Stained Glass- Cubist Inspired Candles

We did this piece with watercolor pencils. I think I might use crayons and liquid watercolors if I did it again. The results are still cool, kind of rough and grainy like old stained glass.

I had the students begin this project by drawing the candle. With young artists, I remind them to make their candle large on the page, if I don't remind them, they will usually draw it relatively small.

With a ruler, the students then  draw lines at angles across the page, crossing through the candle.

I asked them to use warm colors for the candle and cool in the background.

6th Grader

My Example

4th Grader

2nd Grader

Oil Pastel Perspective

The base of this was sketched with pencil, placing the bushes in the forefront, the tree in the middle ground and another bush in the background. The leaves vary in size to appear to be blowing towards the viewer. A lovely perspective piece.I remind my students how different oil pastels are from crayons and to take advantage of the capability of blending colors and mixing colors when using oil pastels.

Oil Pastel - 5th Grader

Oil Pastel - 4th Grader

Oil Pastel - 1st Grader (I love the freedom in this one)

Oil Pastel - 3rd Grader

Holiday Tree

I saw this project on Pinterest. I loved the simplicity of the lines and shapes. 

The instructions:

1) Draw a base of snow or ground for the tree to sit on.

2) Draw the triangle of the tree.

3) Draw circles of different sizes making sure some of them overlap the tree and the background.

4) The tree triangle needs to be greens,but the circles need to differentiate in color.

5) The rest of the coloring and background was individual and unique as you can tell by the examples below.

Markers - 2nd Grader

Markers - 4th Grader

Markers - 5th Grader

Markers - 3rd Grader

Aboriginal Acrylic Dot Painting Inspiration

Today I introduced my love for Australian Aboriginal Acrylic Dot Painting. I've studied this art form for years. It has been the inspiration of my own modified method of painting. When I introduce this technique I share examples of real Aboriginal paintings and photos of some of the incredible artists that produce unbelievable work. 

Each Student for this project had a few instructions to follow and then they were off on their own. 

1) Draw a simple outline of a lizard and paint it black.

2) Then paint around it with dots. They could use either the back end of the paint brush or a cotton swab.

3) They were told to explore color patterns and try to keep their dots consistent in size.

I was very proud of the results:

Acrylic - 6th Grader

Acrylic - 4th Grader

Acrylic - 4th Grader

Acrylic - 5th Grader 

ARTitude Painting Workshop Examples

Here are the types of examples a student might accomplish in a three hour painting workshop! They are all acrylic. The method is teaching the students to work their painting in layers, and not looking at a painting as though it is a flat paint by numbers project.

I create a new painting for each workshop, mostly because it is fun for me to create the example:) But I also create the example so that I know how to teach it. I love how giving students some boundaries help students stay focused so that they can explore their own unique take on a subject matter. It can be overwhelming for young minds to sit down and have to start something from scratch.

The students mix their own paints and draw their own piece, but are following an example, so every single painting is really an individual masterpiece.

During the painting process we discuss composition, variation, rhythm, balance and technique.

Fifth Grader

First Grader

Fifth Graders

Second Grader

Fifth Grader

Third Grader

Fourth Grader

Art Camp Success!

Van Gogh Inspired Acrylic Paintings

What a group to end my Art Camp summer. The palette colors in this session are subtle compared to previous sessions. The work turned out beautiful! My age range was first through sixth graders. My favorite experience for this week was watching the results of the Van Gogh inspired flower painting. We started with a blank paper canvas  and minimal direction. The only thing I told the kids was to draw the horizon and the vase. They picked and mixed their own colors, decided how many flowers and what the flowers were to look like. I did emphasize layering the paint. When the background dried then they did the vase. When the vase dried then they painted the stems. Then the flowers.

In between the drying acrylic layers we worked on the wood pile watercolor resistance painting. When I do my art painting workshops in the future, I'll continue that and people will end up with two completed pieces by the end of the class.

I overheard some parents during the art show laugh and say "Well this camp certainly wasn't about finger painting." I took it as a compliment. Depending on how things go, I want to do these camps again next summer, only twice as many and I'll do a bit of advertising to boot. There are so many starving young artists out there, starving to learn and create art. I feel a sense of joy knowing I can provide my experiences and practice to help them improve their skills and discover more about who they are through their artistic expression.


Reflection - Color Pencil, Watercolor
Fourth grader



Flower Vase, acrylics - Fifth Grader

 

 

Rooster, Watercolor Collage - Third Grader

Cupcake, watercolor pencils - Sixth Grader

 

Flower Vase, acrylics - Fourth Grader



Dinosaur Point of View, colored pencils - Fourth Grader

Woodpile, Watercolor, Crayon Resistance - Fourth Grader

Cupcake, watercolor pencils - First Grader

 

Flower Vase, acrylic - First Grader



Reflection, colored pencils, watercolor
Third Grader

Session Three Art Camp

Four of my students and their week of creativity

Each art camp session bodes new and exciting creations. This past week I had a wonderful group of artists not only visually but verbally as well. When a glue stick ran out, one student said we should have a gluneral for it. Of course this idea stuck and so when a marker ran out we gave it a markuneral.

I know I've written before the glory of watching students explore who they are through their art, but every day I work with kids I'm reminded of it. Every child is different. How they see color, shape, design is different. Never is it right or wrong, it just is what it is and no one can help but be successful every day when they have that attitude.

So, enjoy this sampling of children's projects. One week and so much brightness and life!


Watercolor Pencils - 6th Grader

Marker and water - 1st Grader

Marker and water - 4th Grader

Acrylic Paint - 3rd Grader

Acrylic and Crayon - 2nd Grader



Watercolor and Salt Collage - 3rd Grader

Watercolor and Crayon and Glue - 6th Grader

Acrylic Paint - 4th Grader

Watercolor and Crayon - 1st Grader

Last Week's Art Camp

Wow. Kids are so creative. One of my favorite parts of working with students of all ages is when they alter and interpret a piece to make it all their own. You'll see repetitive works and yet how the students choose their colors, patterns, how dark they make something, how light, represents them. I always have an example of the project posted, a jumping point, and the fun is watching them add their personality often very tentatively. I usually get asked if it is okay to use a different color or set of lines from my example and that always brings a smile to my face.

I liked having boundaries to break when I started exploring my artistic talent. I firmly believe all artists need the basics to grow from and I tell my students that. So many think more is more, or I'm an artist I can ignore you and break all the rules. Well, yes, artists should break the rules, but they need to understand them first to break them better. Picasso broke all the rules, but he learned them first.

I become a better artist every day I nurture young artists. I'm lucky that way.

Amelia (4th grader) Watercolor, glue on the black crayon barrier 

Brian (5th grader) Watercolor, glue on the black crayon barrier

Gabriela (1st grader) Watercolor collage rooster

Grace (3rd grader) Acrylic (Mixing colors, learning
about warm vs. cool and compliments.)

Hayden (5th grade) Wave

Katelyn (2nd grade) Watercolor pencils

Katie (fourth grader)

This is my example for a marker project. The kids drew trees on
half a piece of paper then colored them with markers.
I sprayed it with water and folded it in half,
making the reflection. so cool.

Natalie (2nd grade) Crayon, colored pencil and oil pastels
on black construction paper. Inspired by Paul Klee.

Zoe (2nd grade) Rooster in a Boat

Keira (1st grade) Walter color pencils