Still Life Drawings

This is a traditional still life drawing, but I teach it with a twist.  I start out with only one piece of fruit, let the students draw it, then I add another.   This simplifies the arrangement and lets them focus on one object.  I ask lots of questions about the objects so the students will begin to look harder and make connections between objects.  "Do you see the triangle of space between the birds nest and the banana?"   "Is the candle one apple wide?"

To start drawing, we simplify each element.  For example, the candle becomes a simple cylinder, the apples become circles.  Only when every element is in the correct place and is the correct size do we add the details.  (the pinecone is really that large) 

This is a strenuous exersize and is usually the only time these young students have done a dry still life.  They are always amazed with their results. 

Blow Paintings

This is my most requested art lesson of all time!  This lesson starts out with cutting drinking straws in half.  We water down water paint until it is very drippy.  I usually place large drips of paint at the bottom of their paper and let them go crazy.  Controling the paint by just blowing isn't as easy as it would seem.  The students soon learn to blow hard and move direction quickly to get the desired thin branch-like drawings.  They usually get light-headed, too.  It is a fun class...

Watercolor Landscape

This watercolor starts with light pencil drawing of the lines of ground, mountains, and sky.  The pencil lines are guidelines for the watercolor layers.  Students must paint each layer of the painting without the colors mixing.  They must leave a thin, white space of paper between colors.

We usually talk about abstract art. We discuss that abstract paintings can look like different things to every person.  I ask questions to try to open their minds to some appreciation of abstract art.

Hex Signs

We lived in Boyertown, PA for 7 years, and we saw plenty of hex signs on barns everyday.  There are more towards Kutztown and surrounding rural areas.  Hex signs are only found in this area of PA and are a tradition of the Pennsylvania Dutch (not the Amish).  We usually start the lesson with examples of hex signs, mostly from things I have collected from the annual Kutztown Festival.  We use a ruler and compass to help the design to be symmetrical. I print out the other elements that are used in Hez sign designs and their meanings: diselfink, rosette, scallop, star, oak leaf, tulip, heart, pentagram. This is usually the first time artists have used a compass in art, so I give them plenty of practice paper to make circles. We use stiff bristol for the finished work.  Hex signs are very colorful, so we use colored pencil or crayon, and paint will work great.

Do the Gelly Roll

I love this project!  This project is a large size 'doodle' on black paper using metallic 'Gelly-Roll' markers (available at scrapbooking stores and Michaels).  High quality black paper works the best with the roll markers.  Black construction paper is too textured and is not acid free. I usually give an assignment as an ideas starter, for example, a pet or flower to start.  The students are to 'doodle' in the background of the initial drawing, using repeating patterns and connecting objects.  These markers have to be held at a 90 angle, and can be tricky for beginners.

One Dot at a Time

In my bead classes, I often say to new students, "you have to string one bead at a time".  In this art class, I always repeat, "one dot at a time" as a mantra for my young students.  They have a tendency to rush, making each dot a stripey, sloppy line.  This is a great project for intermediate students with the ability to work for 3 or more hours on one project.  The placement of dots can seem calming, like knitting or running.

I was introduced to pointalism in my high school art class, and continue to use the technique within drawing textures with pencil and adding depth to watercolor.  Using pencil to sketch the idea very lightly, we layer fine-tipped marker dots, gradually blending colors. I remind the students that you cannot erase mistakes.  This is an additative process.  Make darker lines by placing the dots close together. I usually work small;10X10.