaves and bark. They also experimented with salt, observing as it interacted with wet paint to produce organic textures that mimicked the varied surfaces found in nature.

The use of clingfilm proved to be another favourite technique. It was used effectively to create unique, abstract patterns that beautifully captured the essence of autumn's crunch. This method was particularly effective in representing the misty mornings and dewy cobwebs so characteristic of the season.

To further enhance their learning, the CYPs were introduced to a variety of brush types and sizes. They tried out stencil brushes for creating textured foliage, foam brushes for broad washes of colour, and watercolour brushes for adding fine details. This exploration of different tools helped them understand how each could be used to achieve different effects in their artwork.

Throughout the sessions, we encouraged the CYPs to reflect on the shifting season, observing the subtle changes in their surroundings. Some of the participants shared thoughtful insights about the transformation they witnessed in the landscape, from the changing colours of the leaves to the abundance of berries on the bushes.

These autumn workshops were a wonderful way to support the CYPs' creativity and a provide an opportunity to deepen their connection to nature. By engaging with their environment through art, they developed a keener sense of observation and a greater appreciation for the beauty of East Lothian's landscape.

As we look forward to our upcoming winter sessions, we're excited to see how the CYPs will continue to grow and express themselves through art. The stunning pieces created during these autumn workshops will form an integral part of our group exhibition in May 2024, showcasing the young artists' journey through the seasons in East Lothian.

Kat 👩🏼‍🎨