6:46:41 > 6:46:48.
6:46:55 > 6:46:58Coming up on today's Blue Peter, we're getting arty.
6:46:58 > 6:47:01We're going to bring you some amazing sculptures,
6:47:01 > 6:47:04but can you guess what they're made of?
6:47:04 > 6:47:07Award-winning artist Damien Hirst shows you how to create
6:47:07 > 6:47:10your own incredible spin art pictures.
6:47:10 > 6:47:14And I set off on a special mission around London to bring you
6:47:14 > 6:47:17the latest photo technique for the Blue Peter Calendar.
6:47:33 > 6:47:36APPLAUSE AND CHEERING.
6:47:36 > 6:47:38- Hello!- Hello!
6:47:38 > 6:47:40Welcome to today's Blue Peter.
6:47:40 > 6:47:42Today's show is all about getting you creative at home.
6:47:42 > 6:47:46But before we get stuck into that, we have some very good news.
6:47:46 > 6:47:49Last night saw the opening of the Paralympic games,
6:47:49 > 6:47:51today the action started.
6:47:51 > 6:47:55Just over an hour ago we won our first Olympic gold medal.
6:47:55 > 6:47:56APPLAUSE AND CHEERING.
6:47:56 > 6:47:58Courtesy of Sarah Storey.
6:47:58 > 6:48:00Now, this story... Sarah Storey...
6:48:00 > 6:48:02We've been following it for quite some time.
6:48:02 > 6:48:04When she was 14 she actually appeared on Blue Peter
6:48:04 > 6:48:07to show the first Olympic gold medals she won.
6:48:07 > 6:48:11And we've been in touch with Sarah, we caught up with her earlier
6:48:11 > 6:48:14this year when she was at a training camp in Majorca.
6:48:14 > 6:48:18She told us how she'd feel if she won another medal.
6:48:20 > 6:48:23I think every time you stand on top of that rostrum
6:48:23 > 6:48:26with a gold medal round your neck and the national anthem playing
6:48:26 > 6:48:29it's the proudest moment of that particular time of your life,
6:48:29 > 6:48:33and I've been fortunate enough to stand on top of that rostrum
6:48:33 > 6:48:36on so many occasions I thank my lucky stars every time I'm up there,
6:48:36 > 6:48:38cos you never know when it's going to happen again,
6:48:38 > 6:48:41you need to do the hard work now to make it possible that
6:48:41 > 6:48:43it will happen again for the next competition.
6:48:43 > 6:48:46World Championships, Paralympic games,
6:48:46 > 6:48:48they're the ones that you aim for all the time.
6:48:48 > 6:48:51Winning every one feels the same as it did the first time.
6:48:51 > 6:48:54All that hard work she talked about has paid off yet again.
6:48:54 > 6:48:57Here she is with her first Paralympic gold medal.
6:48:57 > 6:48:59Incredible. Congratulations, Sarah.
6:48:59 > 6:49:01Now, we love our pets on Blue Peter,
6:49:01 > 6:49:03and even though they are as cute as Barney the dog.
6:49:03 > 6:49:07- Look at him go. - There he is, snuggled into the sofa.
6:49:07 > 6:49:10Sometimes our four-legged friends really do test our love.
6:49:10 > 6:49:14So, we smiled when we heard about the new internet sensation
6:49:14 > 6:49:17that involves posting pictures of your pets on the internet
6:49:17 > 6:49:21alongside a note that details the mischievous things they get up to.
6:49:21 > 6:49:24I could write a book of the ones that Barney does.
6:49:24 > 6:49:25It would be a bestseller.
6:49:25 > 6:49:29We asked our crew to let us know what their pets do.
6:49:29 > 6:49:32Our friend Servet sent us a picture of her cat,
6:49:32 > 6:49:34who likes to sit on the computer keyboard
6:49:34 > 6:49:37and ends up sending e-mails to random people saying random things.
6:49:37 > 6:49:39It's such a great idea. Look at this one.
6:49:39 > 6:49:42This one is my favourite, because I do the same.
6:49:42 > 6:49:45No I don't. "I love eating tissues out of the bin."
6:49:45 > 6:49:49That's Becks' dog, Tess - he's cute, I'd let him do whatever he likes.
6:49:49 > 6:49:50We had to get involved with this,
6:49:50 > 6:49:53look what Barney does when Helen's out of the house.
6:49:53 > 6:49:55Barney likes to sneak into Helen's bed
6:49:55 > 6:49:57when you go to work, did you know that?
6:49:57 > 6:50:01I do know that, because I peel back the duvet and the bed
6:50:01 > 6:50:05is covered with long, red hairs, so I know what you get up to, mister!
6:50:05 > 6:50:09If your dog, cat, rabbit, parrot, whatever, does anything naughty,
6:50:09 > 6:50:13do let us know, send us a picture and your pet could get on the TV.
6:50:13 > 6:50:15Bluepeter@bbc.co.uk, please get in touch,
6:50:15 > 6:50:17we'll try and read them out at the end of the show.
6:50:17 > 6:50:21We know you guys love making things, so when we saw these sculptures
6:50:21 > 6:50:25we had to introduce you to their fantastic creator.
6:50:25 > 6:50:26He is with us in the studio now.
6:50:26 > 6:50:29Chris Gilmour, thank you so much for coming to see us,
6:50:29 > 6:50:31and for bringing all these fantastic objects.
6:50:31 > 6:50:35Let's start at the beginning, these are sculptures you have made.
6:50:35 > 6:50:38It's no ordinary material - in fact it's a VERY ordinary material.
6:50:38 > 6:50:42It's something you can find lying around the house - tell us.
6:50:42 > 6:50:43It's cardboard boxes.
6:50:43 > 6:50:47All of these are made of cardboard boxes, glue and nothing else.
6:50:47 > 6:50:50Talk me through this guitar, because it is so detailed.
6:50:50 > 6:50:54Where on Earth do you begin making all the strings and things?
6:50:54 > 6:50:58Looking at a real guitar, seeing what kind of shapes are there,
6:50:58 > 6:51:01finding the right cardboard, I use different coloured cardboard boxes
6:51:01 > 6:51:04to get different textures and shades on this,
6:51:04 > 6:51:06and then making all the details a bit at a time.
6:51:06 > 6:51:09So it's not just making a cardboard box into a guitar shape,
6:51:09 > 6:51:11you research the right dimensions and sizes,
6:51:11 > 6:51:14the keys are the same size you find on the real guitar.
6:51:14 > 6:51:18The realism is unbelievable, look at the drum set, you could play that.
6:51:18 > 6:51:21My favourite, however, is right behind you, the bike.
6:51:21 > 6:51:23That would take me 10 years to even attempt that.
6:51:23 > 6:51:25How did you go about making that?
6:51:25 > 6:51:28Not quite 10 years, it took about three years of research,
6:51:28 > 6:51:32figuring out how to make the pieces, testing out how to make it work,
6:51:32 > 6:51:35because the spokes are made of paper rolled up,
6:51:35 > 6:51:38and the chain is separate pieces, so it's a lot of work.
6:51:38 > 6:51:41Would you say that in a sense this is engineering, as well as art?
6:51:41 > 6:51:44Yeah, there's a lot of thought gone into how to make it,
6:51:44 > 6:51:45how to make it work.
6:51:45 > 6:51:47But it's all in the fine detail,
6:51:47 > 6:51:50even the cogs on the wheels, the spokes where the pedals are,
6:51:50 > 6:51:52they are like real spokes.
6:51:52 > 6:51:55I would sit on that if it was in a gallery.
6:51:55 > 6:51:56- Yeah...- Not a good thing?
6:51:56 > 6:51:58Not great, no, that has happened.
6:51:58 > 6:52:01I had a wheelchair in an exhibition in Milan in Italy.
6:52:01 > 6:52:04Somebody did sit on it and completely flattened it.
6:52:04 > 6:52:07When I saw this typewriter I wanted to press the keys,
6:52:07 > 6:52:10because, as we keep saying, they are so, so realistic.
6:52:10 > 6:52:14All the detail in there is incredible - you must be incredibly patient.
6:52:14 > 6:52:17Talk me through the mechanisms and all the different bits.
6:52:17 > 6:52:19This is made with different types of cardboard,
6:52:19 > 6:52:22some very thin cardboard to make the buttons,
6:52:22 > 6:52:25and a lot of looking at the thing and making the measurements,
6:52:25 > 6:52:28but a long time putting all the pieces together.
6:52:28 > 6:52:30There must be about 200 pieces just in the keys.
6:52:30 > 6:52:34You say that, 200 pieces, and it is a bit like a jigsaw, isn't it?
6:52:34 > 6:52:38In making things out of cardboard, at first I thought origami,
6:52:38 > 6:52:41but it's not at all like that, and if we move over to this table
6:52:41 > 6:52:45we can actually see that, because we have bits and pieces spread out here,
6:52:45 > 6:52:48and they're going to come together to build a guitar.
6:52:48 > 6:52:50What stage you at here, Chris?
6:52:50 > 6:52:54I've got the body made up and I'm making the detailed pieces.
6:52:54 > 6:52:57You can kind of see how it's coming together.
6:52:57 > 6:52:59Can you use any type of cardboard?
6:52:59 > 6:53:03Yeah, I guess, you could use cereal boxes or even paper.
6:53:03 > 6:53:07I'm using cardboard boxes that you get from the supermarket,
6:53:07 > 6:53:10but I started off when I was a kid making things out of paper.
6:53:10 > 6:53:12It's quite hard to show you how small these are.
6:53:12 > 6:53:15These go onto the guitar pickups, you can see how tiny that is,
6:53:15 > 6:53:18but you go to both sides, from the small to the big.
6:53:18 > 6:53:21If we look at this picture, this is a life-size car,
6:53:21 > 6:53:24also made out of cardboard using the same techniques.
6:53:24 > 6:53:27That has all the details inside, the engine, everything's there.
6:53:27 > 6:53:29- You made the engine? - Yeah, the whole thing.
6:53:29 > 6:53:32Chris, this is absolutely brilliant.
6:53:32 > 6:53:35If you were to show us how to put finishing touches to this guitar,
6:53:35 > 6:53:37- can you teach us? - Yes, I'm making the pickups now,
6:53:37 > 6:53:40which are the microphones for the electric guitar.
6:53:40 > 6:53:43They look really complicated, but they're very simple shapes.
6:53:43 > 6:53:45I've got the glue gun.
6:53:45 > 6:53:48You can use PVA glue or whatever glue you can find.
6:53:48 > 6:53:53These are rectangles of cardboard, and they're kind of rough.
6:53:53 > 6:53:55I like to cover them with a bit of paper,
6:53:55 > 6:53:57so do you want to put a drop of glue there?
6:53:57 > 6:54:00Is this something you can encourage people to do at home?
6:54:00 > 6:54:04It's a very difficult thing to do, and you're very skilled,
6:54:04 > 6:54:06- but can anyone have a go? - Absolutely.
6:54:06 > 6:54:10I started when I was a kid making castles or dolls' houses
6:54:10 > 6:54:13or cars or planes or spaceships...
6:54:13 > 6:54:16From things that you saw on Blue Peter?
6:54:16 > 6:54:19I see what you're doing, you're trying to claim it!
6:54:19 > 6:54:21- That's what I did, it's brilliant. - Definitely.
6:54:21 > 6:54:24You've said that things like guitars and radiators,
6:54:24 > 6:54:27you can make those to size, and you have to be quite formulaic,
6:54:27 > 6:54:30but I love these over here.
6:54:30 > 6:54:33They're very different, it's a different technique.
6:54:33 > 6:54:35How have you done these?
6:54:35 > 6:54:39These are pretty solid, so there's a skeleton inside made of cardboard,
6:54:39 > 6:54:42drawing the person's profile then wrapping cardboard round,
6:54:42 > 6:54:45so it's just sheets of cardboard folded to make the dress.
6:54:45 > 6:54:48So you've sort of moulded this, rather than built it?
6:54:48 > 6:54:50Yeah, just folded to make the shapes.
6:54:50 > 6:54:53If you are going to have a go at making these cardboard models,
6:54:53 > 6:54:56please let us know how you get on, we love to see your efforts,
6:54:56 > 6:54:59and, like Chris, hopefully we can say one day we inspired you.
6:54:59 > 6:55:03Thank you so much for coming in and showing us all your bits and pieces.
6:55:03 > 6:55:07Over the last year we have been creating a photography calendar.
6:55:07 > 6:55:10Each month, we've been introducing you to a different technique.
6:55:10 > 6:55:12For September I had a bit of a challenge,
6:55:12 > 6:55:15but before I even took the photograph
6:55:15 > 6:55:18I had to track down something quite unique.
6:55:24 > 6:55:25It's like a needle in a haystack.
6:55:25 > 6:55:28'I'm on a treasure hunt the size of a city...'
6:55:28 > 6:55:30Where is it?
6:55:30 > 6:55:32'..with no clue where I'm going.'
6:55:32 > 6:55:34The search continues.
6:55:34 > 6:55:36'This is London.'
6:55:36 > 6:55:37Let's go get it.
6:55:37 > 6:55:39'And rewind six hours...'
6:55:41 > 6:55:42'..this is me.'
6:55:42 > 6:55:45I've been told to bring my camera, a map of London,
6:55:45 > 6:55:48and to wait here in the centre of Millennium Bridge.
6:55:48 > 6:55:51I have absolutely no idea what's happening today,
6:55:51 > 6:55:53all I know is I'm meeting a guy called Kurt.
6:55:53 > 6:55:55Are you Kurt?
6:55:55 > 6:55:57Nope. OK.
6:55:59 > 6:56:02- Hi, are you Kurt?- Yeah.
6:56:02 > 6:56:03Nice to meet you.
6:56:03 > 6:56:06This is a little embarrassing, cos normally I know
6:56:06 > 6:56:08who I'm going to meet and what to interview them about,
6:56:08 > 6:56:11so, excuse me for being rude, but who are you and what do you do?
6:56:11 > 6:56:14Well, I'm Kurt Perschke, I'm an artist from New York,
6:56:14 > 6:56:17and I'm the artist behind the RedBall Project.
6:56:17 > 6:56:20The RedBall Project? OK.
6:56:20 > 6:56:22LAUGHING: Let me show you something.
6:56:22 > 6:56:25Oh, what? That's the red ball.
6:56:25 > 6:56:29Kurt pent the last 10 years taking his huge, inflatable
6:56:29 > 6:56:31red ball to cities all over the world.
6:56:32 > 6:56:34Today it's in London.
6:56:34 > 6:56:36Well, that's... How am I involved in this?
6:56:36 > 6:56:38What do you need me to do?
6:56:38 > 6:56:40I'd like you to take a fantastic photo of it
6:56:40 > 6:56:41for the Blue Peter Calendar.
6:56:41 > 6:56:44I'm sure I can find a big red ball somewhere.
6:56:44 > 6:56:47I'm glad you're game, because I'm not going to tell you where it is.
6:56:47 > 6:56:50- I'm hoping you're going to find it. - Did you say find it?
6:56:50 > 6:56:53- Find it.- You're not going to tell me where it is?
6:56:53 > 6:56:55I'm going to give you three clues, and they're on here.
6:56:55 > 6:56:59OK. Where do you start looking for a big red ball in London?
6:56:59 > 6:57:03My mission is to find and take a photo of this unique
6:57:03 > 6:57:06piece of street art for the Blue Peter Calendar.
6:57:06 > 6:57:09It's time for the first of Kurt's three video clues.
6:57:11 > 6:57:15RedBall is 15 feet high, it gets wedged in spaces high and low,
6:57:15 > 6:57:17and it takes about 30 minutes to inflate.
6:57:19 > 6:57:22RedBall is always placed in architecture,
6:57:22 > 6:57:24always trapped in some space I've found.
6:57:27 > 6:57:29Well, that's got to be the shortest clue ever.
6:57:29 > 6:57:32London is full of amazing architecture.
6:57:32 > 6:57:33It's everywhere you look.
6:57:33 > 6:57:36The RedBall's location is still a mystery, but I do know
6:57:36 > 6:57:40there's lots of cool architecture in London's financial district -
6:57:40 > 6:57:42Maybe Kurt's hidden it there.
6:57:42 > 6:57:45I've spotted a big, circular window at the top.
6:57:45 > 6:57:47The RedBall would look brilliant in it,
6:57:47 > 6:57:49so I'm going to take a picture and show Kurt,
6:57:49 > 6:57:51cos I think it should be there next.
6:57:51 > 6:57:54'I'm finding lots of spots where Kurt could have put the RedBall,
6:57:54 > 6:57:56'but not where he's put the RedBall.'
6:57:56 > 6:57:59I'm looking for all those nooks and crannies around London
6:57:59 > 6:58:01where the ball can be trapped.
6:58:01 > 6:58:05'My search has got me looking at London with brand-new eyes,
6:58:05 > 6:58:07'and I've got the photographs to prove it.'
6:58:09 > 6:58:11I'd put the RedBall right there at the bottom.
6:58:11 > 6:58:14'I found loads of great architecture,
6:58:14 > 6:58:16'but I need to find the actual RedBall.'
6:58:16 > 6:58:18I've found it, look, right there -
6:58:18 > 6:58:20big red ball on a map.
6:58:20 > 6:58:23It's not really, I think it's time for clue two.
6:58:25 > 6:58:27The RedBall Project is really about people.
6:58:29 > 6:58:33So, look for sites where there's an audience who can play with it,
6:58:33 > 6:58:34touch it and take photographs.
6:58:36 > 6:58:39OK, so the big red ball needs an audience.
6:58:39 > 6:58:42The one place you will find lots of people is tourist attractions.
6:58:42 > 6:58:44I've got a plan.
6:58:44 > 6:58:46Time is running out for me to find the RedBall
6:58:46 > 6:58:49and take a picture for the Blue Peter Calendar.
6:58:49 > 6:58:51It's time to speed up my search.
6:58:51 > 6:58:53One of these should do the trick.
6:58:53 > 6:58:56I'm on a sightseeing bus, we're travelling at speed,
6:58:56 > 6:58:59if this big red ball really does want an audience, we'll find it,
6:58:59 > 6:59:02because we're heading to where the audience is.
6:59:09 > 6:59:13The bus is calling at all of London's famous landmarks.
6:59:13 > 6:59:17There are tourists everywhere - a perfect audience for the RedBall.
6:59:17 > 6:59:19But an hour later I'm still looking.
6:59:19 > 6:59:23In fact, the search for the RedBall is starting to get to me.
6:59:23 > 6:59:25It's weird, everything that's red and big
6:59:25 > 6:59:27I'm jumping straight on it, "There it is!"
6:59:27 > 6:59:28No, it's not, it's a red flag.
6:59:28 > 6:59:30No sign of it anywhere.
6:59:30 > 6:59:32Where has he put this ball?
6:59:32 > 6:59:34Trafalgar Square is in sight.
6:59:34 > 6:59:36Where is it?
6:59:38 > 6:59:41From the corner of my eye I saw something massive and red there.
6:59:41 > 6:59:43It might have been a bus going over the bridge.
6:59:43 > 6:59:45Have I just seen the RedBall?
6:59:45 > 6:59:48I've convinced myself I've seen it, but I don't think I have.
6:59:48 > 6:59:51I'm looking for big, red things - London is full of big, red buses.
6:59:52 > 6:59:56I have found the big red ball, it is on this bridge,
6:59:56 > 6:59:57whatever bridge this is.
6:59:57 > 7:00:01That's what I saw on the way past, it wasn't a bus, it was the ball.
7:00:01 > 7:00:03We should be able to see it from here.
7:00:03 > 7:00:05Excuse me a second.
7:00:07 > 7:00:09What a great place to put it, as well.
7:00:10 > 7:00:14The search has taken me all over central London,
7:00:14 > 7:00:17but I have finally found the RedBall,
7:00:17 > 7:00:19using only two of Kurt's three clues.
7:00:22 > 7:00:25It is so good to finally be this close to the big red ball.
7:00:25 > 7:00:27But that's only half the battle, of course,
7:00:27 > 7:00:30now I've got to take a photo for the Blue Peter Calendar.
7:00:30 > 7:00:33Are you coming? Doesn't it look awesome?
7:00:33 > 7:00:36Kurt has squeezed the RedBall into the arches
7:00:36 > 7:00:38of the Golden Jubilee Bridge.
7:00:38 > 7:00:41It's a great architectural spot where everyone can see it,
7:00:41 > 7:00:42just like he said.
7:00:43 > 7:00:45And I think that should just about do it.
7:00:45 > 7:00:49That's going to look great on the Blue Peter Calendar.
7:00:49 > 7:00:51That's the RedBall snapped, but I wonder what Kurt will think
7:00:51 > 7:00:53of the other pictures I've taken today.
7:00:53 > 7:00:56It inspires you to look for where you'd stick a red ball.
7:00:56 > 7:00:58It's about activating your imagination,
7:00:58 > 7:01:00just look at the city and the town around you
7:01:00 > 7:01:02for opportunities and possibilities.
7:01:02 > 7:01:05I've got so many for you, look - St Paul's Cathedral.
7:01:05 > 7:01:07So, go on, get inspired
7:01:07 > 7:01:10and think about where you would put the RedBall in your town.
7:01:12 > 7:01:14And there it is, the finished picture.
7:01:14 > 7:01:16It's such an amazing project,
7:01:16 > 7:01:19and this is what the picture looks like in the Blue Peter Calendar.
7:01:19 > 7:01:20If you'd like to print this out,
7:01:20 > 7:01:23all you've got to do is head to the Blue Peter website
7:01:23 > 7:01:25and you'll find the button on there.
7:01:25 > 7:01:27Those of you with a keen eye will notice
7:01:27 > 7:01:31this photo is not entirely one colour.
7:01:31 > 7:01:34It's using a process that has loads of different names,
7:01:34 > 7:01:37either colour splashing or colour stroking or colour dodging,
7:01:37 > 7:01:40and there are applications you can download onto your phone
7:01:40 > 7:01:42or tablet to achieve this effect.
7:01:42 > 7:01:45This one I'm using is called Colour Splash.
7:01:45 > 7:01:48It's very simple, you load up a photograph that's colour,
7:01:48 > 7:01:50the software makes it go black and white,
7:01:50 > 7:01:53then to highlight the bits you would like to be in colour,
7:01:53 > 7:01:55all you do is drag your finger over the area like that.
7:01:55 > 7:01:58Let's make Helen's face bright and orange. It looks weird
7:01:58 > 7:02:00cos you wouldn't normally do that with a person.
7:02:00 > 7:02:02So I'm going to try something else instead.
7:02:02 > 7:02:05I'm going to go straight onto the Blue Peter badge
7:02:05 > 7:02:07and highlight just the Blue Peter badge.
7:02:07 > 7:02:08This is what the technique's for -
7:02:08 > 7:02:11to highlight a certain part of the photo that you want to focus on.
7:02:11 > 7:02:13You can buy cameras that have this software inbuilt
7:02:13 > 7:02:15or you can download applications like this
7:02:15 > 7:02:17and you can create great effects.
7:02:17 > 7:02:18There are other photos you can see here
7:02:18 > 7:02:21that use the same technique, and they all involve flowers.
7:02:21 > 7:02:24The great thing about these is you can pick either an area
7:02:24 > 7:02:27that's got loads of flowers in it, loads of colour,
7:02:27 > 7:02:30or you can select a specific flower, like this buttercup here.
7:02:30 > 7:02:33Or go for the big bright colours, the vibrant ones are really good,
7:02:33 > 7:02:35and the taller and the bendier and the weirder the shape,
7:02:35 > 7:02:37obviously the more attractive the picture.
7:02:37 > 7:02:40That's a nice one. This one here I took in New York on holiday.
7:02:40 > 7:02:42That's a famous yellow taxi.
7:02:42 > 7:02:44This next one, Helen suggested I take this picture
7:02:44 > 7:02:47whilst we were in Poland. She saw it on the street and said,
7:02:47 > 7:02:48"Wouldn't that make a good photograph?"
7:02:48 > 7:02:51So I took it and used the colour dodge technique on that.
7:02:51 > 7:02:52If you'd like to get involved
7:02:52 > 7:02:55and make your own colour splash pictures, please send them into us
7:02:55 > 7:02:57and we'll try and show them next week on the show.
7:02:57 > 7:03:00That's our e-mail address. Get in there, get creative.
7:03:00 > 7:03:03We'd love to see what you can do. Helen.
7:03:03 > 7:03:05You don't have to do it on a computer. You could just print out
7:03:05 > 7:03:06a black and white picture
7:03:06 > 7:03:09and then colour one bit of it in with a highlighter.
7:03:09 > 7:03:12If you were watching the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games
7:03:12 > 7:03:13you might remember this image.
7:03:13 > 7:03:16It was created by using a technique called spin art
7:03:16 > 7:03:20and it was done by the award-winning artist Damien Hirst.
7:03:20 > 7:03:24He said he got the technique from watching Blue Peter as a kid.
7:03:24 > 7:03:26So in an effort to inspire more budding artists
7:03:26 > 7:03:29we sent our friend Michelle from Deadly Art
7:03:29 > 7:03:31along to meet the lucky man himself.
7:03:32 > 7:03:35Damien Hirst is one of the UK's most famous
7:03:35 > 7:03:38and successful artists of all time.
7:03:38 > 7:03:40You may recognise some of his work.
7:03:40 > 7:03:44There's the real shark that's preserved in a giant fish tank.
7:03:44 > 7:03:45Ugh, creepy!
7:03:48 > 7:03:53And the platinum skull that's covered in 8,601 real diamonds
7:03:53 > 7:03:55and cost £40 million to make.
7:03:55 > 7:03:57Bling or what?
7:03:57 > 7:04:01His artwork is certainly diverse and strange
7:04:01 > 7:04:03so he must be an interesting man.
7:04:07 > 7:04:10That's why I've come here, London's Covent Garden, to meet Damien
7:04:10 > 7:04:14and see some of his other most famous work in action - spin art.
7:04:14 > 7:04:18# You spin me right round, baby, right round... #
7:04:18 > 7:04:20Spin art is created by pouring paint onto a canvas
7:04:20 > 7:04:22and then spinning it at high speed.
7:04:22 > 7:04:24This creates a centrifugal force
7:04:24 > 7:04:27that causes the paint to spread outwards in unpredictable ways,
7:04:27 > 7:04:30creating some very exciting patterns.
7:04:30 > 7:04:33Damien has set up a spin art workshop for kids
7:04:33 > 7:04:35so they can get stuck in and try it out themselves.
7:04:35 > 7:04:38It looks very fun and very messy.
7:04:39 > 7:04:42Damien began creating his spin art paintings back in 1992,
7:04:42 > 7:04:45but he didn't invent the technique himself.
7:04:45 > 7:04:49He got the idea from watching an episode of Blue Peter 37 years ago.
7:04:49 > 7:04:52Now, then, if you like to paint but are one of those people
7:04:52 > 7:04:53who never really knows what to draw,
7:04:53 > 7:04:55I've got the perfect thing to you. It's this.
7:04:55 > 7:04:59If I put some blobs of paint on here,
7:04:59 > 7:05:03the whole lot then spins round and you'll get a Noakes masterpiece.
7:05:03 > 7:05:07Look at that. Hey, that's rather nice, isn't it? That's super.
7:05:07 > 7:05:10So, Damien, is it true that you were inspired to do spin art
7:05:10 > 7:05:12because it was on Blue Peter?
7:05:12 > 7:05:15I did used to watch Blue Peter when I was a lot younger.
7:05:15 > 7:05:17John Noakes did it in 1975, didn't he?
7:05:18 > 7:05:21So why is spin art special to you?
7:05:21 > 7:05:23I remember once being in my studio and I had a blank canvas,
7:05:23 > 7:05:26and I was thinking, "What can I paint?"
7:05:26 > 7:05:28Then I remembered when I was a kid the spin paintings.
7:05:28 > 7:05:31I thought, if you make art like that, it always looks great
7:05:31 > 7:05:33and you don't need to work out what you're doing.
7:05:33 > 7:05:36I've always thought a great reaction to art is "wow".
7:05:36 > 7:05:39- With spin art you always get "wow". - Wow!
7:05:39 > 7:05:42Any kid can make them, any age. You can give them to your parents,
7:05:42 > 7:05:43give them to a friend,
7:05:43 > 7:05:47people appreciate them and put them on the wall.
7:05:47 > 7:05:49ALL: Wow!
7:05:49 > 7:05:52So what would you say were your three top tips for creating
7:05:52 > 7:05:53a great piece of spin art?
7:05:53 > 7:05:57First tip, you've got to believe you can do it.
7:05:57 > 7:06:02Second tip, wet the paper first so the paint flows really easily
7:06:02 > 7:06:04and it always looks better.
7:06:04 > 7:06:07And the last tip is, you've got to know when to stop.
7:06:07 > 7:06:11If you think it might be finished, it is finished. Stop.
7:06:11 > 7:06:14Cos you put a bit more paint in and you can ruin it.
7:06:21 > 7:06:25You can see Damian's spin art at an exhibition of his other artworks
7:06:25 > 7:06:28at the Tate Modern gallery in London.
7:06:29 > 7:06:31Well, I'm convinced. Spin art certainly looks like a lot of fun.
7:06:31 > 7:06:34I think we should get stuck in and try it out ourselves, don't you?
7:06:38 > 7:06:41We have come to the Blue Peter garden to have a go at spin art ourselves
7:06:41 > 7:06:45but before we get stuck into that, we're very happy to say
7:06:45 > 7:06:48that for becoming one of the world's most acclaimed artists
7:06:48 > 7:06:51and for keeping Britain at the forefront of modern art,
7:06:51 > 7:06:54we have decided to give Damien Hirst a gold Blue Peter badge.
7:06:54 > 7:06:57It's the highest award we give on Blue Peter
7:06:57 > 7:07:00and we think Damien well and truly deserves it. Well done.
7:07:01 > 7:07:03Come on then, let's get creative.
7:07:03 > 7:07:07Right, the first thing you're going to need is a strong bucket
7:07:07 > 7:07:10and you need a decent handle on that as well.
7:07:10 > 7:07:13So tie a thick rope to each side like this,
7:07:13 > 7:07:16and then you loop the rope over the branch of a tree.
7:07:16 > 7:07:19Just like you would with a swing, but you need that to be nice and solid.
7:07:19 > 7:07:22It might be an idea to get an adult to help you with this,
7:07:22 > 7:07:24They're going to be taller, so they can reach the tree.
7:07:24 > 7:07:27- Then get a bucket... - A bucket for the brick.
7:07:27 > 7:07:31Get a brick, put that into the bucket like that. That'll hold that down.
7:07:31 > 7:07:34Then you'll need your canvas. In this case, you can use a paper plate
7:07:34 > 7:07:37or you can just draw some circles out of ordinary white card.
7:07:37 > 7:07:41Place that on top of the brick in the bucket.
7:07:41 > 7:07:43Now just as Damien Hirst said, you need to wet the canvas.
7:07:43 > 7:07:45So you spray that with...
7:07:45 > 7:07:48You use these in your garden, don't you, to spray your house plants?
7:07:48 > 7:07:52- Or you can just flick a bit of water on it.- Then the fun bit comes.
7:07:52 > 7:07:54Take your paint. Squirty bottle paint is better
7:07:54 > 7:07:57because you can squirt it and it's easier than using a brush.
7:07:57 > 7:08:00Any colours you like, just go for it.
7:08:00 > 7:08:02- Wahey!- Look at that.
7:08:02 > 7:08:05OK, now this is my favourite bit.
7:08:05 > 7:08:08You spin the bucket round, twisting it on itself.
7:08:08 > 7:08:10You need to keep turning it in one direction
7:08:10 > 7:08:12so that the rope twists around.
7:08:12 > 7:08:15Now that means that when we let go,
7:08:15 > 7:08:20this will spin just like a swing, creating a centrifugal force
7:08:20 > 7:08:23in the middle and that'll force the paint outwards.
7:08:23 > 7:08:27- OK.- I'm ready for this. Are we ready for this?
7:08:27 > 7:08:28ALL: Yeah.
7:08:28 > 7:08:32- OK, give me a countdown. Three... - ALL: Two, one.
7:08:32 > 7:08:35I don't want to get splattered with paint, so I'm standing back.
7:08:35 > 7:08:37That is brilliant, isn't it?
7:08:37 > 7:08:39- Ooh!- That's like a magic trick.
7:08:39 > 7:08:44If all goes to plan, your artwork should stick to the side
7:08:44 > 7:08:46of the bucket. When that happens, you know it's ready.
7:08:46 > 7:08:50- Much like when a cake falls off your spoon. Look at that!- Oh, nice!
7:08:50 > 7:08:54As simple as that. A tiny bit of spin art. It's so simple to do.
7:08:54 > 7:08:55You can see ones we've done here as well.
7:08:55 > 7:08:58They're all very simple, don't take too long to dry.
7:08:58 > 7:09:00- I'm going to do another one. - You don't have to make a circle.
7:09:00 > 7:09:02You can make a landscape version of spin art.
7:09:02 > 7:09:05If you want to do that, head to the Blue Peter website after the show.
7:09:05 > 7:09:08- Don't get it that wet!- Sorry.
7:09:08 > 7:09:10We've got a web exclusive on there,
7:09:10 > 7:09:12showing you how to create that type of painting.
7:09:12 > 7:09:14- You're enjoying yourself.- Loving it.
7:09:14 > 7:09:18While he gets on with more spin art, it's time to talk about Story Lab.
7:09:18 > 7:09:21We've been telling you about a project
7:09:21 > 7:09:23that's all about encouraging you to get reading.
7:09:23 > 7:09:26Some famous faces have been talking you through their favourite books.
7:09:26 > 7:09:29Today we've got a new chap. He's called Amazing Phil.
7:09:29 > 7:09:33He's an internet blogger. This is going to get very messy, Barney.
7:09:33 > 7:09:35- It's really wet that.- Yep. - I'm going to hang onto it!
7:09:35 > 7:09:37He's an internet blogger and a comedian.
7:09:37 > 7:09:40His favourite book is Skulduggery Pleasant. Amazing. Go!
7:09:40 > 7:09:42Look at it go! I made that.
7:09:46 > 7:09:49Skulduggery Pleasant?
7:09:49 > 7:09:52That's what this brilliant book is called. Here's Stephanie.
7:09:52 > 7:09:55The story kicks off when her favourite uncle, Gordon -
7:09:55 > 7:09:58great guy, horror writer, mad about magic -
7:09:58 > 7:10:01suddenly dies. That's bad in so many ways.
7:10:01 > 7:10:05Partly because Stephanie discovers that her uncle's enemies
7:10:05 > 7:10:06are now after her.
7:10:06 > 7:10:08Luckily she' got some help from her uncle's friend,
7:10:08 > 7:10:09Skulduggery Pleasant.
7:10:09 > 7:10:13He's an amazing detective, a master magician.
7:10:13 > 7:10:17He's a fighter against evil and he's dead!
7:10:17 > 7:10:19CHURCH BELS TOLLING
7:10:19 > 7:10:23Yep, a skeleton. This guy is seriously dead.
7:10:23 > 7:10:24But also seriously fun.
7:10:24 > 7:10:26Hm.
7:10:31 > 7:10:33Stephanie wants to pick Skulduggery's brain
7:10:33 > 7:10:35- well, his skull - about the magic he can do.
7:10:35 > 7:10:38Here, he's teaching her about air.
7:10:38 > 7:10:41"Displaced air doesn't just disappear.
7:10:41 > 7:10:43"It needs somewhere to be displaced to."
7:10:43 > 7:10:45"Can I see?"
7:10:45 > 7:10:47They reached the edge of the carpark and passed the low wall
7:10:47 > 7:10:49that encircled it.
7:10:49 > 7:10:52Skulduggery flexed his fingers and splayed his hands,
7:10:52 > 7:10:53snapping his palm towards the wall.
7:10:53 > 7:10:57The air rippled and the bricks exploded outwards.
7:10:57 > 7:11:01Stephanie stared at the brand new hole in the wall.
7:11:01 > 7:11:05"That," she said, "Is so cool."
7:11:08 > 7:11:10That really was so cool!
7:11:13 > 7:11:16With Skulduggery's assistance, Stephanie has to battle
7:11:16 > 7:11:19to stop her precious key from falling into some very evil hands.
7:11:19 > 7:11:23That's so much more exciting than maths homework and so much harder.
7:11:23 > 7:11:26You find out about some of the friends and troublemakers
7:11:26 > 7:11:27she meets along the way.
7:11:27 > 7:11:31Like the beautiful and dangerous China Sorrows.
7:11:31 > 7:11:34Mr Bliss, with pale blue eyes and super-strength.
7:11:34 > 7:11:36The sinister army of paper-thin Hollow Men.
7:11:36 > 7:11:40The power-hungry evil sorcerer Nefarian Serpine.
7:11:40 > 7:11:42Maybe worst of all?
7:11:42 > 7:11:45Stephanie's Aunt Beryl.
7:11:45 > 7:11:48This book is scary, fantastical and funny.
7:11:48 > 7:11:50When I first picked it up, I couldn't stop reading it.
7:11:50 > 7:11:53It's like my hands were glued to the page. Well, not with actual glue.
7:11:53 > 7:11:56Then I wouldn't have been able to turn the pages,
7:11:56 > 7:11:58and I wanted to find out what happened next.
7:11:58 > 7:11:59It's great when a book can show you
7:11:59 > 7:12:01a side to the world you've never seen before.
7:12:01 > 7:12:03When it's finished, you think
7:12:03 > 7:12:05maybe that's what the world is actually like.
7:12:05 > 7:12:07Books can change the way you think.
7:12:14 > 7:12:16I did it! I did it! Yes!
7:12:35 > 7:12:37Obviously, I knew it was him!
7:12:40 > 7:12:43Wow, how scary was that guy?
7:12:43 > 7:12:46Hey, why didn't the skull go to the dance?
7:12:46 > 7:12:49Because he had no body to go with!
7:12:49 > 7:12:50CHEERING
7:12:50 > 7:12:53I thought it was too early for Christmas crackers,
7:12:53 > 7:12:56- but you got that from somewhere! - Stop it!- Right, we were doing
7:12:56 > 7:12:58a bit of spin art earlier. Here are two that we made.
7:12:58 > 7:13:01We've put them on a piece of card because they're still a bit wet.
7:13:01 > 7:13:04If you have a go, please get in touch and let us know how you get on.
7:13:04 > 7:13:07We also asked you earlier to let us know
7:13:07 > 7:13:09what your mischievous pets get up to.
7:13:09 > 7:13:12Our dog Barney likes to dig for things behind me on the sofa.
7:13:12 > 7:13:15That might be a good note... Yeah, that's a great shot.
7:13:15 > 7:13:18Let's finish on that one.
7:13:18 > 7:13:21Laura and her pet dog Maybe... is that really a name?
7:13:21 > 7:13:24That's a great name for a dog. She sent this picture in.
7:13:24 > 7:13:27- It says, "I chew my mum's slippers." - Ah!- Butter wouldn't melt.
7:13:27 > 7:13:29- Look at that cute face. - Barney likes to chew underwear.
7:13:29 > 7:13:34There's some great names for dogs here. Heather and her dog Star.
7:13:34 > 7:13:38Apparently Star likes to steal toilet paper from the bathroom.
7:13:38 > 7:13:42- Brilliant.- Oh, Barney just licked my face!- Not me, the dog.
7:13:42 > 7:13:43LAUGHTER
7:13:43 > 7:13:45Just before we go down that road.
7:13:45 > 7:13:49Madzie and her dog Bailey says, "I steal other people's toys.
7:13:49 > 7:13:51Where is she in that one?
7:13:51 > 7:13:54I think that might be the toys that she's stolen.
7:13:54 > 7:13:56And we'd like to finish with a very special one.
7:13:56 > 7:13:59This is our very own Shelley. Have a look at what Shelley likes to do.
7:13:59 > 7:14:02Barney, you pick your moments, mate. You really do.
7:14:02 > 7:14:04Shelley has done this more than once.
7:14:04 > 7:14:07She has weed on the studio floor,
7:14:07 > 7:14:11which makes it a little bit dangerous for everybody else.
7:14:11 > 7:14:13Barney, please stop it.
7:14:13 > 7:14:15If you'd like to see more pets and what they get up to,
7:14:15 > 7:14:17do head over to the Blue Peter website.
7:14:17 > 7:14:19That's almost it for today's show.
7:14:19 > 7:14:21Just time to tell you what's happening on next week's show.
7:14:21 > 7:14:24He's been asleep all day! We've got a back to school special.
7:14:24 > 7:14:26We'll show you how to customise everything
7:14:26 > 7:14:30to do with school and make it look a bit more funky.
7:14:30 > 7:14:32Lots of you are starting back at school.
7:14:32 > 7:14:35Some of you have already gone back, but to celebrate that,
7:14:35 > 7:14:38we are visiting some of the most amazing schools in the country.
7:14:38 > 7:14:40Doesn't Barney suit a boiler suit?
7:14:40 > 7:14:44Also in the studio, Cover Drive are going to be here.
7:14:44 > 7:14:46We'll join you then. Have a nice week. Ta-are, bye!
7:14:46 > 7:14:48- Stop it!- Barney, we're on telly!
7:14:48 > 7:14:49Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd