Make a Color

For our last project of the session we will be inventing a paint color. Students will pick an object, say ocean, and illustrate what the color "ocean" will look like. They will try and work with a value scale of one color if possible.

This lesson will use color, illustration, interpretation, line, value and shape. 

Lego Portraits

I have a few pet peeves in art that I am sure you have heard over the years. I want all of my students to be able to draw a realistic tree and a portrait in proper proportion.  It is time for a portrait lesson!

First we will work on a face sketch.  I will demonstrate how to divide the head to properly place the features.  They will add hair so the portrait looks a bit less scary!

Then we will have some fun.  We will either make a self-portrait or a favorite character in Lego form!  Here is me as a Lego person. Notice the eyes and mouth are still in the proper portrait place. Color will be added with crayons and/or colored pencils.

Bubbles

Every session I have one lesson that is jam packed with art theory and gets me all charged up for class!  This simple bubble lesson is just that. This black piece of paper contains: 3D shape, observational drawing, depth, space, balance, overlap. fore and back ground and pastel blending.

We will look at some bubbles on the laptop and yes, I may take a chance and blow some in the newly refurbished room, and talk about translucent, reflection and contour.  Students will use various size lids to trace circles in white pencil then add contour and reflective color with oil pastels. Lastly a white highlight will be added to each bubble.  The results are these fun, theory packed bubbles on black paper!

Dr Seuss Meets....

In honor of Dr Seuss' birthday last week, we are doing a fun version of Cat in the Hat.  Students will draw Cat and the hat will be in the style of a famous artist. Students are to pick an artist whose work they would like to mimic on the hat.  Think van Gogh, Kandinsky, O'Keeffe, Monet, Mondrian... 

Sunflowers 2/12/14

Beautiful "Sunflowers" painted with the teen youth group (and moms) at Penn Valley Church in Telford, PA

Charley Harper Stylized Birds

We are beginning our session with a winter bird project in the style of Charley Harper.  Harper was an American Modernist who painted highly stylized birds and animals. His style was called minimal realism which captured the essence of subjects with fewest possible visual elements.  To stylize is art represented in a way that simplifies details rather than trying to show naturalness or reality.

screen shot of Harper bird

screen shot of Harper bird

 

Our project is mixed medium meaning we will be using different supplies to create our finished piece.  Students will be painting snow on the ground, stippling in the sky and painting in their stylized bird.  We will collage the trees using old book pages.

finished example

Weekend Paint Parties

Here are some photos from LuAnne's Birthday Paint Party and a six year old's unicorn birthday party. It was a great two days of creative fun!

hard at work on tree

proudly displaying her great painting

group shot, 2 painters are missing

Adding details

happy unicorns

great job!