Rouault Clowns Tempera Batik

This is a tempera batik project I did with a Grade 6 class. There are many variations of how to do this process floating around the internet. I essentially followed this one. The idea is to create a batik-type effect using tempera paint and black ink. I don't find it's so much like batik; more of a haunting textural effect.


 With tempera batik I have found that you need to experiment ahead of time and test it out with your equipment (different brands seem to have different effects). Most importantly, use nice thick paper as it needs to be soaked in water later.

I used the French Expressionist artist George Rouault and his clown series for the inspiration for this project. I think his clowns look so dark and emotive and work well with this technique.

I took the photo below when I visited the Pompidou Center in Paris. There was a whole wall devoted to Rouault's portraits, including the clowns.

Clown by Georges Rouault

I started off by showing a slide show of his works. Have students discuss the characteristics of his work and the emotions the paintings evoke. Then students did practice sketches of clown faces in their sketchbooks.

Draw the good copy in pencil on heavy white paper. Then pass over all the pencil lines with a thick line of chalk. Above you can see the clown has been drawn in yellow chalk. Now paint everything with tempera paint, but not the thick chalk lines. Students need to let each layer dry and paint at least two thick layers.  It's best to use lighter and brighter colours as the overall picture will get dulled down by the India ink in the later steps.

Then, using a wide foam brush, lay on an even layer of India ink.

I think I only let it dry about 5 minutes or less, then students washed them off in the sink. They wet the whole paper, then use their fingers to gently 'scrub' away the ink, revealing the paint below. If you scrub it too hard, or let it soak too long, the tempera paint will start to dissolve and the paper could tear, so be careful wih this step. 

Some of the ink stays, hence the textural effect.

Ta da!

This display really creeped me out, I have to say...

Mini Whiteboard Free Time Activity

This is a fun free-time activity that one of my Grade 2 students taught me years ago. It's basically a quick and friendly drawing competition (less than 5 minutes).  We used to do them on scrap paper but now we use  super awesome mini whiteboards (dry erase boards). For a cheaper alternative, simply laminate sheets of heavy white paper. Use cut up squares of soft fabric (old towels, etc.) for erasers.

I love whiteboards and feel they are fantastic for so many activities: practice drawings and for the sharing of ideas ('whiteboarding' which is often shown on the TV "The Big Bang Theory"). I knew an amazing high school Math teacher in one of my schools who had all her walls covered with large whiteboards. Instead of working in their notebooks, all the students in the class (yes, all) stood up and worked directly on the whiteboards. In this way, the teacher could walk around and more easily see where students were struggling with their formulas. The students could also help each other. No wasted paper, it always works (as opposed to laptops and other technology- cough, cough), and the kids enjoy it. My only problem with whiteboards are the toxic and non-recyclable markers, but more and more, there are companies offering both non-toxic (Crayola, Dixon, Expo) and also refillable whiteboard markers which is great.

This works best with small groups of students. I play this with my 'fast finishers' while the other kids are still working on their class projects. I basically choose a word (ie: clown face, monkey, zombie, etc.)  and then the kids have about 3-5 minutes to quickly draw it on their whiteboard. Then we show them all and I choose a winner. (And yes, I try to choose a different 'winner' each time!) The kids love it and we get a good laugh out of some of the drawings!

Obviously, kids could also work on this alone, without teacher assistance, in small groups. You could keep a zip-lock bag full of different words that the kids could choose from (to avoid arguments...) or have them choose their own.

students love drawing on these!!

Class set of whiteboard markers.

Here's one for "MONKEY"

"VAMPIRE"

Abstract Sculptures using Stockings

Here are some photos from the ever popular 'stocking sculptures' made by some Grade 7/8 classes. I first did this lessons years ago when I was a student teacher. I found the original lesson plan here on the Incredible Art Department website. I followed the lesson step-by-step and it worked brilliantly.

You essentially cut the end off a wire coat hanger, have a small block of wood with two holes drilled into it, and then put the wire ends in. bend it around to get a pleasing form, then stretch a knee high nylon over-top and around the wood base. Then you need to coat/prime it (gesso, house paint, whatever) a bunch of times. Then students paint it using acrylics (don't use tempera- it ends up cracking, a least it did with me). I spray them with gloss varnish afterwards for protection and shine.

It's a great lesson for introducing the concept of Abstract art. After the sculptures are finished, as an extension, I have students do a black and white charcoal drawing of their piece (see photo below). This is a very popular projects and students can get really creative with these.

You can see in the orange and white sculpture above, the student cut a hole through the nylon.
I didn't think it would work, but it did!

These were the sculptures made during my student teaching days. We used some metallic/pearlized paint and glitter for these- they turned out super cool!

Mixed Media Palm Trees

This is a fun 'tropical' project that involves drawing directly with glue and incorporates 

line and texture. This is a lesson I saw in a 2004 issue of Art and Activities magazine. It was entitled:  "Breezy palm trees with mixed media" by Michelle Crosby.

So I started off by having Grade 6 students look at photos of different types of palm trees and then I demo-ed how to draw them. You might even be so lucky as to have palm trees on your school grounds and can do some direct observational drawings. 

Students then practised in their sketchbooks until they felt really comfortable drawing them.

Photos of palm trees I took in Las Terranas, Dominican Republic.

Then, on heavy white paper or watercolour paper, students draw a palm tree directly with a bottle of white glue. Add in a beach scene, ocean, coconuts, sunset, etc. Whatever they want. We didn't draw first with a pencil, but you can definitely try that if you want. Just draw lightly.

Let these dry FLAT overnight and the next day the glue will have flatted out quite a bit.

Dried glue

 Then paint the scene using watercolours. Try not to paint over the glue lines, if possible.

 Once it's painted, let it dry a bit.

Then take a black wax crayon and peel the paper off.  Use the side of the crayon to rub all over the painting- this really stresses the kids out! They all think it will 'ruin' their lovely watercolour. I always demonstrate on my own samples first; then they see it actually looks cool and takes away some of the fear. Have them verbalize how the crayon affects the painting. I use this as a lesson in risk-taking and artistic experimentation.

Having said that, if you want to lessen the stress, have the kids create TWO glue paintings- one they can leave simply painted, and the second one they can add the crayon rubbing.

When you do the rubbing, it's best if you only go in one direction- start off lightly and try to concentrate the rubbing on the raised glue lines.

Ta da!

Shiny Foil Collages

This is a fun and simple collage project my Grade 2 class worked on. It's a great way to use up any scraps of cardboard and coloured tissue paper you have in the classroom.

Simple pre-cut a bunch of cardboard to whatever size you like. Then rip off pieces of tin foil slightly larger than the cardboard. Students cover the front of the cardboard with glue (we used glue sticks) and then carefully wrap the foil around the cardboard and glue it on the back.This is the base for the collage. 

Then the kids cut up tissue paper into whatever type of scene they wanted- most did simple landscapes or seascapes. Using watered-down white glue, use a paintbrush to apply these to the foil covered cardboard. Then the kids made additional shapes, objects or animals out of coloured paper scraps and glued them on. They also used sequins and plastic gems (from the Dollar Store) to add a little extra zazzle dazzle.

The tissue paper, being transparent, allows some of the shiny foil to show through and it has a lovely shimmering quality that these photos unfortunately can't capture.

                                                           

Ta da!