The theme for this week’s project is shoes. Going outside has been, for most of us this week, a restricted activity.  We have been encouraged to shop for food only if necessary and limit going outside for exercise to only once a day. I had this picture of our shoes looking at us like a dog would longing for its owner to take it out for ‘walkies’. We have different shoes for different occasions. We may have a special pair for those times when we need to look our best. We have an everyday pair for when we don’t need to think too much about appearance.  We have ones that we’ve had for sometime and even though they’re wearing out, we’ve become somehow emotionally attached to them, like old friends, that you don’t want to get rid of. The images this week are by Vincent Van Gogh who drew and painted a variety of his shoes. His old tatty shoes have also seen better days, but because of that they have real character.

EXPLORING THE THEME: Think about some of the sentiments mentioned above. Consider ideas about character, personality, function, freedom and restriction.

PRACTICAL PROJECT (Three Hours)   1-3 drawings: Choose a pair of shoes and draw them from whatever angles you feel brings out their unique qualities. You can choose what materials you use. Also you choose what size of paper.  If you only have a pencil, use that. If you have paint, collage material, glue and scissors, feel free to use them. The important thing is try and capture the quality of the shoes. Also remember the size of the shoes in the drawings  don’t need to be the shoes actual size.

BACKGROUND RESEARCH: Vincent Van Gogh, in particular, his drawings of farm labourers and rural landscapes.