From Snowflakes to Hearts!

After learning that no two snowflakes are alike, we discussed how to draw snowflakes. Students observed several pictures of snowflakes and learned that they are made using many lines and different shapes repeating. Students were eager to fill their pages with several snowflakes - NO two alike! We used oil pastels - a light blue for a guideline and then a white to help our snowflakes magically appear when adding a watercolor wash! Students were encouraged to add enough lines, and shapes to their snowflakes before adding any paint. They learned that a wash with paint is a very watery color that is painted over the whole paper. The blue color is very light and not too bright and juicy. Enjoy some of the little works of art....





The students are learning about Jim Dine. He was a modern artist who's work was predominant in the 1960's. We talked about Pop Art and learned that artists from that period created art about "pop"ular subjects. We then looked at several of Jim Dine's heart art and discussed what they saw in them. Students pointed out the heart shape as well as noticing many colors, lines and shapes - all very bright! At the table, the students started with a large heart using black marker and then crayon to exaggerate the heart shape. Students understood that this means it makes the heart shape very bright and pops off the page. They then added many shapes and colors inside their heart with crayon. The very last step was to use many colors with watercolors around the outside of the heart to finish! The results are amazing!

Snowmen at Night

Kindergarten artists read the story Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner. We then discussed how a circle is the basic shape of a snowman/snowlady. After drawing circle guidelines in pencil we talked about adding paint. Because it was a nighttime scene, we then added a circle moon and added highlights and shadows. Students learned that the highlight would be on the same side as the moon and the shadow would be on the opposite side of the moon.
The next class we talked about how we could complete our art. The students were quick to offer ideas such as hats, arms, faces, scarves, snow, etc. Before adding our shapes, lines and colors - we learned about how to use oil pastels and what makes them so special. I was so happy that the students recognized that they are perfect to use over paint because they are made of oil and much more "creamy" than a crayon. The results are impressive!