Large Scale Painting Project

As the Middle School art teacher, each year I am charged with producing the ‘backdrop’ for our Middle School Production.  The Backdrop is a huge canvas that hangs at the back of the stage for the duration of the production and reflects the theme of the production.  Although I am officially ‘in charge’ all the actual art production is done by my students.  From the design to the drawing to the painting the students do it all.  I merely direct, supervise and, when I have the chance, get onto the canvas myself for a bit of painting.  Each year my students amaze me by their talent, skill, dedication and capacity to get seemingly more paint on themselves rather than the canvas and still produce a masterpiece.  Working on such as large scale is challenging, but so much fun!  It’s really the highlight of my school year.

I’m lucky that I always have support from my colleagues and principal who allow me to take the top 20 artists of the school out of classes for 2 full days so we can get the painting part done (the rest is done during 45 minute ‘club’ times earlier on in the year).

Here is a video I’ve put together of this year’s backdrop creation from the start in August 2012 to the finish in April 2013

And here is the finished piece, hanging at the back of the stage!

The finished backdrop in place

It’s an awesome project. Requiring an amazing amount of teamwork, time-consuming, needing a lot of attention to detail, and just brilliant fun!!