This half term in Art and Design, Year 3 have been learning how stories can be told not only through words, but also through drawing and making. We began by discussing the word illustrator. We learned that an illustrator is an artist who creates pictures for a story, helping the reader to understand the characters and setting. 

To explore this further, we compared stories with very few illustrations to stories with lots of them. We quickly agreed that illustrations help a story come to life and help us to use our imagination! 

Studying the Work of Quentin Blake

We then turned our attention to the work of the famous illustrator Quentin Blake. Many of us instantly recognised his lively, expressive drawings from well‑known Roald Dahl stories. Characters such as Matilda, George from George’s Marvellous Medicine, the BFG and many more were familiar favourites across the class.

Together, we looked closely at his illustration style. We noticed his loose line work and bright splashes of colour. After discussing what makes his illustrations so recognisable, we had a go at recreating some of them in our sketchbooks using pencils, pens and watercolours! 

Next, we focused  on three particular characters: Alfie the tortoise from Esio Trot, the Enormous Crocodile and the BFG. Each child chose one character to inspire their model‑making project. Before beginning the sculptures, everyone created a final detailed sketch with watercolour of their chosen character. These drawings helped us plan the structure and features of our models.

From Paper to Sculpture

Once our plans were complete, it was time to build. Using scrap paper, newspaper, masking tape and cardboard, we constructed the basic shapes of our characters. This was a challenging step, as we had to think carefully about stability, proportions and how to join materials securely.

After shaping the forms, we covered them with layers of Modroc to create a solid sculpture. For many children, this was their first experience using Modroc, so it was a brilliant opportunity to learn a completely new skill. We had to work patiently to join the layers smoothly so our structures were strong once dry.

Final Creations! 

When the Modroc had set, we moved on to painting. Children used their earlier character studies to guide their colour choices and details, bringing their sculptures to life in imaginative and thoughtful ways! 

The finished models were fantastic. Each sculpture captured the personality and energy of the chosen Roald Dahl character, and it was wonderful to see such creativity and perseverance from everyone in Year 3. These final pieces could easily be used to illustrate or bring to life scenes from some of our favourite stories!