Festival

The amazing Isle of Wight Festival was at its spectacular best this year and in weather that turned the free cider into a gift from the gods. Island 2000 was busy in the Kids Zone, run by Liz Cooke, creating the big paper murals we've tried and tested at community and public events over the years (Gavin Hodson's brilliant invention - thanks, Gav). Children of any age (adults similarly) can come along and make whatever shapes, patterns and drawings they fancy. We work with permanent markers and nice soft pastels for the mark-making and colouring and then wash over it all with bright drawing inks. And then for that touch of magic - going over some of the drawings and polishing them with a dry cloth that brings all the bright colours through and makes the whole thing glow. We had many many happy face-painted children busy making masterpiece after masterpiece while their exhausted face-painted parents fell asleep in the shade of the Field Maple. And that's what it's all about.