William Conor Evacuees at the Great Northern Railway Station
© The Estate of William Conor
Discover how local artists recorded life in Northern Ireland during the Second World War in this thought-provoking and creative workshop which explores paintings from the Ulster Museum’s fine art collection. Explore the role of art in expressing emotions and how paintings can tell stories about evacuation, industry and the Belfast Blitz. Take a close look at paintings by Doris Blair and William Conor and discuss some of the details they contain, using them as sources to help us understand the past. Explore how Colin Middleton reflected imaginatively and emotionally, while Tom Carr and John Luke saw beauty in the everyday. In this session we will discuss how the artists used colour, form, and line to express what they witnessed.
Using a range of materials and techniques, pupils will create their own artworks inspired by the work we have looked at. This workshop aims to provide a safe and creative space for students to explore complex themes and emotions, while developing their artistic skills, critical thinking and language development.