Artists’ sketchbooks. ‘Semana Blanca’ half-term workshops

Pablo Picasso stayed in the French town of Royan from September 1939 to August 1940. There he produced drawings, gouaches, paintings and poems, as well as filling eight notebooks with his sketches.

These workshops are based around the artist’s prolific period in this town on France’s Atlantic coast. Participants will have the chance to talk about the works on view in the exhibition [Picasso: The Royan Sketchbooks](Running for four days, the ‘Semana Blanca’ half-term workshops – for children aged 4 and upwards – are based around the temporary exhibition Picasso: The Royan Sketchbooks.) in order to create their own artist’s sketchbook, experimenting with different media and supports, both individually and collectively. These activities will help the children boost their social skills and practise respect through play and art.

On the first day, like Picasso at Royan, they will practise drawing and on the second day they will use scissors, glue and cutouts. To add textures and colour to their sketchbook, they will employ techniques such as collage. On the third day they will capture the outside world in various forms in their sketchbook, dealing with the subject of the city using printmaking and popups, among other techniques. The last day will focus on the front and back covers as well as on other features of bookbinding, and participants will be encouraged to imagine unconventional uses for their creation.