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: