Winter Birch: A Watercolor Masking Technique

Using masking tape or painter's tape your child or students can create an evening winter scene of birch trees and snow.  The tape is used to mask the shapes of the birch trees and moon, while white crayon or oil pastel is used to draw snowflakes.  A blue watercolor wash is used over the picture.  After pulling off the tape (try to give the wash a few minutes to start to dry so as not to run) black or brown lines can be added as detail to the trees

Vocabulary to Introduce:

masking technique
watercolor wash

Materials:

-watercolor paper

-masking tape or painter's tape

-blue watercolor or watered down tempera paint

-scissors

-white and black crayon or oil pastel

Preparation:

Pre-tear or cut as many trunks and branches as necessary so that all you will need to do is hand them to the child or students to place on the paper.  Masking tape can rip the paper if it is pulled to quickly.  It sometimes helps to stick it to an article of clothing before handing it to the child or instructing them to do it if you can trust them not to fold the tape in on itself.  If you desire, tape off the other colors of paint so that they are not tempted to use them or place bowls  with the thinned tempera between seats placing  a paper towel beneath it to daub excess paint from the brush.

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

Modifications:

For older children you can allow them to cut or tear the tape themselves.

"Confetti Heart" Inspired Valentine's Day Card

The following art lesson draws on Jim Dine's "Confetti Heart" for inspiration.  Jim Dine is an American pop artist that was born in 1935.  Pop art was an art movement that emerged in the 1950's and featured the use of familiar everyday images as a subject.  This lesson uses a stencil to create the image of a heart on folded card stock with a crayon.  The card is completed by painting confetti-like lines with tempera paint in bright colors. 

Vocabulary to Introduce:
heart
pop art

Materials:

-card stock (for heart stencil and folded card)

-black crayon or oil pastel

-tempera paint (red, green, blue, yellow, pink, orange, black)

-paper plates

-cups/bowls for water

-paper towels

Preparation:

Place small amounts of the tempera paint on the paper plate (save the black to be added at the end).  Fill a cup or bowl with a small amount of water with a paper towel underneath to dry the brush off with each color change. 

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

 

Age Modifications:

For younger children

Precut the heart stencil using the negative space to allow them to draw the heart.  If you are using the heart itself, place tape on the back of it to keep it from sliding away from the child while tracing the shape.

For older children

Allow them to draw and cut the stencil themselves using a folded square of card stock.

Polar Bear, Polar Bear!

 Using chalk pastels on light blue construction paper, the child can create an portrait of this Arctic inhabitant.  This is a wonderful lesson for the winter and can tie into discussions of winter and the poles.  Be sure to explain the simples shapes that are used to create the parts of the polar bear as you create an example for the child. 

Vocabulary to Introduce:
geometric shapes (oval, circle, triangle, square)
chalk pastel

Materials:

-chalk pastels or chalk in various colors

-black construction paper

-aerosol hairspray or fixative

Preparation:

 As chalk pastels are messy be sure to cover the tables.  Place one sheet of light blue construction paper at every child's seat with chalk pastels between students.  When the students are finished with their art, spray the picture with hairspray or a fixative to set the pastel.  Do this in a well ventilated area or outside if possible.

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process: