Architecture Oil Pastel Batik

I've done a few projects using variations on the faux batik method. I've tried it all- tempera, wax crayon but I think my favorite process uses oil pastels.

My Grade 10-12 mixed class had to choose a photo of architecture to draw. I encouraged them to choose a personal place- somewhere they've visited or would like to visit or a place with some sort of special meaning. They drew this onto heavy white 12 x 18" paper. 

Then they outline all the pencil lines using coloured chalk.

Then they colour in the entire design using oil pastels making sure to not go over the chalk lines. It's best to stick to lighter colours. These need to be applied in a thick, opaque layer in order for the next step to work!

Then mix up some dark acrylic paint or India ink. Water down the acrylic paint to an ink-like consistency. Paint over the design and wipe/blot/dab off the excess with paper towels.

Some of my students work:

Stencil with painted background

This is a cool stencil project that offers endless creative possibilities for high school students.

I'm super paranoid about using x-acto knives with students so I generally only use them with my high school students (Grade 10-12). Of course, if I have a particularly mature lower grade, they will use them as well. 

The first step is to create a stencil out of cardstock. This can be white or colored cardstock, but it needs to be a heavy paper. I left the subject open for my students. You can see below this student chose two Game of Thrones sigils- the House Stark direwolf proved far too challenging so he switched mid-way to House Greyjoy sigil. 

Once the stencil is cut out, he students design a background for it. This could be painted background or anything really. The students below chose to collage magazine pages to the back of her landscape stencil. 

Below you can see this student used a marker-watercolor technique 

for her background.

 

Some Grade 10-12 artworks below:

Egyptian Cartouches

After our King Tut/Cleopatra projects, my Grade 6 students learn about Egyptian hieroglyphs and how to write their name using the cartouche format. 

I provide a cartouche template and an alphabet translation for their name. 

They sketch their name out vertically in pencil, the go over it in Sharpie and colour the background however they want- watercolours, coloured pencils, markers. Let dry then cut it out.

On a sheet of heavy white paper/cardstock, students design a border in an Egyptian style. They need to measure it to make sure there's enough space for their cartouche in the middle.

Again, they use markers or paint.

Once dry, glue stick the cartouche in the middle of the background border.

Some Grade 6 finished artworks:

Cleopatra & King Tut Portrait Paintings

I teach an Egyptian Art unit every year with my Grade 6 classes. Alas not this year but please admire the work of my last year's class!

All the instructions are on my original post HERE.

Last year I gave the option of pencil crayons as well as tempera. I definitely prefer the tempera ones though as they're much more dramatic.