Fall Leaves that POP!

Students in grades 4 through 6 created these autumn inspired paintings to learn about color contrast. We began by painting an abstract cool color background as the sky. Students used white crayons to create a sense of movement in the background. During the next class, students used styrofoam to print leaves. We drew detailed contour line drawings of leaves and carved them into styrofoam. We then colored the foam with warm color markers making sure to blend the colors together. The final class was used to create textured tree branches and add the leaves in a way that fills the space for an interesting composition.

Printmaking Flowers

Students in middle school created these flowers to learn about the art of printmaking. We began with a line drawing of a flower and used that to create the "block" out of styrofoam. Next, students colored the block with markers and pulled prints by lightly dampening a paper and pressing the block. Students created multiple prints and were able to experiment with color blending and different color combinations. We then chose the best prints and incorporated them into a uniquely designed drawing. I had the students do the drawing in black sharpie so the flowers would contrast and stand out as the emphasis of the piece. I love how each student interpreted the directions differently and used the flowers in a different and unique way!

Woven Snakes

PreK and Kinder created these woven snakes to learn about pattern, weaving and color contrast. We began by creating a painting by blending yellow and green together. During the next class, students cut out and added patterns to snakes in red and orange. We then cut the green/yellow painting to create a loom and wove the snakes in and out. The final step was to glue down the snakes once they are in place and add little tongues and eyes. 

Beyond the Border

This beyond the border art project is meant to explore the design principles of emphasis and contrast. Students illustrate some type of animal or insect and some nature in the composition with a square in the middle. Everything in the middle square should be in bright color and everything outside the square should be in different values of black and white. The entire animal or insect should be in color to create the illusion that it is breaking out "beyond the border." Students should use the rule of thirds to create an interesting composition while also exploring different colored pencil techniques.

Autumn Aboriginal

Students in grades 4-6 created these enlarged leaves in a traditional Aboriginal style from Australia. We began by drawing a very large leaf form observation. Students needed to make sure the drawing came within one inch of all four sides of the composition. Next, students chose two complementary colors to paint the leaf and background- the warm color was to be the leaf and the cool color was for the background. 

For the second class, students painted a strong black outline around the leaf and some type of veins as well. We watched Aborigines from Australia painting and learned about this style of art before adding our own dotted patterns to our paintings. We stuck with warm colors in the leaf and cool colors for the background. 

This project focused on color contrast, patterns and learning about the art of another culture. Students were very successful and enjoyed decorating these fun fall paintings! 

Autumn Leaves in a Van Gogh Sky

This is a great lesson for teaching observational drawing, color contrast, watercolor techniques and art history. And the best part: almost all students succeeded  in creating a beautiful painting! 

I taught this lesson to first through third grades. We began by completing observational drawings of leaves. These were then outlined with a black glue(Elmer's glue mixed with black tempera paint). During the next class, we painted in the leaves with warm colors. I showed students how to blend the watercolor paints to create intermediate colors. For the final class, students learned about Starry Night and created lines in the background that demonstrated movement. We also discussed how cool colors are opposite warm colors on the color wheel and how placing them next to each other creates contrast. 

This is a great seasonal project that introduces so many important design principles in an easy and fun way!

Zentangle Cityscapes

Students in grades 7 and 8 created these fun patterned cityscapes of downtown Dallas. We began by looking at the skyline of Dallas and pointing out the most iconic buildings. Students sketched the skyline and drew out different patterns within each building. We made sure to emphasize contrast with the patterns- buildings next to each other should alternate from light to dark patterns. We then filled in the negative spaces with watercolor paint- I let the students decide which colors to use but made sure they were making good color choices. 

Monet Style Autumn Leaves

Students in grades 4-6 created these autumn collages in the style of French Impressionist painter Claude Monet. We began by creating a watercolor painting using the three cool colors- blue, green and violet. We discussed using gentle curving lines to create the movement of water and break up the background space. To create the leaves, students used styrofoam to carve out a leaf. These were then colored in with marker and pressed onto a slightly damp piece of paper to create a relief print. When placing the leaves on the pond, we looked at some of Claude Monet's paintings and examined his use of color contrast. 

Emphasis Designs

International Academy students created these designs to learn about the principles of emphasis and contrast. We drew out grids in the background and filled them with detailed patterns. Students needed to create a variety of patterns that showed a range of different values. The overlying figures were colored in with markers or colored pencils. Students needed to have one letter or number that was the emphasis. This figure needed to be made the emphasis through size, placement and color. 

Warm and Cool Autumn Trees

Montessori students in grades 4-6 created these vibrantly styled Autumn trees! We began by making a simple grid and drawing a simple tree. Students learned about pattern and contrast by creating many different designs in each square within the tree. The leaves and background were then filled in using colored pencils and/or crayons. Students needed to identify the two color schemes(warm and cool) used in the artwork to create additional contrast. This project served as a great introduction to patterns and color schemes but also introduced the art style of Cubism, which we focused on more deeply in our current mixed media project.

Contrasting Color Fish

Students in grades 4-6 created the contrasting color fish. We began by creating a stencil of a fish to outline. Students were to draw a fish with lots of details- fins, tails and an interesting shape. Students then traced the fish several times on the page in a way that shows visual balance. We then added lines that mimicked the movement of water throughout the composition. The fish were colored in with  warm color markers and blended using a wet brush. Blue is opposite orange on the color wheel, so mixing different values of blue for the background created a nice color contrast to make the fish standout. Students learned how to create tints and shades of blue and again placed them on the composition in a way that shows balance. This was a great project to get students thinking critically about how to apply the principles of design to create a successful artwork.

Warm and Cool Autumn Trees

International Academy students created these vibrantly styled Autumn trees! We began by making a simple grid and drawing a simple tree. Students learned about pattern and contrast by creating many different designs in each square within the tree. The leaves and background were then filled in using colored pencils. Students needed to identify the two color schemes(warm and cool) used in the artwork to create additional contrast. This project served as a great introduction to patterns and color schemes but also introduced the art style of Cubism, which we focused on more deeply in our current mixed media project.