Flower Field

After painting a background of yellow and blue, students will use a sponge brush and their fingers to create a field of flowers.  This lesson can be used to tie in with Impressionist painting and the portrayl of overall visual effects versus detail.

Vocabulary to Introduce:
Impressionism

Materials:

-tempera paint

-sponge brush

-brush

Preparation:

Pour a small amount of blue, yellow, and green paint on separate ends of a paper plate for the sky, ground, and stems.  Place small dots of various bright colors of tempera paint on another plate for children to dip their fingers in when making flowers.  It is okay to layer the colors on their finger.

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

Night Landscape

The following lesson is a chalk pastel lesson that can be used to explain the elements of a landscape.  When using a fixative or hairspray to set the picture be sure to spray in a well ventilated area if not outside.. 

Vocabulary to Introduce:
landscape
chalk pastel

Materials:

-dark textured paper

-chalk pastels

-fixative or hairspray

Preparation:

Due to the messy nature of chalk pastels you may want to have baby wipes or wet paper towels on hand to clean up hands immediately.

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:



Cherry Tree Blossoms

In this lesson children will use thinned tempera paint and a straw to blow the paint across the paper and create the branches of a cherry tree.  Thinning the paint gives it the look of sume-i ink painting.  The blossoms are created by using paint dipped on the tips of their fingers and printed in a cluster of five petals.  You can also use this as an opportunity to discuss tints by demonstrating that by adding white to red you create pink.

Vocabulary to Introduce:
printing
sume-i
tint

Materials:

-white paper

-black and pink (red and white) tempera paint

-water for thinning the black paint

-straw

Preparation:

Thin the black paint beforehand with just enough water to give it some transparency and fluidity when using the straw.   Place red and white paint on a plate together but mix it in front of the students to demonstrate creating a tint.  Cut the straw down to a length that is more manageable for the children.  It may also help in keeping the mess down to have baby wipes or wet paper towels to immediately wipe fingers after printing.

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:



Construction Paper Landscape: A Tearing Lesson for Precutters

A landscape is a picture that shows elements of natural scenery whether through a beach, a lake, trees, or mountains. This lesson uses tearing to create a landscape and would be appropriate for preschool students who do not cut.  Even students who are still working at the skill or have some proficiency at it may enjoy this lesson as well as tearing is a fun process.

Vocabulary to Introduce:
landscape

Materials:

-construction paper

-glue

Preparation:

Rather than giving students glue sticks we often place glue on small paper plates and give them q-tips to brush it on. 

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

Action Painting!!!

Action painting is fun for children because it provides a novel means of placing paint on the paper.  You can use a wide variety of ways to do this whether using a squirt bottle filled with paint, a ball or marble rolling across the paper, or even a toy car whose wheels have been dipped.  You can use the work of Jackson Pollack as an example if you wish to tie it in with art appreciation.  In addition, I intentionally used the primary colors with the purpose of being able to see color mixing which can be an additional objective of your lesson.

Vocabulary to Introduce:
action painting

primary colors (red, blue, yellow)

secondary colors (orange, green, purple)

Materials:

-aluminum pan

-tempera paint (red, blue, yellow)
-containers for paint
-plastic spoons
-ping pong balls, golf balls, marbles, or toy cars
-scotch tape
-thick white paper

Preparation:

Tape the paper into the bottom of the aluminum pan.  Place the three colors of paint in the containers and place a plastic spoon in each.  You do want to let the child try to transfer the ball or marble from the container to the pan on their own in order to practice the small motor skill.

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

Rousseau Jungle Print

This lesson is inspired by the jungle paintings of Henri Rousseau.   The child can use leaves found either through a nature walk or in the backyard to use for printing.  The student can experiment adding blue or yellow to green. 

Vocabulary to Introduce:
printing

Materials:

-tempera paint (blue, green, yellow, red)
-leaves (magnolia leaves work exceptionally well)
-paint brush
-white paper

Preparation:

Place paint on paper plates in a triangle (green, blue and green, and yellow and green) but allow the child to mix the colors as this is an enjoyable part of the lesson for them.

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

Symmetrical Fish

This is a simple and fun lesson to teach young children about the primary colors and symmetry.  

Vocabulary to Introduce:
primary colors (red, blue, yellow)
symmetry

Materials:

-tempera paint (red, blue, yellow)

-white paper

-scissors

Preparation:

Fold enough sheets of white paper for each student/child in half.  Draw half the fish on one side of the paper.  Be sure to mention to the students they must hold the paper together when they cut (I have had students open it up and after cutting the side with the fish drawn were totally puzzled as to why there was nothing on the other side) and when they cut it will create the same shape on the other side.  You can place a paper plate of each color with a paint brush or if you are working with very young children you can place drops of paint for them asking them for placement.

Age Modifications:

Depending on the age of the child you are working with you can vary the difficulty by either allowing them to draw the half of the fish themselves on the paper or allow them to trace a half stencil to create it.

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

 

"The Little Owl" Drawing Lesson

Albrecht Durer was a German painter and printmaker who is considered one of the greatest artists of the Northern Renaissance.  This drawing lesson is inspired by his nature studies and in particular "The Little Owl."  It is important the students be able to draw basic shapes on their own to be able to create this picture (four years and older is suggested).

Vocabulary to Introduce:
geometric shapes (circle, oval, traingle, etc)
nature studies
Northern Renaissance

Materials:

-textured paper

-oil pastel

Note:

For younger children the lesson should focus not on the realism of the picture but making them aware of the combination of simple shapes that can be used to create a bird.  

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

Poppy Field Printing

Create a field of poppies using string glued to either a paper towel roll or flat water bottle and sponge cut flowers.  This lesson is an excellent practice for young three and four year olds. 

Vocabulary to Introduce:
printing

Materials:

-white paper

-string

-a paper towel cardboard roll or flat water bottle

-white school glue

-tape 

-newspaper

-tempera paint (green, red, and black)

-sponges cut in the shape of poppies (two or three different size flowers and one or two circles for the center)

Preparation:

This is a two part lesson.  Allow the students to spread glue and taping the string to one end of the paper towel roll/water bottle, let them wrap it around the object several times.  Tape the other end down and set aside to dry.  To speed the process you can use a hair dryer to dry the glue.  Place one plate of green paint on each table along with one piece of newspaper.  Set aside one plate per table of red and black paint, placing the flower shape in the red and the circle center in the black. 

Age Modification:

Older students can paint the flowers themselves rather than printing with sponges.

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

Chalk Pastel Cityscape

Children will use chalk pastels to draw an evening city landscape.  Discuss the different shapes that can be used and how they can be used to complete a skyscraper.  Ask them what other things might they see in their picture?  Are there birds?  Trees?  What is the weather like?

Vocabulary to Introduce:
chalk pastel
fixative

line

geometric shapes (square, rectangle, circle)

Materials:

-black paper

-chalk pastels (chalk can be substituted)
-fixative or hair spray

Preparation:

Working with chalk pastels is extremely messy!  If you don't require your children to wear a smock or an old t-shirt you should consider it for this.  Be sure to have the children wash their hands immediately afterward.  When using a fixative or hair spray bring the artwork outside to spray it and don't plan on bring it immediately back inside.

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

Dragonfly Drawing Lesson

This is a simple drawing lesson using shapes to create a dragonfly in long grass.  The work of  R. John Ichter can be used as an example.  His work features brilliant colors in pastel on suede. 

Vocabulary to Introduce:
texture

pastels

geometric shapes (circle, oval, triangle)

Materials:

-textured paper

-oil pastels (crayons can be substituted)

Preparation:

After placing bright colored oil pastels in the center of the table for the children to use, go over with them them different shapes that can be used to make a dragonfly ( triangle for the body, circles for the eyes, ovals for the wings).

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:e paper for each child at a seat, choose brightly colored pastels or crayons to lay out.  Colors such as light green, ange, red, yellow, pink, and white work wel

Watercolor Flowers

Georgia O'Keefe is a well known American artists whose unique perspective became a signature in her paintings of flowers.  Her pictures capture these subjects from an up close perspective.

Vocabulary to Introduce:
perspective
water color 

Materials:
-watercolor paper
-watercolor
-brushes
-bowls for water
-paper towels 

Preparation:

Cover the tables and place a sheet of watercolor paper at each child's seat.  If the students are sharing watercolor place one between every two seats with two brushes.  Place a bowl with a minimal amount of water in case they spill out for every two students.  I usually place a paper towel under each bowl so that they can wipe any excess water from their brushes.


Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

Origami Cranes

This folding lesson is appropriate for children approximately 10 years of age and older.  We completed this with our 8 year old nephew and traumatized him.  

Vocabulary:

origami

Materials:
-white copier paper
-markers 



Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

Red Fuji Crayon Resist

Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese painter and printmaker.  He is famous for a series called "36 Views of Mt. Fuji" in which each picture depicted Fuji from a different perspective.

Vocabulary to Introduce:

printmaking
resist 
perspective

Materials:

-watercolor paper
-watercolor
-crayons (or oil pastels)
-paint brushes
-bowls for water

Preparation:

Cover the tables with a plastic table cloth or newspaper.  Lay the paper out at each seat with red, green, and white crayons (or oil pastels) laid out for each child.  Fill the bowls with a minimal amount of water but place them off to the side if possible.  Tape off the colors of watercolor you do not want the children to use.


Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

Joan Miro: Surreal Animals

Joan Miro was a world renowned Spanish painter, sculptor, and muralist.  Many of his paintings exhibited bright color choices with shapes and lines combined to create the impression of an animal or person.  One example that can be used is "Singing Fish."  Be sure to discuss the title of the work when talking about the surrealist style painting.

Vocabulary to Introduce:

surrealism
resist
geometric shapes: circle, square, rectangle
line: straight (horizontal and vertical), curved

Materials:

-watercolor paper
-watercolor
-oil pastel or crayons
-paint brushes
-bowls for water

Preparation:

Cover the tables with a plastic table cloth or newspaper.  Lay the paper out at each seat with oil pastels or crayons laid out at each table, choosing bright colors.


Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

 

Soap Bubble Prints

Children love this lesson!  Store bought bubble solution works best.  Be aware that if the dish soap you use has color in it, it will mix with the color of the paint you are using.  Using colored dish soap could be a great opportunity, however, to explain secondary colors.

Vocabulary:

printing

Materials:

-white copier or construction paper

-bubble solution   

-tempera paint

-drinking straws

-shallow bowls or circular aluminum pans

-paint brush for mixing

-a pin

Preparation:

Cover the area of the lesson with a tablecloth or newspaper.  Mix 1 cup of bubble solution for 1/2 cup of tempera paint.  For younger children pierce a hole halfway up the straw with the pin.  This will prevent them from accidentally swallowing the solution if they inhale but without interfering with the bubble making process.   Do let the children blow the bubbles themselves.  This is  an incredibly enjoyable part of the lesson for them!


Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

Mondrian Masking Lesson

Piet Mondrian was an abstract painter from the Netherlands.  He is well-known for his grid-like paintings using black lines to form squares and rectangles combined with the sparing use of primary colors.  Choose a more complicated example for older children.  The painting we used as an example is "Composition in Red, Yellow, and Blue."

Vocabulary to Introduce:

square

rectangle

horizontal line

vertical line

primary colors

abstract art

Materials:

-watercolor paper

-watercolor

-masking tape or painters tape

-water in bowls to wash brushes

Preparation:

If you know your children will be tempted to use colors other than the primary colors for this lesson and you choose to stick to the example, tape off the remaining colors with masking tape.  Fill bowls with a minimal amount of water to prevent major damage in the event of a spill.  Pre-tear the pieces of tape for the lesson.  Painters tape pulls off easier than masking tape and decreases the chance of ripping the paper.

Age Modifications:   

-Older children can create a larger, more complicated grid of lines.  Either black oil pastel or black sharpie can be used to draw the lines.

-For younger children the lesson can be completed by either cutting strips of black paper to create the lines and allowing them to paint the primary colors in or using sponge cut squares and rectangles to print after allowing the students to use a paintbrush

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:
to add black lines.

 

Wassily Kandinsky Printing Lesson

Kandinsky was a Russian law professor that gave up a successful career to devote himself to painting after seeing Monet's "Haystacks."  This lesson is inspired by his picture, "Farbstudie Quadrate."

Vocabulary to Introduce:
circle
concentric circles
printing
expressionism

Materials:

-watercolor/mixed media paper

-tempera paint

-bottle or jar caps of various sizes

-sharpie or black marker

-ruler

-paintbrush

Preparation:

For young children draw the squares using a ruler and black marker.  Place tempera paint on paper plates or in bowls and place caps with desired colors.

Age Modifications:

Older students can complete the lesson by folding their paper in order to create the squares. This lesson can be completed using watercolor or water soluble oil pastels.

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process: