Maud Lewis Style Cat Paintings

Maud Lewis (1903-1970) was a Canadian folk artist known for her vibrant, naive paintings of Nova Scotia landscapes and everyday life, despite facing significant physical challenges due to juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Maud Lewis was born with a condition that resulted in physical deformities and later developed into juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which caused her significant pain and limited mobility, especially in her hands. Maud's mother introduced her to painting by teaching her to make and sell Christmas cards. She married Everett Lewis, a fish peddler, and they lived in a small, one-room house in Marshalltown, Nova Scotia, where Maud continued to paint and sell her art. 

Maud was uniquely creative, self-taught, specialized in painting everyday rural life, loved animals and appreciated the beauty of nature. I've seen her work when I visited Halifax- you can also visit her original house which is now housed within the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. It's so adorable and charming with almost every surface painted in flowers!

Maud's art gained recognition in the 1960s, with her paintings capturing the attention of a journalist and leading to a radio documentary and newspaper article. Maud Lewis's work continues to be celebrated in Canada and internationally, and she is considered one of Canada's most beloved folk artists. 

Grade 4-6 student started off by looking at Maud's cat and landscape paintings on her official website.

We discussed her style of painting and use of colour. 

Then we watched THIS video about her life and art. 

I based my project on a lesson plan from Crayola Canada HERE.

My students learned SO many techniques during this project- so many painting techniques. I would say the Grade 4 students struggled a bit and the Grade 6 students felt the most confident with all the steps. 

Day one, students painted their background paper with a blue sky and mixed yellow and blue to make a custom green colour. Then they drew their cat and added cherry blossom branches. 

Next class the cat and blossoms were painted.

The last class was for all the final details, the face and tulips.

I love how cute and happy they all are!

 

Tulip Observational Drawings

It is officially Spring, but, where I live, it snowed last night, lol.

Nonetheless, time to start all the spring themed projects to brighten our mood after a long winter.

This is a simple observational drawing lesson where students experimented with different drawing media while drawing an artificial tulip from direct observation.

I demonstrated the qualities of each media. I offered students: felt tip black marker, vine charcoal, charcoal pencils, compressed charcoal and conté.

Marker was, by far, the most popular choice. My students hate getting messy!

Students chose a tulip and then drew it onto long strips of newsprint I had pre-cut. 

I wanted the drawings life size. 

A simple but effective drawing exercise. These were all done by beginner students in Grade 8.

 

We All Need Trees Art Project

Trees are vital, providing us with oxygen, clean air and water, food, shelter, medicines, and resources, while also supporting biodiversity and mitigating climate change.

My country, Canada, has a vast and abundant forest resource, covering approximately 35% of the country, and containing 9% of the world's forests. Canada is the third-most forested country in the world by area and holds a significant portion of the world's boreal and temperate forests. Across the country, Canadians have deep connections with forests—valuing, managing and using them in different ways. 

Source

For this art project, I challenged my students to illustrate, in any media, why we all need trees. We brainstormed and wrote down ideas. There are so so many!

Clean Air and Water:

Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, improving air quality, and their roots help filter and retain water, improving water quality. 

Climate Change Mitigation:

Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it, helping to combat climate change. 

Soil Conservation: Tree roots help prevent soil erosion, keeping the soil healthy and fertile. 

Wildlife Habitat:

Trees and forests provide habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals, supporting biodiversity. 

Water Cycle Regulation:

Trees help regulate the water cycle by absorbing and releasing water, which can help prevent flooding and droughts. 

Moderating Local Climate:

Trees provide shade, which can help cool down areas, and they can also act as windbreaks, protecting areas from strong winds. 

Food and Resources:

Trees provide us with fruits, nuts, timber, and other resources that are used for food, shelter, and fuel. 

Mental and Physical Health:

Spending time in nature, including among trees, can have positive effects on mental and physical health, reducing stress and improving mood. 

Economic Benefits:

Forests and trees support local economies through tourism, timber production, and other industries. 

Aesthetic and Recreational Value:

Trees and forests provide beauty and recreational opportunities, such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching. 

Students sketched out their ideas on scrap paper. Then created their good copies on 12 x 18" paper. They could use any media they wanted. I love the variety of results!

 

Celtic Knot Drawings

This is a lesson I taught to my Grade 4-6 art class on St. Patrick's day. It is the simplest of Celtic knots, known as the triquetra. A triquetra is an ancient symbol that consists of three overlapping and interconnected arcs that creates a tri-pointed symbol. Essentially, the symbol resembles a three-cornered knot, as all internal arcs look as though there is no beginning or end.

We first watched a video about the ancient Celtic people and then a video about Celtic knots HERE.

I demonstrated how to draw one for my students then they did a small practice one first. 

They really enjoyed the challenge! I also demonstrated how to shade it, so this is a great lesson on value and form.

Some finished Grade 4-6 drawings: