Symmetry in Snow

So, this is the last week before we take our Christmas Break.  I wanted the lesson to be relaxing, fun, and winter related, however I still wanted to teach them a specific lesson.

I chose this Snowman lesson that incorporates bright colors, glitter, and vibrance.  If you look deeper than that, there is actually something to be learned in it, don't know if the kids caught on!

I incorporated the use of a ruler, which, believe it or not, most kids, even my oldest students who are 11, had problems following along.  I showed them how to place it right in front of them and to move the paper, not the ruler.  I explained how to line the paper up to the edge of the ruler, and to put a point on each side of the paper where the number 4 is.  This created a square grid for us to work on.

The next step of the lesson was to teach them about symmetry.  I had them draw their snowman where the dots they made were. Half of the snowman was on one side of the dot, and the other half was on the other side of the dot. 

Next, they traced it in with a black sharpie, added their colors for the nose, scarf, and hat.  they then were asked to color in each of the 4 quadrants with a different color.  The paper we used was a marker paper which really helped make the markers appear smooth. 

The final step was adding the snow and we mounted it on black cardstock. 

Like usual, we got some really great results!

Thank you!

I just wanted to take the time and thank all of you who came out to the Santas Workshop, as well as thank you for your generous donations to Duke Childrens Hospital.  I will be sending out a check first thing Monday morning for $540.00!  I am so happy and feel so grateful to be able to do this for the children.  thanks again, and Happy Holidays!

Santas Workshop Art

I am looking forward to Saturday for the Santas Workshop.  For those who don't know what it is, let me explain.  I am having a free class for past, present, and future students.  We are having some yummy holiday food and I will be teaching a lesson in honor of the holiday season.  I am asking for monetary donations and in turn, I will make a donation and I hope to give Duke Childrens Hospital a generous check this Christmas.  I feel so blessed to have 4 healthy children and so I just wanted to give back to an organization that helps out so many kids. 

This project is what I will be teaching them.  We will be using canvas boards and acrylic paints and painting these cute holiday owls.

Chalk Pastels and Colored Pencil Ornament Drawings

This week is not over yet, still have to teach a few more classes for this lesson, but wanted to post what I had.  I think the results are phenomenal and I am so impressed, especially with my little ones in the class. 

Chalk pastels can be very tricky and hard to work with.  LIttle hands seem to smudge it all over their hands which then smudge it all over their work and it becomes a big dusty mess. 

I already pre-traced their circles for them only because I really wanted them to concentrate on coloring in their ormanents and adding the detail.  I showed them a demonstration and a step by step as to how to properly color them in. 

Alot of it has to do with layering, chalk pastels, colored pencils, go back in with chalk pastels, and then the final step, adding a dark colored pencil to the outside and inside of the ball. 

I also showed them how to add a light source, as if the lights of the tree are shining on the balls.  I showed them how to blend and shade their colors and how to make them pop. 

It was a fantastic lesson for the students.  These would be great if you took a picture of their work and then printed it out, it would make awesome Christmas cards!  Enjoy the pics.

New Session-Lesson of the week!

What a great day and start to the new session.  Lots of my original students are still continuing on, which is so awesome that they love coming to class, and I also had a bunch of new students as well which is always fun to introduce them to what I do and the whole art experience.

I did a lesson last year that was similar to this weeks, but I added a twist.  Last years lesson we sketched out christmas ornaments and colored them in with oil pastels.  We created shadows and added spots where the light would hit it, and they came out amazing.  Oil pastels can be a little thick, and so I thought to do something different this year. 

I decided to pre-draw the circles on the mixed media paper.  I thought by having them do it themselves it would take up more time, and I really wanted them to concentrate on neatness and detail.  I used a circle template that I had with all different sized circles, but if you are doing this at home, you can use anything round like a yogurt container lid, plastic cup, or even a small dish. 

I demonstrated to the students how to fill it in and use your magic tool - your finger!- to blend the chalk pastels around.  I had them imagine a light source shining on their ball and had them create a sense of light hitting the ornament. 

Once the colors were blended in, they then went over it with colored pencil to add some shading and depth. 

The final step included tracing the ornament with a darker color like black or brown and it really made it pop and come to life. 

Working with chalk pastels can be tricky, especially with the younger students.  It smudges so easily and the little ones do not get that concept sometimes.  However, I was so extremely happy with the results of todays class.  I will upload the pics tomorrow, however, here is my picture of the ornaments.

PIck and Draw

I am excited to introduce to you a new product that I have found.  I surf the net all day long, whether its for inspiration or to visit other artists blogs, either way, I am always looking.....the other day I discovered someone by the name of Rich Davis.  He created a game called Pick and Draw.  It consists of a deck of cards that contain pictures of cartoon facial parts, like eyes, nose, and mouth.  Its a great game that gets kids drawing and allowing them to use their imagination. 

Please visit my website and there is a link on my site to this game or click this link Pick and Draw to purchase your copy.  It makes a great stocking stuffer and its inexpensive and unique!