Teaching Sequence

Work through this resource material in the following sequence:

20 minutes – Part A: How to create an owl sculpture with Joshua Yeldham
40 minutes – Part B: Sculpt and mould your artwork
40 minutes – Part C: Reveal and paint your new sculpture (the following day)
10 minutes – Reflection

Part A: How to create an owl sculpture with Joshua Yeldham

Step 1.

Once you have checked in with your class and established a safe place to create and discuss art, invite students to take a seat. Explain to your class that they will be making a sculpture today with the guidance of Joshua Yeldham and learn about the importance of applying meaning to their art. Ask your students to flick through to Lesson 05 in their student resource booklet: Joshua Yeldham Student Resource and familiarise themselves with the lesson ahead.

Step 2.

Watch the video of Joshua Yeldham:

Source: https://vimeo.com/625980093/1ecddb0c62?share=copy

Step 3.

Once you have watched the video, facilitate a discussion on some of the following questions about technique, materials process and intention:

What medium and method did the artist use to create his sculpture?
Why are the owls significant in this lesson and unit of lessons?
How has the significance of the owls changed over time?
What meaning will you apply to your owl?

Step 4.

Ask your students to consider friendship, nature, art, creativity, and their intention for this owl. Pose some of the following questions to help students think about how artists develop a purpose and connect to the art and artistic process.

Where will you display your owl?
What energy will your owl possess or evoke?
Will you keep your owl or gift it to a friend or family member?
Will the sculpture become part of the family or remain something sacred that you wish to keep to yourself?
Will the owl become a friend, someone you share secrets with and hold a special space for?

Step 5.

Ask students to find a picture or image of an owl that they would like to try and replicate. Remember to ask students to paste this in the art portfolio.

Part B: Sculpt and mould your artwork.

Step 1.

Download and present the step by step guide: How to make an owl sculpture safely.

Note: The step by step guide will present specific instructions and easy to follow visuals for you and the students to follow.

Step 2.

Ensure you mix the plaster while the students are working on their moulds. Students should pair up with a friend and help one another pour their mould. Alternatively, you may like to ask each student to raise their hand once they're complete and come over and pour the plaster in for them.

You may wish to ask for an additional educator to help supervise or mix the plaster while you are engaging with your students and helping them create their mould.

Part C: Reveal and paint your new sculpture

Invite your students to reveal their owl and adorn their new friend in paint or ink the following day or days.

Step 1.

Reveal your owl and brush off any excess plaster.

Step 2.

While you work through this lesson, ensure students are given enough time to acknowledge the shapes and grooves formed and the feelings and emotions this sculpture evoked.

Step 3.

Invite your students to paint their owl (in any colour, apply patterns and/or shapes) give them a name and significance.

How will the artwork you have created become a part of your life and remind you of the wonderful artist in residency you have shared with your peers, teacher, and artist Joshua Yeldham?
What energy does your owl possess or evoke?

Step 4.

Take a picture of your owl or draw the process or finished product in your art portfolio.

Reflection

Divide students into groups and hand out quotes that were said by the artist Joshua Yeldham. This task is an important gateway into emotions, mood, and therapeutic elements associated with creativity and art-making. After completing this resource, students will hopefully begin to realise why art can be a friend and an opportunity to experiment and partake in adventures — just as Joshua did in his artist residency.

Present students with the quotes and invite your students to reflect on the following:

How and if they can relate to the quote
Provide an experience or event that comes to mind when they read this quote.

Quotes about creativity by Joshua Yeldham:

“Creativity is always there for me.”

“When friends come and go, I always have my art to keep me company.”

“When I turn on my creative mind and make things, I make opportunities to learn and grow.”

“Mental health plays a big part in the arts. Being sad or socially isolated, lonely or left out – my friend is always - creativity.”

“Let go of perfectionism because it does not exist.”

Differentiated Learning

Extension -Each student will have varying levels of skills and understanding of how to mould and sculpt clay. There is an opportunity throughout the lesson to extend students’ art-making abilities by giving them the freedom to use various sculpting tools and experiment with line, shape and painting.

Provisional learning support - If a class member is finding it difficult to complete tasks, ask students to collaborate with their peers and discuss which elements of the process they are finding tricky so that you can find additional support if need be.

Teacher Reflection

Take this opportunity to reflect on your own teaching:

What did you learn about your teaching practice today?
What worked well?
What didn't work so well?
What would you share?
Where to next?
How are you going to get there?

Lord Howe - Making Sculptures with Joshua Yeldham

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