National Gallery: Art on Your Doorstep: Family Art Club

National Gallery: Art on Your Doorstep: Family Art Club at Oakwell Hall
 
Bring the National Gallery to life with these fun, hands-on art workshops inspired by paintings in the Art on Your Doorstep exhibition. 

Children will explore famous paintings, learn simple techniques used by well‑known artists, and create their own artwork using a variety of materials. Sessions are practical, creative and designed to encourage observation, imagination and confidence.

Age group: 6–12 years
Group size: Maximum 15 children per session plus accompanying adults
Venue: The Barn, Visitor Centre Courtyard, Oakwell Hall

Dates & Times
Thursdays in August: 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th
Sessions:

• 11am – 12 noon
• 1pm – 2pm

Session Themes

Thursday 6 August 

• Claude Monet – Impressionism
  Explore how short strokes placed next to each other blend when viewed from a distance. Create an impressionist-style artwork using oil pastels.
• Joseph Wright of Derby – Chiaroscuro
  Discover dramatic light and dark contrasts using charcoal to create bold drawings.

Thursday 13 August 

• Philip de Koninck – Landscapes & Perspective
  Learn how artists create depth and distance in landscapes using pencil.
• Vincent Van Gogh - Wheatfield-Inspired Art
  Create a swirling, expressive version of an Oakwell scene using oil pastels.

Thursday 20 August

• John Constable’s The Hay Wain 
  Close-up landscape sketching inspired by Oakwell’s surroundings using pencil.
• Hans Holbein – Portraits
  Think about what tells your story. Design a portrait showing your favourite objects and interests using mixed materials.

Thursday 27 August

• Hans Holbein – Women & Animals
  Explore symbols and meanings. Draw a self‑portrait including animals or objects that represent who you are using mixed materials.
• Henri Rousseau – Layered Nature
  Use repeated shapes and shades of the same colour to build up a natural scene with oil pastels.

All materials are provided. Sessions are suitable for beginners and no previous art experience is needed.
Booking essential – spaces are limited. Children must be accompanied.