“I like the amazing activities at this art club. They are fun, creative and interesting. I also love seeing all my friends. I think this is a great art club.” Sophie (year 6)
What is MQ Art Club and who is it for?
MQ Art Club is an activity club for years 4-6 focusing on creative play, storytelling, and teamwork through arts, crafts, and games. We look to build confidence, collaboration and creativity in a fun and relaxed environment.
To sign-up please visit the Shop.
All materials are supplied, including protective clothing (smock or apron) and I provide fruit and a snack to help maintain energy levels. Places are limited and allocated on first-come first-served basis.
Where is MQ Art Club based?
Sessions currently run at the St Marys Junior Site in a spare classroom. This also means that some of the cost of the Art Club is paid to the school, so an additional way to support the school.
When does MQ Art Club run?
The club runs on Thursdays. In the Autumn term it will run from Sept 18 to Dec 18 (13 sessions). NOTE that there will be NO club on Oct 23rd or Oct 30th (half term). I sometimes run additional sessions for club members on ‘spare’ days.
Please email me (see bottom of the page) if you want to be added to a waiting list for other days or occasional weekend workshops.
What happens at MQ Art Club?
- I pick up from the aviary at 3:30pm (i.e. when school finishes)
- We walk from the aviary on the junior site to the classroom
- I introduce the theme for the week as the participants settle in with a satsuma (other fruit may make an appearance).
- I share some of the rules, like ‘there are no mistakes, only happy accidents’ (respect to Bob Ross). Some rules don’t change, some change week by week. What is always the case however is that we focus on ‘process over product‘. The aim is to enjoy making, not criticising.
- We play a warm-up drawing and storytelling game (e.g. consequences)
- We develop initial ideas for the week – normally this means inventing a character(s) to populate our theme. I use dice or other elements of chance to make it more spontaneous (e.g. number of legs, or eyes, do they have wings? – this also helps those who are momentarily lacking inspiration or feeling shy.
- We draw, paint, or assemble our character or develop the theme of the week. Sometimes this is simply about making patterns, sometimes it’s about complex stories involving wormholes and space pixies. This is where it’s up to the children….
- We have a break for another snack, and first round of storytelling (usually introducing their character, some of their backstory etc.,)
- We then look to combine the characters or elements of the artwork together on a collaborate canvas – i.e. a massive sheet of paper. They have to negotiate where and how they can add their ideas – this is a novel experience for some of them.
- A final round of storytelling completes the ‘work’ of the session, after which they get a biscuit or similar (if they’ve helped to tidy up / washed their hands).
- You pick up from the school gate at 5pm (or earlier by arrangement)
Does my child need to be good at art?
NO! Children can be pretty competitive and often self-critical when drawing or painting – I try to actively discourage this in the club. We are all creative by nature, children especially so.
Themes vary from week to week – sometimes they tie into things going on at school (e.g. school plays) or the season (e.g. halloween) but usually they are simply a way to encourage a new perspective on things. If a child wants to continue developing one idea I usually let them, as long as it doesn’t interfere with what the rest of the group is doing. But they quickly learn that these sessions are as much about the telling (or in some cases, acting) as the drawing.
“I really like the freedom at art club.” Izzy, year 6
We draw most weeks, but we occasionally mix things up e.g. gel plate printing, lego printing, collage, making books, or simply doing some ‘mindful’ art. We helped to make some props for the year 6 play in the summer term.
“I like to make art with friends.” Georgie, year 4
Prices
I offer a drop-in single session price of £18, or a termly ‘club’ option where each session works out at £13 (12 sessions in the Autumn term). If you purchase a single session and then your child becomes a club member, I’ll take that single session as part payment.
To sign-up please visit the Shop.
About me
My name’s Ivan. I have two daughters (who both went to St Marys) I’m not a teacher, I’m a coach. Most of my time I spend working with adults in a variety of corporate settings developing digital and physical products. In the more enjoyable part of my time I make art – mainly books, and things made from or with paper. I make and sell things at various local craft fairs.
What brings all these different threads together is curiosity and imagination. I am fascinated with how we learn, and how quickly we unlearn things that were once ‘part’ of us – like finding a wormhole to another universe in a jam jar, or seeing aliens on the bus.Art Club is a way to keep that sense of wonder and joy alive – for them, and for me.
Legal niceties
I hold an enhanced DBS Check for working with children, a First Aid for Children qualification, and the workshops are insured by Artists Network.
Why MQ?
I’ve had a lifelong obsession with monks and Don Quixote for various reasons. But most folks find ‘monkquixote’ a bit of a mouthful. I’m trying to keep all of my art and creative activity under the same name, so MQ it is. To be frank the kids just call it Art Club.
More questions?
Please email me at hello@monkquixote.com and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
To sign-up please visit the Shop.