Pattern Cats

I have seen this lesson on several sites, but the one that inspired me first was from Techy Teacher (formerly the Art Kids). I break my lesson down into two, one hour sessions. I introduce lines, patterns and shapes, basic watercolor techniques, complementary colors and the American artist Laurel Burch. I have had success with this project from ages 5 all the way up to 12.

In our first session, we meet the artist and talk about how she uses patterns to make her art interesting. Using lines and shapes, I teach them two to three different ways to draw cats. I let them practice first on newsprint, and then have them use a pencil to lightly draw onto their watercolor paper (I encourage them to draw "big"). Then I let them "decorate" their cats and background. Lastly, we trace over the pencil with Sharpie and erase all our pencil lines that still show.

In our second session I let them add more pattern and color accents with oil pastels-I try to limit them to three accent colors. At this point I talk about complementary colors and encourage them to pick a "color scheme" before they start, trying to use complements by each other. Lastly, we go over basic watercolor technique and they paint their cats. I love seeing how unique each one turns out---don't they make you smile!

Painting without brushes

This is a simple, but fun lesson that I got from 123 I Can Paint, by Irene Luxbacher. This book has some excellent lessons for younger students. I use this specific lesson to teach primary and secondary colors, as well as complimentary colors. It takes about thirty minutes, but if you want to let them actually mix their own secondary colors, you can stretch it out a bit. It's a great time filler and easy enough for 3-5 year old students. You will need color construction paper or I like the color railroad board, tempera paint, paper towels and a lot of 3 x 3 (or various sized) cardboard squares. Place a small blob of paint to the far left side of the paper (as high up as you want your building to be). I always demo this process once for the students---with the cardboard square, have the students pull the paint downward, off the edge of the paper. I usually put the complimentary colors beside each other so I can introduce this concept. Repeat this process across your paper, varying the colors and the "heights" or placement of the paint blobs-they can even overlap some to add perspective. Next, do a black blob of paint at the bottom and pull it across horizontally to make the road. Now with a wadded up piece of paper towel and some white paint, dab some clouds across the sky-they can even go over the tops of some of the buildings to make the sky scrapers seem "in the clouds". With the end of a paint brush, I have the students use yellow or white paint to add windows to the buildings, black paint for birds in the sky, and yellow for the lines on the road.