Etsy Shop

Have you been thinking about purchasing the PDF download of my printable drawing prompts?

Well, I'm running a holiday sale in my Etsy shop with the coupon code of "HoHoHo" (enter at checkout) for 25% off of everything.  My Etsy shop also has a bunch of vintage ephemera, postcards and mixed media magazines available.  The Weekly Doodle is also available through my Etsy shop... so if you have been pondering purchasing it, now is the time!  Eventually I'm also going to offer more of my original artwork.. but that will have to wait until later.  :)

Egyptian Sarcophagus Drawings-- 4th/5th grade

As much as possible, I like to tie in art projects to what the students are learning in their other classrooms.  The 4th/5th grade class studies ancient civilizations and has a big unit on Egypt.

In art class, I showed them a long slideshow about Egyptian art and architecture.

Then, the students made a sarcophagus drawing.

They all started with a shape tracer for the sarcophagus.  I don't often use tracers, but once in awhile, I think it helps to start them off on a confident foot.  I didn't want them to become frustrated with getting the shape just quite right.  There are plenty of sarcophagus templates on the internet if you google for them.

I gave them a handout with directions about how to set up their sarcophagus.  Basically, they needed to divide their sarcophagus into sections.  Then they drew the facial features, hair and other details.  They were encouraged to draw 3-5 Egyptian hieroglyphs and make ups 2 or more of their own symbols.  Then they could color in their sarcophagi however they wanted.

After their pictures were complete, we made these OUT OF CLAY!!  We actually made sarcophagus boxes with lids.  The students replicated their drawings very well.  These boxes turned out awesome and the kids loved this project.  The boxes are in the kiln right now being fired and we are going to paint them next week.  Of course, I will show you pictures when they are all finished, but let me tell you, they are fantastic!  This is the first time I taught an Egyptian art lesson where we made the sarcophagi out of clay and I'm pleased with how it all went.

If you are curious about other projects we've made incorporating ancient civilizations here are a couple of links:

Egyptian Profile Paintings
Sumerian Clay Statues

Collograph Prints: 2nd Grade

These collograph prints by 2nd graders were made by gluing cut out foam letters and shapes to a piece of cardboard.  The kids drew and cut out their own foam letters and shapes, but I also had a selection of other foam pieces to add.

We tied this project to the art of Jasper Johns.

Before rolling and printing the plates, the kids glued shapes of colored paper on their background, so there would be some color showing through.

Then, we used a brayer to roll water soluble printing ink on the collographs and printed them on the sheet, rubbing the back of the paper carefully to transfer the ink.

Dr. Suess Architecture-- 2nd grade

The 2nd graders studied Dr. Suess books in their classroom.  In art class, I showed them the art of Dr. Suess.  Did you know he made paintings and sculptures?  I showed them this book:

The Secret Art of Dr. Suess.. a must-have for art teachers teaching about Dr. Suess!  I love his artwork. Fantastic, whimsical, charming!  There are a few pictures in there better left for adults, so photocopy the pages you want the kids to see and pass them out for them to look at.  

I photocopied pictures from his storybooks that showed buildings and houses in the background.  The students used his whimsical style for inspiration and made their own Dr. Suess inspired pictures of architecture.  Some added characters... all of them were colorful and fanciful.

Collages

More fun collages!

Coloring Book

I just wanted to share with you this cool Doodlers Anonymous coloring book link. 
I have a drawing that is going to be in the coloring book!  I can't wait to see it.  (I haven't been paid to promote the book, but I just wanted to share my good news!)

"The anticipated Volume II of the Doodlers Anonymous coloring book features the doodles and drawings of 60 artists from around the globe - some fresh novices, others seasoned veterans, all of whom share a love for the hand-drawn.

The coloring book ships in time for the holidays and is the perfect stocking stuffer for the young or young at heart.

The artwork is playful, beautiful and inspiring - not something off the shelf. So treat yourself, your family, and your faves to a little bit of happy!"

Here was my drawing!

The cover of the coloring book.  Doesn't it look fun?

Patterned Still Life: 5th and 6th grade

The 5th and 6th grade students set up still life arrangements and drew them from observation.  We discussed composition and creating interest within a picture.  The students tried to draw some objects with a variety of heights and sizes.  They were to make sure that 2-3 lines went off the edge of the page. 

We viewed a slideshow of many examples of still life paintings from various artists throughout art history.

Then, the students outlined their drawing and filled in the picture with lots of patterns.

Insect Habitat-- Lesson Plan-- 3rd Grade

Third graders worked together to make an insect habitat on large butcher paper.  They had been studying habitats in their Science class.

We used Model Magic, beads, pipe cleaners and corrugated paper to make the insects and oil pastels to color them. 

The kids did a great job, but I'm not sure how I feel about Model Magic... we've been having a tough time getting the pieces to stay together.  Some of the heads and body parts had to be hot glued back together.  If I did this project again, we might just make the insects from painted papers. 

Presenting Your Lessons

Katie said...

Can I ask how you present your art projects? Do you have a finished picture to show the kids so they have an idea of what you want from them, or do you just explain it and let them create?

That is a great question.  It depends on the project. 
I almost always will demonstrate steps to a project.  
Many times I don't have a finished picture to show them.

Right now, my 5th/6th graders (we have combined grade level classes.. which is a whole other blog post I could write to explain how that works) are working on these radial name designs.

When I demonstrated this project, I showed them a powerpoint slideshow about Islamic artwork and emphasized the repeating geometric patterns.

Then I sat down with the kids surrounding me and showed them how to fold the paper.  (You can see the steps in the original blog post) I demonstrated how to draw my name within a triangle.  Then, I set the kids off to work on that step. 

I have found that for me, it works best to break down the projects into small steps so there are not too many directions to remember. 

When several of the kids started to finish that step, I brought them back to the demonstration table and I showed them how to outline their name in sharpie and how to fold it and trace the image on a light table (last year I used carbon paper and this year I decided to use light tables, which was much easier).  That was the first class of this project.  If kids finished early, the could free draw for their sketchbooks.  I don't usually let kids go on ahead to the next step, because if there are more directions I want to explain them all thoroughly to the whole class before letting them start.

During the second class I explained and showed them how to color each of the sections and how to use the Crayola color switcher markers.  For this project, I did have a finished example to show them, but I felt that these projects always turn out so different that I didn't need to worry too much about copycat pictures.

Pretty much I ALWAYS demonstrate when possible.  I find that when I just explain something with words there is usually confusion. 

Even if it's something simple like how to color in neatly, I find that it will prevent a lot of questions or rushed work.  When I do a project with the younger classes, I always remind and review how to glue with a glue stick or bottle.  I demonstrate how to apply the glue to the back of what you want to glue and how to smooth it flat.

Sometimes I will show things on the white board while standing in front, but usually it is best to have the kids all around me so I can easily make sure they are all paying attention.  

Sometimes it helps to have a finished example, but then I notice that sometimes kids will end up copying things from the example.  When I demonstrate I try to talk them through many different options or ways to approach the project.

So, what do you do?  How do you present your lessons?  

Do you usually have an example to show the kids?

Abstract Oil Pastel Trees-- 4th/5th grade

This is a lesson I teach every year because the results are so beautiful!  Each of the kid's drawings just turns out wonderful.

The 4/5s drew trees to complement their studies in Science class.
How can line be used creatively to make a stylized picture?  How can oil pastels be used effectively?   The students aimed to use line creatively and made stylized art.  A focus of the lesson was color mixing, blending and layering of the oil pastel.

Steps:
Day One-- (40 minutes)
1.  Show images of Piet Mondrian's abstract trees.  I use a powerpoint slideshow to show his art work.  Discuss how he started out with realistic trees, then they became more and more abstract.  Finally, his style progressed to just shapes, lines and colors... the style with primary colors which he is most known for.  

2.  Sketch a stylized tree with pencil.  Make sure the trees branches create sections for coloring in.  These lines should touch the edges of the page.  Tell the students that they can draw their tree with creative lines, but to avoid drawing lots and lots of tiny branches.

3.  Paint over the tree lines with black tempera paint.  You might need two coats to make it nice and solid.  At this point, many of the children are done with this step and can move on next period.  Others will need to finish painting the next class period.

Day Two, Three and maybe Four-- (40 minutes) 

4.  After the paint is dry, color thickly with oil pastels in each of the white sections (negative space).  Layer colors on top of each other to mix colors.  Then, use your finger to smudge and blend.  Show the students how they can make a color lighter by adding white or darker by adding black.  Show them how to make gradations or color changes within the sections (for example blending purple and blue from one side to the other).