Multi Media Winter Birch Trees

Painting birch trees is a perennial favorite in art rooms. And for good reason. They're easy, accessible and impressive.
I thought this take on the standard birch trees was equally as pretty.
I believe I found the idea on Artsonia, but shame on me, I forgot to note the art teacher.

Supplies:

White 12" x 18" Sulphite drawing paper (1 per student)
Tissue papers in warm and cool colors
Mod Podge mixed with water
Brushes
Black cake watercolor
Strips of white sulphite paper (see side bar for brand name)
Glue sticks
Scissors

Step 1: Creating the background
After a discussion on warm and cool colors, the children chose which temperature they preferred. Choosing only those colors, the children tore the tissue paper into small scraps and adhered them to the top of the paper using Mod Podge. Tip: brush both the paper and then again on top of the tissue to make sure it sticks well.
I encourage the kids to brush the tissue paper flat; no bunching.
Most important part of this step is to create a smooth line of tissue paper across the page. If the tissue paper has dents and cuts, it won't look like a horizon line.

Step 2: Making the Trees
Using scissors and scraps of white sulphite paper, cut long strips of curvy--not straight--trees. Vary the dimensions. Make sure no straight edges remain.

Step 3:Painting the Trees
Using black watercolor cakes, demonstrate how to vary the intensity of the black paint using water. With a watery "gray", run a strip of paint along one side of the trees, going from top to bottom.
Glue the trees to the paper, varying the distance form the bottom that the tress are placed (closer to the bottom, the closer the tree). Make sure the kids extend the trees right off the top of the paper.
Tip: The shadow side of the tree needs to be consistent.
Now, using a very small brush, paint black lines (use little water here) going around the trees for the bark

Step 4: Creating Shadow
Using a medium intensity black paint, brush "shadows" from the base of the trees to the bottom of the page.

Step 5: Step back and admire!

Penguin Painting for First and Second Grade

Penguins are a popular request in first and second grade. Students study Antarctica and are quite familiar with penguins and their habitat.

Drawing:
I begin the lesson by showing the kids how to draw a penguin, providing plenty of "options" so that each painting will be uniquely theirs.
Starting with a black oil pastel, draw in one large oval for the body and one small circle for the head. Connect these shapes with two graceful lines (neck).
Add wings, claws and perhaps an egg!
Next, we draw an iceberg or an ice shelf in the background. I explain what a horizon line is, and then show how a wall of ice can make a great back drop.

Painting:
Despite wanting to dip into the black paint and begin painting the penguins, I tell the children that it helps to paint the sky first. This way, the messy black paint won't muddy up the beautiful sky or the crystal blue ice.
Using orange, yellow, white and light blue, I show the children how double-loading the paintbrush can create a pretty amazing sunset.
Details:
When the painting is dry, use the oil pastel to trace over all black lines.

Adorable Close-up Snowman Painting

It's hard to resist adding snowmen into any art curriculum. They're easy to draw, familiar, and oh so cute.
I did this lesson with my first graders but it would also be a perfect lesson for second or third.
The whole point of this lesson is to have the children think about what the snowman would look like close-up. Most want to draw the three circles and get on with it. But I try to keep their interest by showing them what part of the paper to focus on.
First step: After drawing the snowman in black oil pastel (I don't use pencils for this project...only makes the kids fret about being perfect) they start painting the white snow first. Then, the dip their brushes in colorful paint and begin adding the details. Second step is to dip a Q-tip in paint and add the snowflakes.
Last step: outlining the black oil pastel lines again. Of course, wait until the paint is dry.

This painting turned out very well. The children were quite impressed with their new found knowledge on perspective.

Winter Scene: Drawing and Painting lesson

Looking for an easy drawing and painting lesson with a high success rate? Try this one. Even in California, most kids equate January with cold weather. I talk about how snowflakes flutter down from the sky and land in the folds of trees, forming clumps of snow. In first grade, we stick to the lovely aspects of snow. I don't mention how hard it is to dig out from under five feet of compacted snow. To prove that snow is indeed lovely, I have lots of beautiful calendar pictures of hand.

For each student, you will need:

• 1 sheet of 12" x 18" blue construction paper

• 1 black oil pastel and 1 brown oil pastel

• shared tray of watered down (just a bit) of white tempera paint and brushes

• small container of red tempera paint (shared)

Instructions:

Drawing the tree. I discuss how the trunk is thick on the bottom and as the tree grows and gets higher, the branches get small and thinner. I encourage the kids to think of the tree as an upside down "Y". I demonstrate how to add branches with the oil pastel, concentrating on making the branches narrower as they grow away from the trunk.
Next, have the student's create "bark" by using either the black or brown oil pastel.

Adding the snow. With a small paintbrush, have the students paint big swathes of white paint across the bottom of the paper, going right over the tree trunk. The kids can go up as high as they want, making sure that at least half of the tree is exposed. Next, have the student's paint small clumps of "snow" in the pockets of the tree branches.

Adding a red highlight. I ask the kids to paint something red on their picture. It could be a scarf for a snowman, a red fox, a cardinal, whatever they want. I resist the urge to show them a sample, because this tends to sway them into what to paint. Have the kids use their imaginations as much as possible. Although, if Ashley draws a fox, you can bet the girl next to her will as well. That's just the way it goes!

Now for the FUN part...adding snowflakes. My technique for splatter painting is to use a medium sized brush, dipped in white paint. Then, holding it about 2" above the painting, tap with a finger. Many art teachers use toothbrushes, but I find the spray is too small and can be difficult for little fingers to manage.
Just a big dollop of white paint and a good tap should yield enough snowflakes to satisfy first graders.

Collage Snowman Kindergarten Art Lesson

My kindergarten class had a terrific time creating their collage snowmen. It's a very simple lesson to do with this age group. You'll need two 30 minute sessions:

First session:
Cut small pieces of tissue paper into small pieces (violet, blue, pink and any other cool colors) and arrange on trays. Set tray in the middle of table for each group of kids. Demonstrate how to apply tissue paper to 9 x 11 white or light blue paper using liquid starch and a small brush. Encourage the kids to add tissue paper even to the edges-they can be trimmed later.

Second session: Put out a few colors of tempera paint (white, light blue, red, orange, black) and demonstrate how the kids might draw a snowmen. They have their own ideas, so I usually don't force them to stick with the three-circle theory!
Final detail: hand out a few sequins or snowflake shaped sequins to add on with white glue.

Results: Totally charming!


Foothill School Mrs. Feeley and Mrs. Scott's K class