Kindergarten Watercolor and Sea Salt

Visual Arts Kindergarten

Communication and Expression Through Original Works of Art

2.5 Use lines in drawings and paintings to express feelings.

In this lesson I wanted to infuse various media with musical rhythm.

The first part of the lesson focused on drawing lines with crayons while listening to

different styles of music. Each style of music helped fuel the style of lines created.

Once each student had finished using crayon on the watercolor paper,

we began to use a new painting technique the students had never seen before.

By adding water to the paper first, simply touching watercolor paint to the water

will allow the paint to spread fast through the water.

We discussed how art can act like a science experiment and show chemical reactions.

The paint touching the water, had a direct reaction that was visible to the students.

The students loved to watch the paint act on its own!

While the paint was wet, we created another chemical reaction

using the watercolor paint and coarse sea salt.

The sea salt acts like a sponge to the water, soaking it up and drying the water out.

This chemical reaction creates a very interesting effect to the paint by actually soaking up the color and leaving slightly less opaque spots.

When the paint has dried, scrape away the salt to be used again in

a future sea salt lesson.

First Grade Impressionist Portraits: Parts 1 and 2

Develop Perceptual Skills and Visual Arts Vocabulary

1.2 Distinguish among various media when looking at works of art (e.g., clay, paints, drawing materials).

Communication and Expression Through Original Works of Art

2.8 Create artwork based on observations of actual objects and everyday scenes

In the first part of one of my favorite painting lessons, the first graders learned

about the Impressionist painters of the late 1800s.

We discussed their radical use of color and how they were viewed by critics and

other members of the art world.

This lesson is conducted in three parts:

1. the pencil sketch - students learn step by step how to

properly draw a human portrait

2. outlining the portrait in crayon and adding a base layer of color using crayons

3. Using watercolor and sea salt to add the second layer of color

Stay tuned for part 3 and the final results, tomorrow November 29!

I placed images of famous Impressionist painters on the table to help

encourage students to use colors they wouldn't normally use to color a portrait.

Forth Grade Portrait Drawings: Part 1 and 2

Visual Arts Grade Four

Develop Visual Arts Vocabulary

1.4 Describe the concept of proportion (in face, figure) as used in works of art.

Skills, Processes, Materials, and Tools

2.2 Use the conventions of facial and figure proportions in a figure study.

Communication and Expression Through Original Works of Art

2.5 Use accurate proportions to create an expressive portrait or a figure drawing or painting.

This lesson had many goals I wanted the Fourth graders to accomplish:

1. Learn how to cooperatively work with partners to create a work of art

2. learn proper pencil drawing techniques

3. learn how to use proportion to create a portrait

4. Hone their ability to draw what they see, rather than what they think

5. learn to use shapes to draw a human figure rather than directly to details

Below you will see an example of the worksheet I handed out to the class

in order to help them understand how to evenly balance the facial features.

The bottom two portraits were initially empty so students could practice

drawing the portrait looking straight ahead and a portrait looking to the side.

Stay tuned... eventually we will be creating some very colorful backgrounds

to fill behind the portraits!

I handed out pieces of cardboard to the students so they could prop up their paper,

so they would not have to be limited to drawing flat on the table.

One at a time, students drew each other's portraits using proper proportion.

Some students really began to understand that you do not have to draw

a line using one deep, dark definitive line, rather you can use many different

sketch style lines to create a drawing.

When it was their turn to draw, the "artist" discussed with the "model" what

pose or position they were seeking. As you can see here, this is the "lounge" style.

Some students began to draw the body, head and eyes looking into a

specific direction.

Emphasis Drawings Stage One

Grade Four : Emphasis Drawings,

Media: Pencil, Colored pencil, Marker

Students will use rulers and pencil to create abstract emphasis drawings.

Color theme: Complementary colors

Skills, Processes, Materials, and Tools

2.1Use shading (value) to transform a two-dimensional shape into three-dimensional form (e.g., circle to sphere).

2.8 Use complementary colors in an original composition to show contrast and emphasis.

Develop Visual Arts Vocabulary

1.1 Perceive and describe contrast and emphasis in works of art and in the environment.

1.2 Describe how negative shapes/forms and positive shapes/forms are used in a chosen work of art.