National Gallery inspires children's art

The National Gallery: Peter Paul Rubens: 'A View of Het Steen in the Early Morning'

... and Peter Paul Rubens's A View of Het Steen in the Early Morning (1636) Photograph: The National Gallery

The National Gallery: Line of Vision Workshop inspired by the artist Crivellli

In groups, the children began looking last autumn at how they could respond to the paintings with 2D and 3D artwork.

Pupils from Boxgrove and Surrey Square schools Photograph: The National Gallery Photographi/The National Gallery

Surrey Square school, Alma primary school, Boxgrove and Oakington Manor took part in the Line of Vision outreach project Photograph: The National Gallery

The primary schools are all involved with the charity Place2Be, which offers children therapeutic care, focusing on expression of feelings through talking, creative work and play Photograph: The National Gallery Photographi/The National Gallery

Oakington Manor and Surrey Square schools discussed how Rubens had created space using colour and light, and how he might have transferred his drawings onto wooden panels Photograph: The National Gallery Photographi/The National Gallery

With Velazquez's La Tela Real, children from Alma, Boxgrove and Surrey Square produced different elements, some focusing on the foreground of the painting and others on the middle ground and background.

Pupils from Boxgrove and Surrey Square schools at Line of Vision Workshop Photograph: The National Gallery

With Crivelli's The Annunciation, with Saint Emidius, the children discussed the rich detail and symbolism and considered the theme of delivering messages Photograph: The National Gallery

In the studio they used long, bendy willow sticks and tissue paper to create large-scale sculptures inspired by the figures, angels, birds and light in Crivelli's work

Pupils from Oakington Manor and Surrey Square school Photograph: The National Gallery Photographi/The National Gallery

National Gallery outreach officer, Emma Rehm, said: 'Many of the children will never have been inside an art gallery before, and to create their own works of art and have them displayed at the National Gallery will not only be inspirational but it will help increase their self-esteem and confidence. '

Pupils from Oakington Manor and Surrey Square school at Line of Vision workshop Photograph: The National Gallery

She said the children were 'encouraged to creatively engage with the National Gallery's collection by sharing their thoughts about the paintings and using them as an inspiration for their own artwork'. Photograph: The National Gallery

The children's work will be exhibited in the National Gallery from 11 April to 24 May Photograph: The National Gallery