As part of this celebration, Characters in Play invites children and families to dive into the world of abstract art through the fluid medium of watercolour. The session begins with a guided walkthrough of the exhibition ‘Of Worlds Within Worlds’, where participants will closely observe the many characters that inhabit the layered visual worlds of Gulammohammed Sheikh. From human figures to imagined beings, the paintings open a space to think about how stories and personalities can emerge through colour, shape, and gesture.

Inspired by these observations, families will then move into the studio to create their own characters—drawing from memory, emotion, and imagination. The focus of the workshop will be on exploring watercolour techniques: layering transparent washes, controlling pigment flow, experimenting with texture, and using expressive brushwork to suggest mood and form.

Audience take away:

* Observe and interpret characters in layered narrative artworks

* Learn how abstract forms, colours, and gestures can express personality and emotion

* Explore key watercolour techniques such as layering, blending, and creating texture

* Develop your own imaginative character through a process-driven, hands-on approach

* Experience art-making as a way to tell visual stories as a family