Art: The Parthenon

In art this half term, we have been exploring the incredible work of Stephen Wiltshire, a celebrated artist known for capturing detailed cityscapes and creating powerful moods through his use of line, light, and texture. We looked closely at a range of his drawings and discussed how he uses different materials to bring scenes to life with emotion and depth.

Inspired by his style, we chose our own landmarks to draw, focusing on accuracy and detail. Many of us selected iconic London buildings such as the Gherkin and the Emirates Stadium, while others chose to work from images of the Eiffel Tower and other well-known structures. Using iPads, we carefully searched for clear reference images to help guide our compositions and ensure that our designs were considered and precise.

As we worked, we focused on improving our shading skills and began to explore how light affects both highlights and shadows. This helped us to add depth and atmosphere to our pieces. We learned how mood can be suggested through changes in tone and contrast, just as Stephen Wiltshire does in his artwork.

Once we had developed our techniques, we turned our attention to the Parthenon, as we are beginning our history topic about Ancient Greece. We studied photographs of the structure and used pencil and pen to recreate it with attention to form, detail, and the overall mood. We also explored how weather and lighting could influence the feeling of the drawing. As part of this project, we practised drawing still life with a focus on shadows and reflections, and we also learned about the history and importance of technical drawings in both art and architecture.

We are really proud of the artwork we produced and how we brought together careful observation, creativity, and technical skill in our final pieces.

How can an artist use light, shadow, and weather to change the way we feel about a place?