Bumpman drawing competition online gallery
Online exhibition of entries to our #BumpmanPortrait challenge.
We received almost 100 fantastic responses to our challenge to draw a portrait of Bumpman, a character who appears in several sculptures in our current exhibition Paloma Varga Weisz: Bumped Body. Some entries also included creative writing, responding to our extension activity to write a story or a poem exploring who you think Bumpman is.
We were excited to receive so many brilliant pieces of artwork, many of which explore and express themes of isolation, loneliness, patience and reflection that are so relevant to many of us during the current lockdown.
When we were looking through all the wonderful entries with Paloma, we decided that as the standard of drawing was so high, we will display all the Bumpman portraits entered in this competition in a digital exhibition in our reception area when we reopen.
Although entry to the competition has now closed, you can still use our drawing and teaching resources to take on your own #BumpmanPortrait challenge:
Under 10s
Winners: Ewan Foord, 8 and Luke, 10
Ewan Foord, age 8 - Under 10s winner (technique)
Luke, age 10 - Under 10s winner (creative)
We received over 30 beautiful drawings in the under 10s category. Some were very colourful, some abstract and some finely detailed, but they all captured the Bumpman's character and facial expression brilliantly, as he gazes towards the sky.
Many used just pencil effectively, while others used bright colours, printed textures or even breakfast cereal to capture the texture of the sculpture. Poems and stories to accompany some of the drawings depicted Bumpman as a lonely, thoughtful character who eventually found friends, weathered a storm, or embraced his uniqueness.
“We all have a story. Mine is a little bumpy.”
Menaya Panditharatne, age 8
Loukas Ispoglou, age 6
Sophie Cornish, age 10
Laurie Osmotherley, age 8
Shway Alexis, age 7
Sebastian Sibley, age 8
Rosa Wilson, age 8
Pixie Coultish, age 8
Niamh Yates, age 7
Danni Yates, age 7
Laila Davies, age 7
Tilly
Ruby W, age 10
Henry McClory, age 9
Harris, age 9
Hannah Khan, age 9
Gabriel Basu, age 6
Felix Perry, age 9
Erin Mundy, age 10
Edie Slight, age 8
Oscar Slight, age 6
Edie Barrett, age 8
Charlotte, age 10
Bea Livesey, age 7
Ayaan Dawood, age 8
Anushka Manish Kushe, age 9
Amari Yates, age 8
Aiden Cooke, age 7
Adam, age 10
Yuvi Deol, age 8
Anekh Sandhu, age 10
Haadiyah Mirza, age 9
11-18
Winners: Jad Idris and Catherine Spencer
Jad Idris, age 13, Thinking Out of this Bumpy World - 11-18 winner (technique)
Catherine Spencer, age 12 - 11-18 winner (creative)
The 11-18 category included a range of brilliant artwork from very talented teenagers, many of whom used colour very effectively to capture the highlights and shadows of the sculpture. Some used bright tones and lots of contrast, while others created fine detail in pencil, or used subtle hints of colour to add detail.
Some of these entries placed Bumpman in a new setting, including inside a box, in front of a bramble bush, or surrounded by abstract lines. Others gave Bumpman a new seat, for example a toadstool, playing on his pixie-like appearance, a park bench, or atop a bumpy globe in Thinking out of this bumpy world by Jad Idris.
Several stories or poems were entered alongside drawings, telling engaging tales of Bumpman's attempt to escape the gallery, his trials of being bullied for his appearance, or his love of relaxing in nature.
Isabelle Dickens, age 11
Isabelle Curry, age 13
Jamie Lee McIntyre
Sehansa Panditharatne, age 11
Rebecca Lindsay
Polly Robson, age 11
Owen Macpherson
Ottilie Vandewiele, age 11
Olivia Coote
Matthew Mazada
Lucy Skipper, age 13
Lucy Gove, age 13
Logan Kelly
Lachlan Allan
Kira Hetesi
Kate Burland, age 11
Jessica Read
Imogen Fiddes, age 13
Findlay Edington Hume
Felicity Wood
Eva Cain, age 14
Edward Gleisner, age 12
Claire Aiken, age 14
Ben Robertson
Astrid Ulrichson
Larissa Thorpe, age 13
Amy Stupart
Ayesh Mohsin, age 14
Piran Kennedy, age 13
Siebren Kennedy, age 11
Leoni Jackson, age 17
Adult
Winners: Julie Arnall and Garry Barker
Julie Arnall - Adult winner (technique)
Garry Barker, Bumpman Dreams - Adult winner (creative)
Rich textures and intricate details were used to great effect in the adult category. Many drawings showcased the potential of media such as pencil or watercolour to create a range of qualities in mark making, and the layering of tones to create contrast, bringing Bumpman and his setting to life.
These entries spanned a range of artistic styles, with some altering Bumpman's features to interpret the sculpture in new ways. Others used clever layering and transparency, altered perspectives or even textiles in the embroidered piece by Amelia Baron, to depict the character.
Kattoulis
Sue Hague
Tracey Penney
Theeda Phe Kali Winter
Red Art Studio
Rebecca Kele
Nick Parrett
nepenthessapiens
Matilda Sutherland-Young
Mary Jackson
Marika Hartley
Mandy Hold
Lisa Cornish
Jenny Perry
Jennifer Clowes
Janet Piercy
Jane Tatchell
Jacqueline Walpole, Heart on his Shoulder
Ian Fraser
Ian Fraser
Helen Sibley
Helen Bones
Frances
Frances Earnshaw
Elaine Wilton
Charlotte Munck
Carla Suse
Beverly Haigh
Ben Widdup
Ben Widdup
Ben Widdup
Amy Jaskulski
Venue details
Venue address
Henry Moore Institute
The Headrow
Leeds
LS1 3AH
United Kingdom
T: 0113 246 7467
Opening times
Galleries: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am - 5pm
Research Library: Monday to Saturday, 10am - 5pm; Sunday, 1 - 5pm
Archive of Sculptors' Papers: Tuesday to Friday, by prior appointment