Red Birds in Snow

This is an art project I did at the local museum.  I used the extra large black construction paper (24 x 36) which gave it such a "wow" factor.  We painted this in three stages:

1. Drew and painted the bird.  Let it dry. (Used oil pastels to draw the bird.)
1. Drawing Instructions:
• Draw a large oval for the body.
• Draw a circle for the head.
• Make a small triangle for the beak.
• Make an oval with a tip for the wing.
• Add a tail feather if you wish.
• Add legs.
• Draw a baseline for the ground.
2. Painted the snow using q-tips and brushes.  Let it dry.
3. Added little details with oil pastels.  (The beak, eyes, wing texture, and designs.)

This student wanted to add clouds to her painting.

DIY Clipboards

I don't know about you but I love having a clipboard for every child in my class but holy moly that can get expensive!

Well, I ran into someone  (Stacy)  who came up with a DIY version and I couldn't wait to share the goodness!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• bulldog clips or binder clips (the binder clips are cheaper)
• 9 x 12 hardboard panel (Nasco carries one for 75 cents :: Click here)
• You could have boards cut at your local hardware store - but I like having the board's edges already sanded and smooth

Super simple - just attach the clip!  Done!

You are ready to go!

I use clipboards for guided drawings, group work, writing. . . . the list goes on!

TIP:   

A subscriber, Danielle, wrote me and said she was taking this idea and using it with her white boards.  Every student has a white board in their chair pocket.  (Check HERE for my DIY White boards)  She is going to add a bulldog clip to their white boards - and voila!  It doubles as a clipboard!   Brilliant!  Thank you Danielle! 

Bag People

It is always fun to use a new medium for an art project.  This project uses a brown paper bag for the painting.  This project could be used to paint large self-portraits or character portraits such as those in fairy tales.  Also cool idea for making a gift bag for a parent gift.  Lots of possibilities!

MATERIALS:
--brown bags
--black crayons
--watercolors or tempera cakes

Step One: Draw a large U on the top half of the bag.

Draw two curved lines for the eyebrows.

Step Two: Draw an L for the nose.  

Draw a stretched out m for the top lip.

Draw a stretched out u for the bottom lip.

Step Three:  Draw an oval for each eye.

Draw a circle for the pupil of the eyes.

Add curved lines for the hair.

Step Four:  Draw long slightly curved lines for the neck.

Draw another large u for the shirt neckline.

Step Five:  Make M's for the lace around the necklace.

Draw the ears with a c shape.

Using curved lines make shoulders.

Step Six:  Watercolor or tempera paint!!!

The Shape Robots

This is a great project for practicing the major lines in handwriting.  This robot is constructed using shapes and lines.  This helps develop visual perceptual skills, eye-hand coordination, and fine motor control.  I think it is very important to develop a climate of safety in drawing.  Each child will have their own level of capacity.  I insist on complete appreciation of all levels of execution.  It is very rare that I have a child who will feel frustrated.  I make it clear - no two drawings will look the same because we are not the same.

I use sharpies and crayons for this project.  I lead the children in drawing the robot in a "I draw - you draw" format.  I let the children have total freedom in choosing colors and how to decorate the robot.

 Draw a square.  This is the robot's body.

 Draw a small rectangle on top of the square.  This is his neck.

 Draw a circle or square for his head.

 Draw two slant lines to make the top of his arm.  

It is like a rectangle.

 Draw two more rectangles to finish his arm.

Add small circles for his hands.

 Draw two rectangles for the legs.

 Draw two rectangles for the feet.

 Draw two small rectangles for the eyes.

Draw a curved line for the mouth.

 Make two dots for the eyes in the rectangles.

Draw two square shapes for the ears.

 Add lines around the eyes and on the neck to give him the Robot look.

 Let's have fun and give him triangle hair!

 Ohhh! Let's add curls!

 Let's add slant lines on his body.

 Add a line to each segment of his arms and legs.

 Add details with your crayons.  Try to use just lines

and very little coloring.  Remember we are going to watercolor this!

 Let's watercolor him!

So fun!

Drawing Castles

This last week, I lead my kinders in drawing castles.  I adapted my original drawing instructions (see below) by adding extra towers to each side.  I demonstrated how to draw stones and bricks on the castle.  The children loved it!

Free Guided Drawing Book!!

I am putting together a little series of free guided drawing booklets as a thank you for your love and support over the last year.  It has been a difficult year with my daughter's illness (she is doing amazingly!) and my sister's failing health.  I cannot thank you enough for the emails, prayers and words of comfort. I adore my bloggy friends!

So - the first one is complete and ready for you to download!  It has a lot of high quality photographs -- so don't be surprised if it takes a few minutes to download. 

Click here to download book

If you have any trouble with the Mediafire download - here is a Scribd version!

Guided Drawing