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In the first Art Start lesson, students learned the difference between painting and printmaking. First they painted tempera
snowmen on brown butcher paper. Then they made snowflake printing blocks by gluing styrofoam shapes to cardboard squares
in a snowflake design. Finally, they used the printing blocks to print snowflakes in the background.
snowmen on brown butcher paper. Then they made snowflake printing blocks by gluing styrofoam shapes to cardboard squares
in a snowflake design. Finally, they used the printing blocks to print snowflakes in the background.
Mary, age 8
Greg, age 5
Eric, age 7
For this figure drawing lesson, students posed for each other at the front of the class. They wore
dress-up clothes and used props to learn to draw the figure "in action". This gives young artists a
chance to draw difficult poses that incorporate bent joints and overlapping. And, of course, it's FUN!
dress-up clothes and used props to learn to draw the figure "in action". This gives young artists a
chance to draw difficult poses that incorporate bent joints and overlapping. And, of course, it's FUN!
| "Tommy wearing a hat" by James, age 7 |
| "Lauren shooting a bow" by Tommy, age 6 |
| "Hannah holding the American flag" by Mary, age 8 |
| "Eric playing the guitar" by Lauren, age 8 |
| "Mrs. Thornton catching a butterfly" by Hannah, age 5 |
After the students practiced sketching, they were ready to do a final
figure painting. Mrs. Thornton posed for the class, performing an
activity that the students chose. They drew the figure realistically,
then decided what type of background to add. Some added an
imaginary outdoor scene, and others showed the art room as it really
looks. The vibrant colors were achieved using crayons and
watercolors. A dry brush technique works well for details, and a wet
wash for larger areas.
figure painting. Mrs. Thornton posed for the class, performing an
activity that the students chose. They drew the figure realistically,
then decided what type of background to add. Some added an
imaginary outdoor scene, and others showed the art room as it really
looks. The vibrant colors were achieved using crayons and
watercolors. A dry brush technique works well for details, and a wet
wash for larger areas.
| A detail from Lauren's sketch, ready for a background and paint. |
| "Catching a butterfly in the art room" by Michael, age 7 |
| "Playing tennis" by Mary, age 8 |
| "Catching a butterfly in the art room" by Tommy, age 6 |
| "Shaking out a rug" by Noah, age 5 |
The featured Art Start artist was Pablo Picasso, who some call the father of modern art. The children learned about Picasso's many
styles and phases, including realism, the "Blue Period", the "Rose Period", and cubism. They found it fascinating that even though
Picasso knew how to make his paintings look "real", he chose to make them look abstract, or as one student put it: "freaky, but good".
After a lively discussion, students drew Picasso-inspired images with oil crayons on black or red construction paper.
styles and phases, including realism, the "Blue Period", the "Rose Period", and cubism. They found it fascinating that even though
Picasso knew how to make his paintings look "real", he chose to make them look abstract, or as one student put it: "freaky, but good".
After a lively discussion, students drew Picasso-inspired images with oil crayons on black or red construction paper.
Copy of Picasso's "La
Infanta Margarita" by
Hannah, age 5
Infanta Margarita" by
Hannah, age 5
| Copy of Picasso's "Head of a Woman" by Mary, age 8 |
For the next project, students spent three classes learning about weaving. First they practiced weaving with paper. The paper "looms" were
made by cutting slits in construction paper. Horizontal "weft threads" were woven over-under, under-over the vertical "warp threads". The
children noticed checkerboard patterns emerging as they worked. After they mastered these basic weaving concepts, the children were
ready to string cardboard looms, using black yarn for warp threads.
made by cutting slits in construction paper. Horizontal "weft threads" were woven over-under, under-over the vertical "warp threads". The
children noticed checkerboard patterns emerging as they worked. After they mastered these basic weaving concepts, the children were
ready to string cardboard looms, using black yarn for warp threads.
| paper weaving by Michael, age 7 |
cardboard loom with
warp threads strung
warp threads strung
| adding weft threads to the loom |
| finished weaving by Hannah, age 5 |
The second class period was spent weaving weft threads onto the cardboard looms. The weft threads included sticks, twine, plastic bags,
pipe cleaners, yarn, plastic mesh, tin foil strips, and even cut-up sweat pants. Each child has his or her own unique style, expressed
beautifully in the intuitive color sense and complicated patterns you see below. By the third class, the weavings were ready to come off the
looms. Students tied knots to the bottom of the warp threads to make "fringe", then popped the warp threads off the looms.
pipe cleaners, yarn, plastic mesh, tin foil strips, and even cut-up sweat pants. Each child has his or her own unique style, expressed
beautifully in the intuitive color sense and complicated patterns you see below. By the third class, the weavings were ready to come off the
looms. Students tied knots to the bottom of the warp threads to make "fringe", then popped the warp threads off the looms.
| Noah, age 5 |
| Claire, age 9 |
| Lauren, age 8 |
| Greg, age 5 |
| Eric, age 7 |
| James, age 7 |
The final Art Start project was a butterfly collage. A collage is an art project that includes cutting and gluing. Students shaped pipe
cleaners into the butterfly's body and wings, then glued tissue paper to the pipe cleaner frame. Decorations were added by overlapping and
repeating shapes cut out of various materials.
cleaners into the butterfly's body and wings, then glued tissue paper to the pipe cleaner frame. Decorations were added by overlapping and
repeating shapes cut out of various materials.
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January-March 2005
