Mixed Media Insect Drawings

This is a really cool lesson using transparency sheets, sharpies and paint pens layered over a tissue paper collage background.

I saw the lesson on the fabulous Talley Street Artists Instagram account.

I taught this project to a mixed class of Grade 4-6. They were all successful with it.

First class: create a tissue paper collage using watered down glue and tissue paper onto cardstock (it should match the size of the transparency film). Let dry. These curled up ALOT during the drying process and was a huge pain both flattening them and trimming them!! Allocate time for that.

I had pre printed out a few sheets of a variety of insect clip art. Students chose one and traced a variety of sizes on insects onto the transparencies using sharpie. They were so excited to be able to trace, lol.

Then they chose three paint pens and added lines and patterns, dots and outlines.

Then we taped them onto their tissue paper background using double sided clear tape.

They look so cool!! This project's a keeper :) It took two 80 minute classes in total.

 

Jim Dine Inspired Hearts

This was a fast and furious 40 minute period lesson!

It's great for discussing both line, pattern and colour.

We first looked at the heart paintings by Pop artist Jim Dine.

Grade 4-6 students used tempera paint sticks to create a colourful patterned background 

on 9 x 12" white paper. Then they created a heart template from folded scrap paper. They traced this onto their background, outlined it using black oil pastels, and blended it for shading. I love how these turned out!

 

Animals in Sweaters Art Project

 

Here's a wonderful winter lesson teaching students about implied texture through use of lines. 

It also teaches pattern. I taught this to Grade 4-6 classes.

I used ideas for this project from the lessons posted HERE and HERE.

I do believe the originator of this project (there are various versions posted online, with no attribution given, as usual) by Art Room Britt. 

I started off by showing a slideshow of the animal work by Mexican illustrator and graphic designer Indi Maverick. Then I did a demonstration.

Students chose their animal from handouts I had. Racoons and deer were BY FAR the most popular. 

They drew their animals on tabloid photocopy paper, then did all the line work in sharpie.

They coloured in the sweater only. 

We created a frame for the artwork using kraft paper. 

They drew a pattern along the edges using paint pens. 

Some of the finished artwork- I love how cute and cozy they turned out!