Art Outside: The Beach

Come with us and go for a walk on a sandy beach! We can use our senses to help us explore different places - and maybe even find some treasure. Try watching the video, and then take a walk outside with your grown-ups. Do you live near the sea - or maybe a playground with a sandpit? Pick a space to make some beach-inspired art in.

Once you're outside, stop, listen, look up and around. What can you see, hear, touch and smell? Focus on one sense at a time - do all of them or just one or two!

The senses

• Smell - Can you smell anything? Is it a nice or nasty smell?
• Look - What can you see around you? Can you see colours or shapes? Does anything make a pattern?
• Listen - Shhhh! Be very quiet and stay still for a moment. What sounds are around you right now? Can you list them all?
• Touch - Are there any textures nearby that would be interesting to touch?

Slowing down and using the senses can help you experience your surroundings differently.

For our walk, we took inspiration from a series called Field Workings, by an artist called Marie Yates.

These are photos of the beach sculptures Marie made using things she found in nature. What can you see in each sculpture? When you're on your walk, try looking out for different objects to make art with (just make sure they're safe to touch!). How about some pebbles, shells or sticks?

Once you've found a few things, try arranging them to make a standing sculpture. You can ask a grown-up to help you tie things together - or maybe make a pattern on the sand! Once you're done, find a spot to put your artwork. Just like a sandcastle, maybe people will wonder who made it as they walk by!