Clare Young-Inspired Sun Collages
Paint and Cut and Layer
Across the theme, artists explore sunlight, colour mixing, texture, and simple sculptural forms. Bright, playful, and (always) grounded in process rather than outcomes.

Introduction
This is our love letter to Summer! Long days, bare feet, light pouring into the studio, and colour everywhere you look.
This theme grew out of everything we love about this time of year at Smudge. Doors open. Music on. Paint drying faster than usual. Kids moving between inside and outside, carrying ideas with them. There’s a lot of warmth here (both literal and not!). Across these experiences we explore sunlight, colour, and material in ways that feel playful and unforced. Cyanotypes that rely on the sun to do their thing. Colour mixing that slows everyone down. Sculptural work, sensory pauses, and plenty of room to experiment. And time to enjoy the process of making together (of course!).
From Smudge to You
Below you'll find the collection of creative activities we've used to bring this theme to life at Smudge. Each one is an invitation to play, experiment, and see where the materials take you. Pick and choose what excites you and adapt them to your own space.
Paint and Cut and Layer
A brush full of possibility!
Art Made with the Sun
Warm your days with moving colour.
Light, balance, and a really good reason to go thrifting!
Looking closely and letting yellow take the lead!
A warm, lovely place to play.