Children create patterns using coloured dots
SHARJAH: The 40th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) gave children of all ages the opportunity to immerse in creative exploration in a safe and nurturing environment through artistic activities targeting various age groups.
The workshop facilitator introduced youngsters to a new technique of painting using coloured dots. In the ‘Dot Painting’ workshop, children aged 10 and above, honed their skills in creating a unique visual art using the technique of repeated imprints.
Highlighting the importance of the activity, the workshop facilitator said: “Dot painting relives stress and helps children relax. Following the pandemic, children have become more anxious, and this art activity helps in calming their senses. Personally, I oten use dot painting to reduce my stress and to calm down. What is interesting is that the activity can be done using just a pencil.”
At the workshop, children were engaged in drawing simple designs with dots such as a beautiful buterfly, mandala, and a flower.
WORDS OF POSITIVITY: The tiny tots sat comfortably on bean bags in Spain’s Guest of Honour Pavilion at the 40th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) were already mesmerised by actor Allejandra Abrines’ long white hair, big-framed glasses, her oufit and demeanour, before she began a dramatised storytelling of Womagis.
She was playing Olivia, the protagonist of Womagis – a children’s story by award-winning Spanish author Marta Villegas that celebrates the power of words.
A beaming Villegas is at the workshop watching and helping the children at the workshop in which the kids create their own magic feather. They colour the feather, cut it out, stick stars on it and then make words that they are comfortable with.
“Womagis is a book that talks about the importance of nice words; we let the kids make up some words, be as creative as they can be and transform everything that bothers them into something positive,” said Abrines highlighting the importance of a workshop like this as young ones grow up in the era of trolling and negativity.
“It [Womagis] is a picture book where the story follows the illustration. Each language is denoted by a colour, so it is like a linguistic map of Spain and the language spoken by most immigrant groups in the country. In a Spanish classroom, you may find children speaking each of these languages, so they can share this book and realise there is diversity and unity in diversity,” clarified Villegas.