Paper Mache Plastic Eggs - Step 1

Here is an easy spring paper mache craft using plastic eggs.  You will need plastic eggs. Tape the opening with masking tape if it won't stay shut. White glue - no need for Elmers - I use dollar store glue for this.  Water and white paper towels torn into 2-3" squares.  Mix the water and glue in equal parts.  We want a nice, loose liquid. I use a piece of wax paper to keep the egg on so it won't stick while working and a bottle cap to sit the egg on as it dries.

Dip a paper towel square in the glue/water and use your finger to wipe the extra off.  You don't want it dripping.  Lay the wet towel over the egg and mold it around the egg.  Be sure to smooth it out after each application of wet towel. 

Continue to add layers of wet paper towels until you no longer see the egg color.  Remember - smooth it out as you apply the paper mache!

I like to sit the wet egg in a bottle cap when finished.  Throughout the day, flip it over as it begins to dry. If there is excess glue in the bottle cap, empty that out.  The egg should be dry in about 24 hours.  Next step will be painting.  I will be using acrylic craft paints from AC Moore or Michaels.  I think magic markers will also work, but I have not tried it yet.  See you in a day or so with a painting update.

7 Elements of Art - Part I

All art work contains the seven elements of art in some combination. 

The first mark made on your paper is usually some form of a line. It can be straight, curvy, thick, thin, zig zag, broken, vertical, horizontal...

The lines then take on some form of shape.  It can be defined like a circle or an organic free form shape.

Now the fun part:  color.  Colors or hues are found on a spectrum such as a color wheel. We have our primary: red, yellow, blue that mix together to give us secondary colors: orange, green and violet.  They can be warm: red, orange, yellow or cool: blue, green, violet.  They can compliment each other:  red/green, blue/orange, yellow/violet.  Color can set a mood.  Picasso went thru a depressed time and all his work was done in blues (known as his Blue Period). 

Tuesday's Class - 3/19

Here is some works in progress.  Home school art kids began their Warm/Cool Sun project.

Warm/Cool Colors Sun

It has been so gloomy this winter.  I'm ready for some warmer days and SUN!  For this project we will talk about warm and cool colors and wavy and curved lines - there are two elements of art: color & line.  Using a tracer so the sun is the right size we will sketch a sun onto a 11" x 14" canvas. One side of the sun's rays will use wavy lines the other straight lines.  The face is divided sort of Picasso style so one half can be warm colors and the other cool.

Straight lines on left side and wavy lines on right side.

We will be using acrylic paints on canvas for this project.  My example is on paper.  We will be working with opposites:  one half, warm background, cool rays and face the other side is cool background, warm rays and face.  This example is for the younger kids.

Older students will be doing cool background, warm rays, cool face and the other side is warm background, cool rays and warm face.  I'm looking for some layering of colors: I started with a light purple for the face and added some darker around the edges.  Also a bit more detail in the background.

The project will be outlined when dry.

Great art picks up where nature ends.  ~Marc Chagall

Composition & Elements of Art

When I think of composition a marbled black and white notebook comes to mind where students write their book reports from English class.  Or I picture a musician, violin on his lap, pencil in hand as he quickly writes the musical notes that are playing in his head.  Art also involves composition.  Most pieces are thought out or pre-planned - they start with a vision in the head.  The artist plays around with the idea on paper before beginning work. 

This lesson involves planning; the selection of six objects and their placement, a ribbon that will create movement by allowing the eye to follow it down the page, three colors and pattern.  It also uses some of the seven elements of art; line, color and shape as well as overlapping.  I like this lesson because it teaches the students how to work within the guidelines of the project while allowing self expression with color, shapes and placement.

I planned to post some student work from class, but I'm still figuring out how to use my phone in regard to getting photos onto the blog.  I think know what to do now!

Welcome!

Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.   
  ~Pablo Picasso