Negative Space Watercolour Snowflakes

This is a lovely winter themed art project that I saw on Instagram by the famous 

Lauralee Chambers🌀 @2art.chambers. Her creative ideas and output is incredible!

You need snowflake stencils for this. I ordered THESE and they're fantastic. 

Beforehand, we discussed/reviewed the concept of positive and negative space in art.

On a smooth paper, students traced their chosen snowflakes using water based markers.

Then add another line of marker so you have more intense pigment. 

Once the page is filled, students just used water and a brush and painted over all the marker lines, dissolving the marker into a pretty watercolour effect. 

I did this with a grade 4-6 class as well as a grade 7-9 class and they both really enjoyed it!

Grade 7-9 

Grade 4-6

 

Dutch Tulip Fields: One Point Perspective

 

Here is a one point perspective lesson that I teach to Grade 4/5 students. 

I've also adapted it to older grades.

This is a lovely Spring project I found on the wonderful Dutch blog "Kids Artists" run by Jacquelien:

http://kidsartists.blogspot.com/2009/11/dutch-flower-bulb-fields.html

I like any perspective lessons that aren't streets or city scenes as I don't like using rulers, lol.

I posted this lesson previously HERE so you can see all the steps.

I use the marker watercolour technique, but you could also use markers or colored pencils.

We use regular watercolours for the sky.

One Point Perspective Pumpkin Patch Landscape

This is one of my favourite Fall themed art lessons- I teach it to my Grade 6 classes every year. It reviews one point perspective, and shows how to create a sense of depth by changing the size of pumpkins in a field (small, medium and large). I give students a choice to create either a 'typical' fall scene (scarecrow, pumpkin, barn, etc) or to create a more 'spooky' Halloween version.

I previously posted all the steps HERE.

We draw them in pencil first, outline in fine tip Sharpie, then colour however you want- we use marker watercolour and liquid watercolour for the sky. I find Crayola markers work best for the marker watercolour technique.

The biggest challenge with this is getting the kids to draw the scarecrow, in the foreground, really large.

Paint the sky with watercolours.

Some Grade 6 results:

 

Goal Word Design using Marker Watercolour

This was my first lesson of the year with all my classes. It takes a while for our teacher schedules to settle down and finalize, so I like to have a straightforward but fun lesson to use with all my classes during the first slightly chaotic week.

I found this lesson from Molly McFee (@mcfeesartstudio) on Instagram. 

Not related to this lesson, but her collages are amazing!!

So students can to think of a goal word to summarize the upcoming year. They folded a piece of photocopy paper in half and drew it out in capital letters using a pencil. They trace over the lines using a king size Sharpie. 

Then they use water based markers and draw designs all around the word. Then, using a brush and water, they paint over the marker, creating a watercolour effect.

Some finished works from Grades 4 through 8