Creativity for Wellbeing at Home
Make and create at home, inspired by objects and paintings from the Holburne Museum’s collection.
See below for FREE, fun downloadable activity sheets which have been created to support people during lockdown and beyond.
Over 20 fun, downloadable activity sheets. Use whatever you have at home and enjoy some calming creativity!
Expressive Portraits
Taking inspiration from the Nicholas Pope exhibition: Portraits of a Marriage.
Artist Lucia Harley will show you how to make paper or card sculptures based on a person or relationship – intrigued?
Download our FREE activity sheet to find out how!
For further inspiration, download our Inspiration Sheet.
Form and Emotion
Exploring emotions by looking at different colours, textures, shapes and forms in relation to each other, using bottles, paints, fabrics and bits and bobs from around your home. Artist Susie Walker will show you how!
Click here to view our artist’s video demonstration
Paper Garlands
In this activity artist/illustrator Sam Church will inspire you to make some Greek paper garlands – intrigued?
Botanical Butterflies & Bugs
In this activity create Bugs and Butterflies from natural materials found outside, then incorporate these into a design for a plate.
Artist Susie Walker will show you how!
Click here to view our artist’s video demonstration
A New Room for Thomas Lawrence
In this activity artist/illustrator Sam Church will inspire you to have a go at some interior decoration – intrigued?
Download our FREE activity sheet to find out how!
Click here to see our artist’s video demonstration
Piecing Together a Vase
In this activity we’re making mosaic vases from recycled envelopes with a bit of inspiration from Wedgwood – sound intriguing?
Download our FREE activity sheet to find out how!
Click here for our artist’s video demonstration
Folded Minibook Squash Books
Museums exhibit and care for precious objects. Look after and display your own art by creating a special book – artist Karen Woodfield will show you how!
Click here to view our artist’s video demonstration
Kitchen Cupboard Portrait
In this activity we are taking inspiration from the superb portraiture skills of artist Thomas Lawrence. However unlike Lawrence we are putting down our paints and using materials found a little closer to home. Create a portrait using coffee and other store cupboard staples!
Click here to view our artist’s video demonstration.
A Flight of (Fondant) Fancy
In this activity we are following in the footsteps of Pablo Bronstein to make everyday objects, buildings and man-made structures absolutely fabulous!
Click here to view our artist’s video demonstration.
The Making of Me Collage
Taking our inspiration from Thomas Lawrence, today we are exploring self portraiture through the medium of collage. We’ll explore words, phrases or ideas that have made an impression on us and influenced our lives and who we are today.
For some extra inspiration click here for a selection of images selected by artist Ella Bryant Making of me Collage Extra Resources
Click here for our artist’s video demonstration
Let’s Make a Scene!
Today we are being inspired by Canaletto’s cityscapes (Veduta) to create a miniature ‘Scene in a Tin’. We’ll learn how to layer our scene to create a 3D effect.
Click here to watch our artist’s video demonstration
Telling Tales – stories around us
This week we are looking at objects with a story to tell. Draw an object of your own and have fun decorating it to tell it’s story. We’ll show you some examples from our collection to give you inspiration.
Click here to watch our artist’s video demonstration
Mindful Doodles – Taking inspiration from Islamic metalwork
Have a go at Zen doodles for fun and relaxation while also learning about the art of Islamic metalwork.
Click here to watch our artist’s video demonstration
Venice Skylines Canaletto Inspires
Venice is coming to the Holburne Museum so take inspiration from these beautiful paintings and create your own folded skyline!
Click here to watch our artist’s video demonstration
A Feast Fit to Draw!
This week take inspiration from Still Life with Shellfish and Fruit. Enjoy arranging your own still life from food and objects around your home. Make it dramatic by lighting it from one side in a dark area.
Bead Basket Bonanza
This week be inspired by a beautiful bead basket from the Holburne’s collection to build up your own patterns or images using dots like in Pointillism paintings.
Click here to watch our artist’s video demonstration
A Passion for Papercuts!
This week is all about contrast and outline so why not take a look at this week’s activity and the Holburne’s collection to make your own paper silhouettes?
Netsuke – A Whole World in Your Palm
Be inspired by the Holburne’s collection to design your own netsuke to nestle in your hand!
Click here to watch our artist’s video demonstration
Islamic Metalwork Inspires
Take inspiration from an exquisite metalwork object made in Syria over 600 years ago and make your own geometric patterns!
Autumn Vases
Design and decorate your own autumn vase inspired by Grayson Perry.
Watch this film about some of some of the vases in our exhibition Grayson Perry The Pre-therapy years.
Click here to watch our artist’s video demonstration
Time Well Spent – Magical Mandalas
Taking clocks and repeating pattern as inspiration have fun creating your own mandala from a variety of materials.
Cabinet of Curiosity
Have fun making, decorating, drawing or painting your own ‘Cabinet of Curiosity’ inspired by the Holburne’s Wonderful Witcombe Cabinet.
Find out more about our Witcombe Cabinet here.
A Passion for Pattern
Create a beautiful repeat pattern design to decorate a textile square or tile inspired by our exquisite embroideries, textiles and tiles from Iran and Syria.
Big Wigs!
Take inspiration from our 18th century prints to draw an over–the-top hair-do!
Find out more about Laurence Hyde’s full-bottom wig here.
A Stitch in Time: Embroidery & Stumpwork
Create a mixed media scene inspired by the Holburne’s enchanting embroidery collection.
Find out more about our Stumpwork collection here.
Animals: Escape from the Museum!
Choose one of the animals from our collection and create a new imaginary environment for it.
Find out more about animals in our collection here.
A Room with a View?
Today’s activity is to create a view from a window.
Find out more about our inspirational Flemish painting Virgin and Child here
Silhouettes: Shapes and Shadows!
Create a silhouette from household objects or shadows found in nature and around your house.
Find out more about silhouettes in our collection here
Still Life
The Objects that Surround Us!
Find out more about our Dutch still life here
Made in Japan
Design and decorate an Imari style plate or dish.
Find out more about Imari porcelain here.
Box of Delights
Have Fun Making and Decorating a Miniature Box!
The Holburne – Changing Face
Rethink the façade of the Holburne and it’s front lawn!
House of Spoons
Help create a virtual House of Spoons for this year’s Fringe Arts Bath festival.
See a short film trailer here to help you with the activity.
Be Inspired by Josiah!
Create a vase design for Josiah Wedgwood’s fashionable showroom in Bath!
A Fashionable Family
Have fun doing a fashion-makeover on our celebrity Georgian family, The Byams.
Fabulous Fans
Make and decorate a beautiful Georgian style paper fan