With Spring having meant to be well and truly underway, the aim to this months session was to celebrate the everyday flowers and plants we see on a day to day basis. Returning to banner making, participants were given a variety of coloured felt, simple leaf and flower templates, as well as tools to complete their banner, including a wooden dowel and bakers
twine.

We drew on inspiration from Artists including Matisse [paper cuttings] Cara Walker [silhouettes and shadows] and Keith Haring [simple stick figures and cartoons] to help make simple yet effective shapes to create stripped down, simple yet colourful interpretations of plants, flowers, weeds and in some cases football crests.

With this month’s session falling during the school holidays we were prepared for a busy afternoon, however, the extra tables and chairs to accommodate the extra bodies were soon overflowing and there were also tables along the edge behind the main activity.

Creating simple shapes from felt or paper to create one larger image really is an effective way to make a striking piece for all ages. We were mainly accommodating families on school holidays, but grandparents and parents surprised themselves- having originally come for the children, enjoying creating something themselves also.

Many participants took inspiration from plants they’d discovered within The Palm House itself, or created simple odes to what most consider weeds. Whilst others looked further a field- creating banners for Football clubs, computer games or even their favourite fruits.

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