Progress of a Personal Watercolor

Original photo that I can't figure out how to turn.

Drawing with the starting of watercolor for the eyes and mouth.

Textured background, skin color and pjs.

More details.

First shadow. So scary to paint with black over the majority of your painting!!!


More shadows over hand and background. Remove resist on eyes, nose, lips, and cheeks.






Finally, decided what to do with the background. Colored pencil details.



Darkening background.



Continuing to darken background.



Completed.



Tape removed.

I like how this completed image ended up. I feel like I am abusive to my paper with so many layers of paint and colored pencil. I would like to try a different style with no colored pencil and a lighter hand with the watercolor.

Crayons on Sandpaper

Makes any simple drawing look 'artsy.' Saw HERE.

Supplies:

sandpaper

crayons

thick paper (different colors of cardstock cards work well)

iron

old rags or newspaper

Instructions:

1. Color on sandpaper with crayons.

2. Iron drawing onto thick paper.

Tips:

* This makes any artwork 'artsy.'

* Fine sandpaper makes crayons melt more together. Courser sandpaper makes it look like dots of wax.

* These make cute invites to your Art Show for your neighbors and other guests.
* Iron can be on low setting. Wax melts around 150 degrees. The cotton setting is too hot and your paper/wax will start to smoke and smell.

* Put newspaper under the paper you are ironing onto or have old rags handy to clean any messes up. The mess should be minimal.

Shrinky Dinks

YES! I love this.

Supplies:

Type #6 Plastic (clear containers from grocery stores or carry out)

Permanent Markers

Oven

Foil

Cookie sheet

Instructions:

1. Cut your piece of plastic.

2. Draw, write or trace then color the image you want.

3. Heat oven to 350 degrees.

4. Put plastic on foil covered cookie sheet.

5. Put in oven for 2 to 4 minutes.
   
   

Tips:

* Put foil shiny side up!

* A 6 inch piece takes 3 ½ minutes.

* It will curl up the first 90 seconds, don't worry.

Circle Sculptures

I saw THIS little sculpture related to a Gabo Abstract Sculpture instead of always being related to Calder.

I made mine with spray painted plastic yogurt lids and embroidery thread.

What if it was really big? Corrugated cardboard painted with acrylic and thick twine??

Melted Crayons

HERE , I was reminded of what fun I had melting crayons as a kid. Covering your griddle in foil allows you to use the griddle you have then dunking the paper in the wax instead of drawing on the paper over the griddle allows for multiple children to do this easily.

Supplies:

griddle

foil

crayons

wooden skewers or old kitchen utensil

paper

Instructions:

1. Cover griddle in foil and heat to 200-250 degrees.

2. Unwrap crayons

3. Put crayons on griddle and allow to melt. You can push them with the skewer.

4. Lay paper on melted crayons

5. Push paper down with skewer then lift edge of paper then lift with fingers

6. Layout to let cool

Tips:

*Smaller sheets of paper work the best (1/4th of sheet of paper or smaller)

*Thicker paper is necessary because of the weight of the wax. (Copier paper won't work.)

* Turned the temperature up on the griddle is fun but it will start to smoke and smell.

* Eventually everything turns brown/black but it takes a lot of crayons and mixing for this to happen.

* This method is better than laying the paper and drawing on it. It is easy/faster to take turns and the images look more 'artsy.'

* Wax cools quickly and scraps up easily.

* My two year old did not burn herself on the griddle. I simply went over the rules and stood by her. After a few examples, she could do it all herself even put on and lift off the paper.

Wire and Tissue Paper Sculpture

I saw THIS picture and made a kid's version. (Sorry about the poor photo.)

Supplies:

Wire

Tissue Paper

Brushes

Water

Glue

Small containers

Plastic bags

Instructions:

1. Cut several lengths of wire for each child. Give each child a brush and a small container of white glue watered down.

2. Have kids bend wire into ovals and twist. (You could try more complex shapes too)

3. Rip small pieces of tissue paper

4. Wrap tissue paper around the wire ovals

5. Brush with glue/water mixture on both sides

6. Allow to dry on a plastic bag overnight.

7. Bend wires to attach together to make a sculpture. Consider how you care going to display. If you are going to hang it on a hook on the wall or from the ceiling, where/how does the sculpture attach to the hook?

Tips:

* Artist to relate to Alexander Calder

* If the wire is too easy to bend, it makes it difficult for the child to control the sculptures.

* Wire hangers are too thick and difficult to bend to make this project look nice.

* The plastic bag easily peel way from the dried tissue paper. (Other materials do not.)

* Challenge the students. Could you make it look like a peacock? Could you make it look like rain? Could you make it look like a dragonfly?

Altered Book Pages

HERE is the simple version.
It can get more complicated HERE and HERE.

Supplies:

old books

markers

other materials: magazines, glue, scissors

Instructions:

1. Find messages in the words written on the page to make a new story or sentence

2. Add other details or create patterns with markers

Tips:

*Children who can't read could color in drawings in the book

*You could also draw an image over the writing

Slanted Watercolor

I saw this idea HERE.

Supplies:

watercolor in a tube

watercolor paper

spray bottle of water (I found small perfume sprayers work the best)

cardboard or picnic table or surface to tape paper to and slant

tape (Dollar Tree masking tape works)

Instructions:

1. tape paper to slanted surface

2. put several lines (or circles or squiggles) of color from the tubes of watercolor

3. spray with water, gently

4. watch paint run

5. let it dry completely before removing
   
   

Tips:

* Do not put this vertical. The color will not have enough time to absorb.

* The lines of watercolor do not need to be thick

* I like the look of it being taped around all the edges

Rorschach/Inkblot Painting

Supplies:

thick paper, cardstock will work

tempera paints

Instructions:

1. Put drops of paint on paper

2. Fold in half and rub

3. Open up

Tips:

* This is a great lesson to do before you have students title their artwork and do critique.

* Titling a work of art: What you title a work of art can change how people see your work. Look at the art work above. What if I title it 'fox'? What do you think? What if I title it bat? The monster under my bed? Or what if I flip the painting over and call it rhinoceros or chicken dinner? I am changing what you see just by the words I use.

* Discussing your artwork: It is intimidating talking about your artwork. You are showing people a piece of you. You are showing how much you practice and the ideas you have. This is a great piece to practice talking about because you can't determine the outcome of the artwork when you begin. There is little skill in the work. Why did you pick this one to show us? (assuming they have made several) Why did you use these colors? What is your favorite thing about this artwork? If you were going to make this work again, how would you do it differently?

Bleach Pen Shirts

HERE is a good example.
Freezer paper could be used to make more exact images for older students.

Supplies:

Colored shirt or fabric

Bleach pen

Paper or newsprint

Cookie cutters (optional)

Tray to hold bleach for cookie cutters (optional)

Instructions:

1. Lay shirt out flat with paper inside

2. Draw on with bleach pen and stamp with cookie cutters dipped in bleach

3. Let dry

4. Rinse in water before washing

Tips:

* Be careful. Little children get this everywhere on themselves.

* Try not to get the bleach on too thick because it takes a long time to dry in clumps

* It is best to soak each shirt in water first before sending them home to be washed

* Words don't work well because the bleach spreads quickly

Watercolor Techniques

Supplies:

watercolors

water

watercolor paper

brushes

skewers

spray bottles

salt

small toys

saran wrap

small sticks, leaves and flowers

rubber cement

cheap masking tape (Dollar Tree)

Instructions:

1. Sticks and Saran wrap: Go on a walk to collect ideas of what to draw. Sketch the neighbor's dog, a tree, a house or the pattern on the railing up to a house. While you are walking collect small sticks, leaves and flowers. Tape watercolor paper down on all sides. Wet the entire paper with water. Paint. Lay items on the paper. Cover with saran wrap. Let dry overnight.

2. Small Toys and Spray Bottle: Tape paper down. Put toys on paper. Mix paint with small amount of water (or use liquid watercolors). Spray paper. Lift off toys to see silhouette.

3. Salt: Paint paper with watercolors. Put salt on. Let dry. (Result are little stars.)

4. Skewers: Paint paper. Let dry. Use a skewer to draw lines over with black paint (watercolor, tempera, ink, or acrylic).

5. Rubber Cement: Put rubber cement down on paper. This is fun to tape the paper to the window first with an image underneath. Then put the rubber cement where the black lines would be. Let rubber cement dry (a few seconds). Tape paper down. Watercolor. Let dry. Rub the cement off. (Result the rubber cement resisted the paint. It is white where the cement was.)

Tips: l

* Rip paper into fourths so kids can experiment

* Any watercolor is 'saved' by putting saran wrap over it and letting it dry... if it STILL needs help let the child add details with colored pencil.

*Tape paper down on all sides so it doesn't curl or run away from you

* Artist tape is nice but expensive. Cheap Dollar Tree masking tape works well and won't rip the paper if you pull up gently when the paper is dry.

*Small children need their paints sprayed so they are wet enough.

*Small children use too much water. Older children don't use enough water.

Packing Tape and Saran Wrap Sculpture

Look at her shear joy in doing this project. She ASKED me to wrap both her hands then she giggled and crawled around pretending to be a dog.


Here is our simple sculpture of a foot kicking a ball. It has two paperclips on it to attach it to a hook on the wall.


So proud of her tape foot.

Her hands holding the saran/tape ball.

HERE and HERE are some examples of this project.

Supplies:

packing tape

saran wrap

scissors

object or person to wrap

Instructions:

1. Wrap object or person with saran wrap

2. Cover with packing tape

3. Carefully cut off

4. Tape back together

Tips:

*You could add colored or printed images below the tape.

* Use small sewing scissors to cut sculpture off of a person
* Don't use a favorite item that could be damaged by the scissors while cutting the tape off

* This is fun to wrap around a person or a favorite toy
* To make this lesson more challenging have them try to turn the item into something else. Example: tape sculpture a teapot but then add chopstick legs and a feather to make it a circus elephant. This lesson can be related to Surrealism but is for older students.

Even the little one loved this project!

Moving & A New Start

I moved to the coast. I was sad to leave Art Camp but a little relieved about not having to organize a big event. We searched for a church. When we went out to lunch with people after visiting one church a woman said, "We had an Art Camp in our backyard last summer." I knew this would be the church we would be attending. :)

So this church is run like affiliated house churches. Each house church has Art Camp in their backyard. So Art Camp is organized but not centralized. Art Camp isn't about having a bible lesson. Art Camp is about building a relationship with your neighbors and the neighborhood kids.

I am really excited for Art Camp this summer and about meeting new kids. I can't wait to see how Jesus' love and beauty is shown through simply spending time with people.

Melted Plastic Sculpture

THIS post and THIS post helped me come up with this Dale Chihuly inspired project.

Supplies:

plastics (#6 is the best, shrinky dink plastic) (#1 melts well) (#5 curls)

permanent markers

scissors

oven (200 degrees)

foil

cookie sheet

oven mitts

hot glue

Instructions:

1. Draw on plastics with markers and cut into pieces

2. Put on foil lined cookie sheet and put in 200 degree oven

3. Watch closely. #6 plastics only need 1 to 2 minutes

4. Hot glue together

Tips:

*They cool quickly

* Make sure the plastics are clean

* The plastics should not smell but leave windows open

Cardboard Sculpture

THIS blog photo reminded me of a project I did with a student years ago.

We used a 3D puzzle for our piece design. We used the shadow of the pieces to make it bigger.
We cut thick cardboard with exacto knives then taped the edges with colored duct tape.

Using Leftovers

Use up that paint and other materials you have on hand that last day.
I saw the dog painting HERE.

Supplies:

poster board (the ones you have covering the table to catch spills!)
left over acrylic and tempera paints

little notecards

glue

oil pastels, chalk pastels, crayons, whatever you have

Instructions:

1. Have children look at images eyes and noses on note cards practicing how they look. This can be done when children are arriving one day or if children get done early with a project.

2. Use the poster board from the table that already has paint on it. Glue the eyes and nose on the board where you think they should go. Add a nose and ears then begin painting the face.

3. Cover all the poster board with paint then add details with other drawing materials.

Tips:

* This is a great way to use materials you have on hand. It is fun to make the image so big on the poster board.

* This is a last day activity.

Or just roll up scrap papers and hot glue onto painted cardboard for a cool city!

Acrylic on Glass Bottles

THIS lesson is great for older students learning about an artist.

Simply gesso a glass bottle then paint on it with acrylic paint.

Clay Stamp

THIS is so cool. I can make a stamp any shape I want with oil clay.

Supplies:

oily clay (non-air dry)

ink pads

paper (previously used paper)

pencils, paperclips, things with texture

Instructions:

1. Make a shape out of the clay (leaves and petals or push a toy into it)

2. Push clay into inkpad

3. Stamp paper, nice to make a pattern

Tips:

* This is the clay you could use for the plaster a paris relief, so you could use it again here.

* This clay is also fun to make little boats out of to float in your bubble solution when you make bubble prints.

* These prints look great over top of the watercolors the children made.

*Smaller children need help to be gentle to not smoosh the image they made in the clay.

*If you have Legos, these are also fun to stamp with.

Acrylic printing, watercolor and colored pencils.

THIS image made me try doing something similar with my two year old. I think, this could work for teaching simple printmaking.

From teacher who taught the lesson:
"Fourth graders learned about the printmaking process in this lesson. We used white tempera paint to print leaves on a black background. Colored pencils were used to shade in the color, and tempera paint was used to sponge paint the background."

This is also just a fun project to do after a walk of collecting leaves.

Pop out photo

THESE photos looked so good. This is fun for older students to do but would be too difficult for young students to cut the image and to know how to layer the image. This would be even cooler if it was from a photo the student took.

Supplies:

black and white image (multiple copies)

scissors

cardboard

spray adhesive

foam squares for the depth

Instructions:

1. Cut and layer the image

Tips:

*This is for older students.

* Think about your layers before you cut.


* I like cardboard layers between instead of just the foam layering squares to make the images sturdier and easier to handle.

Wire and Hose

THESE and THESE inspired me to make these.

Supplies:

Wire hanger (you could ask a neighborhood dry cleaner for donations)

Knee high stocking

Latex paint or white gesso and acrylic paints

Wooden square base (optional)

Any additions

Instructions:

1. Bend wire into a circle and twist.

2. Attach to wooden base (if using) then cover with nylon stocking and tie in knot

3. Paint with latex paint or white gesso let dry then acrylic paint

4. Glue any additions (if using)

Tips:

* To make this more challenging for older students they can make the form into something. Students just have fun painting the sculpture.

* You have to gesso the nylon if you are going to use acrylic or it won't be strong enough and the paint will crack.

* Old house paint (latex) works well. Or purchase 'oops' paints for a few dollars at your local home improvement store.

Domino Magnets

Stamp with StazOn ink onto dominoes. (These are little dominoes from the Dollar Tree.)
Dollar Tree dominoes



Alcohol inks drying on dominoes. Well worth the extra step because it makes them so pretty.



So much fun to color. Any age can do it. These were made by my two year old. She loved having ornaments on the tree she made and giving magnets to people's homes we visited in December.



Small puzzle we made with a large stamp and small dominoes. We colored in the background with a pattern to help the two year old put the puzzle together but she did like it.



THIS is a great site that helped me successful at this project after my first attempted failed. (My image looked boring then started to wipe off. You HAVE to seal these. )


Dominoes- Magnets, Ornaments & Necklaces

Supplies:
Dominoes (Dollar Tree has mini dominoes used for necklaces) (at least, one for each child)
Permanent markers
Perfect Medium clear ink pad; makes chalk stick ($3 @Michael's)
Chalk pastels or chalk squares
Q-tips
Stamps
StazOn Permenant Ink Pad ($8 @Michael's)
Sealent choices :
Mod-podge or
Krylon's Gloss UV-Resistant Clear Acrylic Coating or
Varathane Polyurethane-Interior Water Based spray
Magnets
Ribbon
Hot glue gun

Instructions:
Stamp the dominoes with the StazOn ink. Let dry.
1.) Draw on dominoes with permanent markers.
2.) Put domino in Perfect Medium clear ink.
3.) Color with chalk on Q-tips
4.) Hot glue magnet on back or ribbon around edge
5.) Seal with one of the listed supply items
6.) Let dry.

Tips:
*You need to stamp the dominoes. The ink is permanent on EVERYTHING and it takes time to dry.
* This is a cute gift project. If you purchase small dominoes at the Dollar Tree students can make multiple.
*Alcohol Ink will stain dominoes as well. If you are purchasing alcohol inks for another project, they would be fun to use with this project also.