What is a world without colour? Without mess? Without creativity? At Madresfield artists are born.

With a curriculum that is built around mixed media, creative expression and experimentation, the first pigments of creativity are painted: engaging, inspiring and challenging our children to create their own works of art and masterpieces!

Madresfield's map to proficient artists

The first steps to become a successful artist:

• Exposure and time to practice with a range of mediums
• Gross and fine motor skills
• Opportunities to record own ideas in a variety of ways

In EYFS, I am 4. I like to explore - it's what I do best. I'm curious and I love to get messy! I am confident in exploring the world in my own, unique way. I feel safe to express myself in whichever way I choose. I am proud of my artwork as it shines brightly on our walls. I am art and art is me!

I can: 

• Explore mark making
• Investigate how to make large and small movements when drawing.
• Practise looking carefully when drawing.
• Explore paint, using my hands as a tool
• Describe colours and textures as I paint
• Explore what happens when paint colours mix.
• Make natural painting tools and investigate natural materials 

KS1 already? My journey with art is only just beginning! I can control my pencil much more easily now, smaller paint brushes aren't as tricky to use as they once were. Did you know there are more colours than just red, blue, green, yellow, orange and purple? You can mix them! I've used clay and collage, I've even learnt that you can put them all together. I am starting to know how I like to create art! I know of different artists. Am I an artist? 

I can:

• Make choices about which materials and techniques to use, my teacher helps me use a sketch book
• Look closely and use colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space in my work.
• Control my hand and tools with confidence when drawing, painting and creating crafts and sculptures. 
• Mix colours to create shades of secondary colours
• I can talk about artists and use them to inspire me
• I can evaluate mine and others work 

KS2, my final destination but really it's only the beginning of my artistic journey! Art more about self expression now than it ever has been, I know who I am as an artist, I understand my style. I appreciate different styles and they've shaped my own creativity. I'm hard on myself, I'm more critical but that's what makes me better.

I can:

• Create in my own personal style independently, my sketchbook is my canvas 
• Combine materials and techniques appropriately to fit with my ideas.
• Work over several sessions to complete a piece.
• Describe, interpret and evaluate artists across a variety of disciplines and cultures 
• Recognise how artists use materials to respond to feelings and memories.
• Understand how art continually develop over time as artists seek to break new boundaries.

It's time for new adventures, Year 7 awaits: more equipment, more tools, more artists. I am a sketcher, a painter, a sculpter, a crafter, a photographer and because of that my artistic journey is only just beginning.