Due to the coronavirus pandemic putting a stop to their messy art group, this group leader has decided to help children still enjoy the sessions at home.

Jo Burlington has been running messy art groups - called Oops Wow - for children and families in and around Bridport for the last four years.

She said: "I have really missed running the groups during the lockdowns and restrictions.

"The idea of a socially distanced Oops Wow session doesn't feel right, they are a place to let down your guard, to join in, share, work together and roll around in paint.

"So, I decided to create some activity boxes based on popular Oops Wow messy art sessions so that people could have some Oops Wow fun at home. They would make a great Christmas present."

Jo has developed three different boxes so far - Kandinsky Hats & Miro Mobiles and Potato Sack Monsters, both for ages three to 10, and Carboard creations for those aged six to adults.

Jo added: "It is a brave and wonderful act to create a monster then step inside it and become that monster, or to create an abstract hat and then develop an abstract hat dance in your lounge, or to attempt new cardboard engineering skills, grapple with physics and gravity.

"Just think about all the decisions, exploration, invention, expression and problem solving that is taking place.

"Oops Wow messy art sessions are all about playing, there is no right or wrong and it is Ok if we all end up with - or in - a big purpley, brown mess.

"These packs, like the sessions, are an opportunity for children to explore the materials, to make their own choices and discoveries, to develop their senses of mastery, and to find their own voice.

"They are also an opportunity for the grown ups to pay attention to all of this, to support it and enquire about their process in an open and non-judgemental way, to notice it and celebrate it."

The boxes come with material and instructions/idea sheets which offer support with making, but each child will end up with their own unique creation.

"This is so important to me," said Jo, "this is not a kit where they will make something that has clearly been designed by an adult and they all look the same. This is their work."

The boxes are available from etsy.com

For more information, visit oopswow.co.uk

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