So far, LoLA (Lots of Lovely Art) has concentrated solely on helping younger children to express themselves freely and creatively through the medium of art. A new art box is turning LoLA’s attention to young adolescents. Have a look here.
The theme of the box is “Identity”. Adolescents are at an age when they struggle to “find themselves”. Who are they? Where have they come from? What groups do they belong to? It is a difficult time for them, and LoLA’s box, entitled “Me, Myself and I”, aims to help them explore this theme of identity…through art.
The box contains a number of creative projects inspired by a range of artists and techniques. All the projects examine the complex question of who we are – through portraiture and by encouraging a greater awareness of our bodies and of our varied emotions. Inside the boxes are loads of quality art materials – a set of acrylic paints, a paintbrush, a styrofoam sheet and sticky foam for printing, a set of skin-tone soft pastels, collage papers and a journal.
And there is also a small booklet in the box packed full of information and ideas, making the projects versatile enough so that adolescents can either dip in and out as and when they choose, or sit down for a full day of creativity!
We have found that there is very little on the market for budding young artists over the age of eight. So this new box fits in with LoLA’s overall vision, which is to encourage children of all ages to engage in creative activities and express themselves, WITHOUT looking at a screen.
No matter whether you choose to create it yourself or simply to observe and enjoy the work of others, art can be a wonderfully relaxing and inspiring activity. However, the benefits of artistic expression go far further than mere relaxation. It can become a way to express emotions without words, to process complex feelings and (sometimes) to find relief. Turning to art when we can’t find the words, being able to illustrate how we feel rather than trying to explain it, can often be a great relief.
The LoLA box is separated into three sections:
- Portraiture, and how artists see behind our facial surface to depict something deeper than the mere outside appearance;
- The Body, and how it is central to facets of identity such as gender, sexuality, race and ethnicity;
- And finally, Emotions and Expressionism, a style of art where the artist focuses on expressing their inner thoughts and feelings.
