Creativity and colour were in abundance today at Notley High School & Braintree Sixth Form as year seven students were treated to a lesson in graffiti! 

Graffiti artist Sam Maslanka paid a visit to the school to teach pupils that art can truly be “anything you want it to be”. 

He said: “I’ve been stencilling for quite a long time now, but it really took off during lockdown and now I’m selling my work. I’ve even been sending work over to New York! I’m trying to teach young people that art doesn’t have to be boring, it can be really messy and great fun!” 

The youngsters have been spraypainting giant canvas boards with their own designs, then painting on stencils of cultural figures such as Katie Piper, David Attenborough, Malala Yousafzai and Audrey Hepburn. The plan is to hang the boards in the school corridors alongside quotations. 

Sam added: “The kids have loved it and I’ve had some real interest from some of them and it’s been great to see. It’s been lovely watching them work so hard. Every single one of them has had a different take on it and I’ve been really impressed with the work they have created.” 

Year 7 student Annabelle Goldberg said: “I love art anyway so I’m finding it really fun.” And fellow pupil Ava Cataldo added: “It’s great to be able to do something different!” 

Technology teacher Mrs Wallace said: “The day was made possible thanks to a grant from Braintree Council for the development of creative subjects. We were delighted to find Sam who is a fantastic contemporary artist, and the pupils have had an amazing day!” 

For more pictures, click this link!

https://www.notleyhigh.com/component/igallery/photo-galleries/2022/graffiti-artist-visit?Itemid=2064