National Gallery at Home: Gerard Dillon

Follow these simple steps to create a masterpiece inspired by the work of Gerard Dillon!

Watch the video and then try it out yourself. You'll find all the materials and instructions listed below. Let's get started!

Watch the video

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Materials and instructions

You will need:

• A sheet of paper (large, if you have one)
• Colouring materials (crayons, markers, pencils, paints)
• An old newspaper
• Glue stick

Instructions:

1. On your large sheet of paper, mark out your separate areas. 
2. Start to fill in each one.
3. If you like, you can add extra materials (we found some feathers in a cushion!).
4. When you have finished colouring each section, tear up some small pieces of newspaper. 
5. Scrunch the pieces of paper into balls. 
6. Put the glue on your section lines, and stick the balls down in a line.
7. Continue until all of the lines are covered. 

Share your artwork!

Would you like to see your artwork featured on the Gallery's website? Take a photo of your artwork and send it to us by email ([email protected]) or using this online form to upload your picture. We'll feature a selection of pictures in the Creative Challenge Gallery, so check back to see if yours is included!

Upload a picture of your artwork using this form

Inspired by ...

Gerard Dillon (1916-1971), The Little Green Fields, c.1946-1950. © The Estate of Gerard Dillon

This activity is inspired by this painting by Irish artist Gerard Dillon called Little Green Fields. This picture almost looks like a patchwork quilt or a jigsaw, with lots of different activities and scenes of country life. What do you think the boy on the left is going to do with the two buckets?

Credits:

Thanks to Ciara Lawlor (aged 7). 

About our Gallery at Home videos:

Inspired by works in our collection and exhibitions, our creative activities encourage families to work together to create their own artworks. They are specially produced videos for babies, older children and for those who require sensory input. You can find all the workshops in this series here. Enjoy!