Monet's Mural

This is a wonderful mural to create!  I put up two rows of white bulletin board paper and framed it in a black paper with big scallop edges.

This is the mural in process.  I failed to take a final photo!  So sad - it was so beautiful.  You know, sometimes it is the best projects I failed to photography because I am wrapped up in the enjoyment of it all!!

Step One:  We painted the background with broad brush strokes of blue, purple and green watered down tempera.

Step Two:  Paint green construction paper with a variety of green and blue paint.

Step Three:  I gave the children tracers to make their lily pads.

Step Four:  The children then crumbled up layers of yellow and pink tissue paper.

Step Five:  They pinched the middle to create the flower and glued it on to the lily pads.

 Step Six:  They glued their flower to the pond.  You do have to wipe away drips!

 Child looking for a good spot.

Upclose view of one of the flowers.  So sweet.  This mural is just so lovely. . .

This idea was inspired by a picture similar online.   I broke this project into three sessions.  First session we drew the bird, second session we painted it, and finally we added the feathers and sequins.
What you will need is a white oil pastel, tempera paints, black construction paper, and feathers

 Step One:  In the upper right hand corner, draw a small circle.

 Step Two:  Draw a straight line out from the circle.

 Step Three:  Make a curved line from the line to the middle of the circle.

 Step Four:  Add three diagonal lines.

 Step Five:  Add curved lines to connect the diagonal lines.

 Step Six:  Add a little circle for the eyes and a triangle for the beak.

 Step Seven:  Add straight lines for the legs.

 Step Eight:  Draw a triangle for wing.  Draw curved lines to form the wing.

 Step Nine:  Paint the bird with tempera paints.

Step Ten:  Add feathers and sequins.

Noodle Doodles

Molly, one of the artists I worked with last week, did a classic activity but gave it a new name!!  Noodle Doodles.  The children loved the name as much as the activity.

 Step One: With a crayon draw a large doodle with swirling moves.

 Step Two:  Paint in the doodles with noodles of color!

The Importance of Play

Play is such a powerful part of childhood.  Here is wonderful video by the Alliance for Childhood:

Sun Print Paint on Fabric!

Michelle, the art teacher next to me at the museum, did the coolest project!  Oh my!  Did you know there is sun paint?  Just like the sun print paper!  What you will need:  muslin fabric cut to size, the cool sun print fabric paints (click here for source), cut-outs and found objects to put down for printing. Here is what she did:

 

 Step One:  Tape down a piece of muslin fabric.  Spray it with water to dampen.

Step Two:  Paint the fabric with the sun paint.  Then lay down the objects and paper cut-outs you will like to have a sun print made of!

 Step Three:  Weigh down the objects with rocks and weights.  Michelle says this will give you a better sun print with more details.  Put in sun (read your paint's instruction for time).

Remove objects and Ta da!

Turtle Art

This is so easy and turns out so lovely.  It is a guided drawing using white oil pastels and then painted with tempera paints.  The last step uses a metallic paint pen.

 Step One:  Draw a large oval that almost fills your paper.

 Step Two:  Draw another circle inside the big circle.

 Step Three:  Draw straight lines between the two circles.

 Step Four:  Draw a straight line down the middle of the inner oval.

 Step Five:  Draw four triangles but this time make the line curve like the shell.

 Step Six: Draw a half oval for the head of the turtle.  Add two eyes.

 Step Seven:  Add four legs using curved lines.

 Step Eight:  Paint in the different sections of the turtle.  Do not paint the background.

Draw a tail with a little triangle!

 Step Nine:  Add gold and silver dots!

Drip Painting

Step One:  Brush water over your whole paper!  Lots of water!

Step Two:  Using droppers, drip paint on to the wet paper.  (primary colors)