Foodscape, like Carl Warner

You need:

1. drawing paper A3 size
2. (food) magazines
3. scissors
4. glue

The English photographer Carl Warner (click on this link and amaze yoourself!') is known for his terrific photos of landscapes who are made of food. Warner is born in Liverpool in 1963. He draws from childhood, creating imaginary worlds inspired on the artwork of Salvador Dali, Patrick Woodroofe and Roger Dean. Warner went to art academy to become an illustrator, but he realized soon that he could achieve his ideas better and faster by using photography. First he photographed landscapes, still lifes and people. Then he entered the world of advertising. He now designs and photographs food landscapes ('foodscapes') for companies in the food industry.

The ‘Foodscapes’ are made in Warner's studio in London. Warner works together with a stylist to search for the right food and to make the exposure and composition of the stuff. He works with layers, from background to foreground. Each element is then put together in post production to achieve the final image. “I tend to draw a very conventional landscape using classic compositional techniques as I need to fool the viewer into thinking it is a real scene at first glance, it is the realisation that the scene is in fact made of food that brings a smile that brings a smile to the viewer, and for me that’s the best part.”

Show several photo's of Warner's foodscapes on the digital board. Discuss those photo's: what do you see? What food do you recognize? Look especially to the photo with the rising sun: what food is used to suggest the sea? How come we sea salmon as the sea? What is the beach made of? And the mountains? After this children are going to make their own foodscape in the style of Carl Warner. Thye search for food in magazines and cut it out. Encourage children to consult each other. Sometimes you don't see anything special in a photograph, while your neighbour sees an interesting part of a landscape! Place the cut out parts on the sheet and slide it until you are satisfied and then paste all parts.

All work is made by students of 11-12 years old