Children's Art Competition

Join us for our 2^nd annual Laboratory Art Studio Children's Open Art Competition. This year The Laboratory’s is challenging children aged 4 to 16 years old across Essex to  Explore, Experiment and Create artwork based on the theme: In The Trees.

Entries could include Watercolours, canvas paintings, pastel drawings, bird life portraits, sculptures, photography, collage etc

The competition will be judged in three age categories with a prize for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place . The age categories are:

4-7 years 

8-11 years         

12-16 years       

There is a £2 entry fee to cover the cost of insurance and administration.

All entries MUST be submitted by 5pm 26th  June 2014. Awards will be presented on the 4th July at The Green Centre at Wat Tyler Country Park

Special Awards

Wat Tyler Best In Show Award - Selected by Wat Tyler Country Park

Best Interpretation of the theme, Woodlands and Wildlife - Selected by local MP Stephen Metcalfe

To request an application form email the_laboratory@hotmail.co.uk or pop into the studio at Wat Tyler Country Park

We look forward to seeing your entries

It's a jungle out there!

There’s a lot more strange wildlife in our parks, gardens, fields and woodlands than we might think. Take this little jumping spider for instance, who could easily be hopping around in scrubland near your home.

Jumping Spider

Now expert natural historians from the Essex Field Club would like to help us find and identify thousands of species of insects, spiders, other vertebrates, birds and animals we live amongst every day.

The Essex Natural History show will feature  drop-in workshops hosted by some of the leading naturalists in the country, who will all be on hand to talk about and help you identify any wildlife you have seen, drawn or photographed and are itching to know more about.

Experts in rocks, skeletons and fossils will also be on hand, so it’s an ideal time to bring over that strange rock lying on the mantelpiece and find out what it is. And don’t worry if you have nothing to bring this time and just want to know more – some star items from the clubs own historic collection of natural history, one of the most important in Essex, will also be on display to see and handle.

Other attractions include popular artist Lisa Smith from The Laboratory who will be helping children make their own fossils and designs inspired by the natural world. Basildon heritage will also be open with their displays of local photographs and other exhibits.

Fossils from the Essex Field Club Collection

Join Lisa on Saturday and make your own fossils using clay and plaster

Create a positive and a negative fossil

If you are itching to get started straight away, mini safaris hosted by the club and by the RSPB will be available to help you look at and identify the birds, beasts and plants in the park.

The event is free thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund, who have given the Essex Field Club a generous grant to help them encourage and promote natural history and conserve their historic collection, which remains one of the most significant collections of natural history in the country.

Join us on the Sunday 22^nd September between 11:00am-5:00pm at The Green Centre, Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea Hall Lane, Basildon, Essex SS16 4UH

If you have any further questions please contact me on 07970332097 or email the_laboratory@hotmail.co.uk

Autumn Term at The Laboratory

The autumn programme for The Laboratory is now available for bookings. After a fantastic Summer we are looking forward to getting stuck into lots of creative, fun, messy - and clean - arts and crafts - see our programmes below:

Our September programme is now available for bookings at The Laboratory

Our October programme sees us celebrating 50 years of Dr Who and having lots of fun with plaster

If you are looking for a spooktacula October Half Term Holiday the look no further than The Laboratory

Art classes at The Laboratory

Our art classes offer a little something for everyone in a creative and relaxed environment. You do not need to bring anything other than yourself and we will even supply you with refreshments. Alongside our classes listed above, this Autumn term we will be launching our Make and Natter class. This class is aimed at any adults who enjoy arts, crafts and nattering. So with the kids back at school this could be just what you are looking for!

We will meet on a Wednesday morning 9:30-11:30am for a cuppa and a biscuit whilst working on the weeks creative project. Our Make and Natter class costs a just £5 per person. To find out more about any of our classes or to book yourself a space. Please contact Lisa at the_laboratory@hotmail.co.uk

Fun With Plaster

This week has seen the launch of the Summer activities programme hosted by The Laboratory Art Studio based at Wat Tyler Country Park. We have a fun filled programme including painting 3D Canvases, making minions, painting birdhouse, printing t-shirts and so much more.

 Today we had an amazing plaster casting workshop where adults and children alike cast their hands in plaster by printing their palm or cupping plaster in their hands.

The studio was buzzing with budding young sculptors and artists creating amazing pieces of work. The children had to sit still (a difficult task for most of us!), to let the plaster set and then got onto the fun job of decorating the finished piece using paint and gem stones.

Here is how we got on....

Waiting patiently for the plaster to set

Cast set onto the busy job of painting!

Smiles all around, busy painting and casting

Concentrating on creating an amazing design

Waiting for the plaster to set

Proudly showing off the finished piece

We loved that these piece were colour co-ordinated, amazing work created today

 Here are some of the finished pieces

Our mums didn't want to miss out on the fun and some spent time casting and painting their own hand-print

The metallic paint really picks out the detail of this piece - it almost looks 3D

We loved the precision and colour choice of this hand cast

Just beautiful!

There is always time for  bit of splatter art!

A matching pair, beautiful painting and colour choice

If you would like any further information about our Summer programme or would like to book onto workshops or classes please email Lisa on the_laboratory@hotmail.co.uk

Summer Art Blast

This Summer The Laboratory will be bursting with creative workshops, classes and projects for all ages. Each day of the week we have different art and crafts projects for you to come and try your hand at. Our workshops run between 10:00am - 4:00pm (unless otherwise specified).  Our workshops start from as little as £2:00 per item to £5:00 per person.

As well as our fun filled workshops, this Summer we will be hosting an open studio every Wednesday where you can view a selection of artwork created by The Laboratory's learners, visiting artists and The Laboratory artist Lisa Smith.

We are also delighted to announce that this Summer we will be launching two new classes:

Parents and toddler class Thursday 10:30am - 11:30am and 

Over 60's art class Thursday 1:00pm -3:00pm

To book onto any of our workshops or classes email the_laboratory@hotmail.co.uk

Summer Programme at The Laboratory, find us opposite The Green Centre at Wat Tyler Country Park

Workshops at The Laboratory are suitable for all ages and abilities

Our art workshops aim to encourage you to explore, experiment and create arts and crafts from a wide range of materials

Children's Art Parties at The Laboratory

Handmade Superhero Caps - parties can be tailor made to a specific theme or art material

A superhero is not complete without their mask and logo badge!!!

Art Classes at The Laboratory continue through the Summer

Art classes at The Laboratory provide an opportunity for children and adults to make new friends,
 learn and enhance art skills and experiment with art

Our art classes are relaxed and friendly (we even supply refreshments) Classes are suitable for all abilities so if you want to improve your art skills or try something new, why not pop along

To find out more email Lisa on the_laboratory@hotmail.co.uk

Disney Time!

The magic of Disney came to life this weekend at The Laboratory art studio in our weekend arts and crafts workshop. With soundtracks from our favourite Disney movies playing in the background - children and adults were inspired to create their own 3D piece of art work. The workshop primarily focused on drawing skills, with our budding artists selecting an image and then using one of several techniques to transfer the image to paper. These included upside down drawing, pencil measuring skills, tracing or the use of a light box. Once the image had been drawn it was outlined using a black sharpie pen and then coloured in bold and beautiful colours. The next task was to create a stunning background that would set off the Disney characters. Both these drawings were placed through the laminator to make the images rigid  A small box was then placed between the two images to create a 3D effect. 

I was impressed with the concentration and detail the children put into their work to create some really beautiful and clever pieces of work. 

We loved this sparkly Tinker-bell

Alongside the 3D wall art our budding artists also created bookmarks, necklaces and mobiles.

Here's what we got up to:

There's something for everyone at The Laboratory

Using a light box to transfer an image. We were impressed with the precision and time spent on this piece.
 There were a lot of dogs to transfer!

Alice in Wonderland plus a fabulous Disney bookmark

We think this beautiful pink Disney necklace is fantastic and would look great on this stunning princess in-front of her castle.

Mr Potatoe head goes strolling through the forest!

Woody and his friends go for a stroll under a clear blue sky

This Tinker-bell is all heart!

This Incredible's 3D art work is just simply incredible! Perfectly drawn and coloured in with a pop art inspired backdrop.

All of the images were drawn by the children and then outlined with a black sharpie pen. This piece looks like it has come straight from the movie, beautifully drawn and coloured in - and we loved the bookmark to! 

Have you seen our latest flyer? Check out what workshops we have coming up over the next couple of months and join  us at The Laboratory to Explore, Experiment and Create

Workshops @ The Laboratory

The Laboratory Art Studio based at Wat Tyler Country Park offers a wide and diverse range of workshops suitable for all ages and all abilities. Our workshops run between 12:00 noon and 4:00 pm at the weekends and cost just £3:00 per person. 

Check out our programme for May and June, to book workshops email the_laboratory@hotmail.co.uk

 To give you an idea of what happens at The Laboratory here are some pictures from two of our recent workshops : Kite Making and Pottery

For our kite making workshop, children worked with adults to construct a basic frame using Withy Willow. Once the frame was build plastic was wrapped around the frame and then it was over to the children to decorate the kites using stickers, paint and embellishments ready for flying.

Carefully painting a stunning design on a handmade kite

Proudly showing of the final pieces

We just loved the intricacy in this kites design, we hope it flew well!

Some people chose to add ears, tails and tassels onto their kites

The Laboratory offers a calm and relaxed atmosphere where you can work with your children to create all kinds of arts and crafts. Children over the age of 8 can be left unassisted.
We just loved this beautiful beach scene which was painted fabulously! 

At the Laboratory you can create all sorts of wonderful pieces of work whilst chatting with your friends and family

Now let's go fly them kites!

 Pottery fun. One of our favourite workshops at The Laboratory is Pottery. We now have two potters wheels which offer children and adults of all ages (I think our youngest has been 2 years old) the opportunity to have a go at throwing a pot. With a little tuition and a little helping hand everyone is able to create a vase, bowl, plate etc that they can take home to paint. And whilst you are waiting for your turn on the wheel, we will show you how to make a pinch pot, a small animal sculpture and coiling with clay.

A helping hand offered on the potters wheel

Moulding the clay into a smooth shape ready to create a beautiful pot

Even adults enjoy having a go at throwing a pot on our wheels

The Laboratory offers a relaxed a clam atmosphere that is suitable for all ages and all abilities, Why not join us and explore, experiment and create!

Creating pinch pots whilst waiting to go on the potters wheel

 For more information email Lisa at the_laboratory@hotmail.co.uk