---
title: "Art Materials and Techniques"
description: "Explore drawing, painting and simple sculpture to share ideas and experiences; try out colour, pattern, texture, line and shape with different materials (pencils, paint, clay, collage) and talk about "
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/arts-and-music/art-materials-and-techniques-mt_FQa-W9aXrg
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/arts-and-music/art-materials-and-techniques-mt_FQa-W9aXrg.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Art Materials and Techniques

Explore drawing, painting and simple sculpture to share ideas and experiences; try out colour, pattern, texture, line and shape with different materials (pencils, paint, clay, collage) and talk about the effects

Subject: Arts & Music · Area: Visual Art · Ages 5 to 7
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/arts-and-music/art-materials-and-techniques-mt_FQa-W9aXrg

## Ready when they can

- Make pictures and models using a range of materials (e.g. thick and thin pencil lines, mixing paint colours, rolling and pinching clay)
- Use words like colour, pattern, texture, line and shape when talking about their own artwork (e.g. 'I used wavy lines for the sea')
- Choose a material or technique to match an idea (e.g. picking bumpy collage paper for a dragon's skin)

## Lesson: Trying Different Art Materials

Pencils, paint, clay and paper are art materials. You can glue paper pieces onto a surface to make a collage. Soft clay can be rolled, squeezed and pinched into a model. Use materials made for children.

Test a thick drawing pencil on scrap paper. Its point can make a narrow line. Its side can make a wide line. A light touch usually makes a pale mark. A firmer touch usually makes a darker mark. Mixing some paint colours can make a different colour.

*(drawing: This is a star shape. You could draw it or use a paper star in a collage.)*

Art words help you describe your work. A line can be straight or wavy. A shape can be a circle or a star. Red and blue are colours. Texture tells how a surface feels, such as smooth or bumpy. A pattern repeats shapes, colours or marks.

*(drawing: The same pair repeats: star, circle, then star, circle again.)*

**Example.** Zara chooses bumpy paper for a dragon collage. Its texture can stand for scaly skin. Look at and feel your materials before choosing. Smooth foil can show a shiny surface. Rough paper can show a scratchy surface.

Choose a material for the effect you want. If you want a collage piece to feel soft, choose soft material. Scratchy paper gives a different effect. There are many ways to show the same thing. Tell someone what you chose and why.

**Recap.** Try different materials, then use art words to describe what you made.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Opens up

- [Great Artists and Designers](https://lightmysky.com/learn/arts-and-music/great-artists-and-designers-mt_RdVEVrWmGZ)
- [Developing Art Techniques](https://lightmysky.com/learn/arts-and-music/developing-art-techniques-mt_WHP0beHTl1)