Texture Hands

This is a project I've seen floating around the internet for a while. I couldn't find the originator of this lesson so, if you know, please leave a comment so I can give attribution!

This was a great lesson for me to teach as I seldom address the art element of texture in my projects.

Grade 4- 6 students started by tracing their hand and drawing the crease marks of their palm for realism. The, on each finger, they had to draw a different texture. I showed them how to shade for added depth. Then, they needed to add colour to at least two fingers. I think these are so fun and creative!

 

Dali Inspired Surrealist Animals

Here's a popular Dali inspired lesson based on his painting "The Elephants" from 1948. Students chose any animal they wanted and stretcheeeeed the legs nice and long. I always love how funny these turn out! See the steps previously posted HERE.

Work from Grade 4-6 students:

 

Birds of Canada in oil pastel

This is a great lesson to teach oil pastel blending and use of colour. This project focuses on choosing a Canadian bird and drawing and colouring it as realistically as possible. This was taught to Grades 4-6 students. 

I've taught this lesson previously- see their work HERE and HERE. 

I let students research and choose their bird then I print out a colour photo of it. The choose a sheet of construction paper and loosely sketch out the shapes until they're happy with the drawing and the proportions are as accurate as possible. 

Then they colour. We only ever use PENTEL brand oil pastels. 

I encouraged them to lay down the colour really thick, to mix colours, and to create any type of background/habitat they wanted.

Here are the finished artworks plus a slideshow I created :)

 

Foil Embossing: tin foil and Sharpies

Here's this year's version of the very popular tin foil embossing project!

See all the steps and previous projects posted HERE and HERE.

Draw a simple design on the back of a cereal box. I encourage abstract designs (organic or geometric) but many students like to do some simple realistic images like simple landscapes.

Cut lengths of yarn and glue down using white glue. Let dry overnight.

Cut a piece of heavy duty/barbeque foil one inch larger than the cereal box. 

Cover the yarn side with a liberal amount of glue stick. Place the foil on top, and start burnishing it using a piece of felt. This helps prevent tears. Work from the center outwards, to prevent air bubbles.

Wrap and glue the excess onto the back. You can also test Sharpie colours on the back,

Colour all the sections using coloured permanent markers. 

Some finished Grade 4-6 artworks: