On Friday 2nd May, Leighton Park School had the pleasure of welcoming Year 5 pupils from Dolphin School on the penultimate day of their Dolphin Arts Week.
In collaboration with Dolphin’s Art Week programme, Leighton Park’s Head of Art, Mark Wood, proposed a fantastic pair of workshops centred around the vibrant and playful work of renowned Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. Known for fusing traditional Japanese techniques with contemporary pop culture, Murakami’s distinctive style—featured on Louis Vuitton handbags, Hello Kitty collaborations, and Kanye West’s album covers—offered a dynamic starting point for the day’s creative exploration.
The theme for the day was ‘Flowers in Spring’, perfectly timed with the blossoming of Leighton Park’s grounds. Pupils were invited to observe and draw from real flowers picked sustainably from around the Park, using these as inspiration to create their own Murakami-style artworks.
The Year 5 group was split into two, giving the children a choice between two engaging activities:
Graphic Print Workshop In the Art Room, students began with a short introduction to Murakami’s work and the wider cultural context of Japanese art. Led by Katie, they then sketched their floral designs before transferring them onto circular polystyrene tiles. Using Leighton Park’s new Pooki presses—recent additions to the department and already a hit with our own students—they produced dramatic two-colour prints. Each piece was finished with an authentic stamp, which read ‘Freedom’ in Japanese script to tie in with their exhibition theme.
Wax Batik Workshop Meanwhile, in the Textiles Room, pupils created beautiful wax batik designs. As a new medium for the Dolphin students, LP Textiles teacher, Deborah, introduced the students to the concept and the basic batik techniques. The children then produced their own intricate wax-resist artworks, reflecting the pupil’s own interpretation of their floral inspirations. The result was a collection of sustainable reusable tote bags, which they can paint when return to school.
After a morning filled with artistic exploration of spring through a Murakami-inspired lens, the pupils enjoyed a delicious lunch in Oakview, rounding off their enriching visit. We were delighted to be part of Dolphin Arts Week and look forward to welcoming students back to Leighton Park in the future!
Click on the links to see more photos from the day or read about Art GCSE and Textiles GCSE both offered at Leighton Park, as well as our unique approach to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics), where we put creativity at the heart of STEM.
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