Lesson At A Glance

Here’s a brief overview of the complete lesson. It’s also on your prep page in the Ready, Set, Go! section (below the lesson).

Colored buttons jump to each section in the full lesson plan below.

20 Minutes – Students draw design motifs

10 Min – Cut and name printing papers

15 Min – Paint 2-3 dark papers

20 Min – print 2-3 translucent layered papers

5 Min – Cut 6 white papers

10 Min – Thumbnail designs

20 Min – Choose, draw, and plan

5 Min – Clean and organize

Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.

SCROLL & TEACH

LESSONPLAN

Each section is a different color. Read over once and then you can SCROLL & TEACH using any device you like. It’s designed to work well with your phone.

Students set up for sketching. Have everyone choose several references to create motif sketches from. This is practice sketching, and the purpose is to learn shapes and experiment.

While they work, explain that artists often use nature as an inspiration for their own stylized versions of images. You can copy directly from some designs, or use the photo reference to learn shapes of birds and flowers.

Encourage simplification of the photos. There is NO WRONG WAY to experiment. If you don’t like something, that’s good because it gets it out of your way.

Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.

Students cut or tear large sketch papers. Fold the 14 x 17 paper in half twice, to create 4 sheets of 7 x 8.5 sized papers. Use at least two pages to create 8 or more printing sheets. Write your name in corner very small and save these for later. 

Now provide four sheets of 8.5″ x 11″ card stock paper to each student and have them write their name on the back. Wewill be using these to paint on in the next steps.

The first two steps in the lesson above are finished. I’m going to explain the rest of the lesson here.

FYI All of the printed references in step one are in the top flat file drawer. Birds, flowers, designs.

This is a two-week lesson. This week is all about preparation for making multiple prints next week.

Today we’re going to make several different things.

The first is the papers that we’ll be printing on. Some of the papers are blank, and some of the papers will be painted with acrylics to create a colorful or tonal background. The sizes are in step two just above.

STEP 3

Set up for acrylics.

> Make two of the 8.5×11 card stock sheets with deep medium tones. One can be bright and one more neutral.

> Make the other two light colors like yellow, light gray, or pastel.

Have fun and mix interesting colors. Set aside to dry and clean up all the painting supplies.

STEP 4 – Drawing

We need to plan our print design, so we start with thumbnail sketches. (Small and only big shapes inside a frame). It’s important to draw these so small that we cannot get into any details. The mind can design so fast that we have to make these simple layouts in 15-30 seconds, just using basic shapes to imagine a design. It isn’t art. It’s only a visual plan.

👉🏻 Make the design a silhouette – shapes and thick lines that can be cut out. Create 5 or 6 ideas.

> Then choose one or two and make final sketches. You make this the size of your print, which should be a 5″ square, or a 4″ x 6″ rectangle. (Note that printing papers need to be bigger than necessary and trimmed down later). Erase and correct or even redraw as needed.

Transfer the design to a sheet of craft foam by taping it face down on the foam and rubbing the back of the paper so that the graphite transfers to the foam. It will be backwards (backwards is necessary because a print will come out reversed).

STEP 5

Create two more Individual shapes that can be used as stamps.

> First make an accent shape. A small versatile shape such as a flower or sun.

> Then make a shape to use several times for repetition – a more complex silhouette-like image that is stylized (simplified). A fish, bird, or other animal shape works well. Find some reference and make a practice sketch or two.

Transfer final shapes to foam in the same way.

STEP 6

Use scissors to cut your designs out.

Keep up with the foam shapes! Use a baggie if needed to keep them organized.

NOTE: Teacher cuts pink base foam (in back) blocks in 5×5″ or 4×6″ as needed.

> Students glue cut peices to blocks using kids glue sticks. (Not hot glue). Press and secure.

Write name on back and set aside to dry for next week.

> Also glue the two individual shape stamps to small pieces of pink base foam. Add name on back.

This is the end of this week’s lesson info. Go as far as you can and pick back up next week.

All the steps below are just blank templates. Ignore. 

Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.

All materials are suggestions and may be modified as you see fit. We have tried many items, and these seem to allow the most versatility for the cost.

Brushes should be nylon for springiness and durability. Round brushes are the most versatile.

Paint pigment list:

• Napthol or Pyrrol Red
• Hansa or Light Yellow
• Pthalo Green (blue shade)
• Cyan or Cerulean Blue
• Ultramarine Blue
• Dioxazine Purple
• Magenta
• Burnt Umber
• Raw Sienna
• Titanium White (professional grade only)

Students set up their work area. Ask several people to go get water tubs filled, and others to find smocks. That way you have two or three groups in different areas so you don’t get backed up with lines.

Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.

All materials are suggestions and may be modified as you see fit. We have tried many items, and these seem to allow the most versatility for the cost.

Brushes should be nylon for springiness and durability. Round brushes are the most versatile.

Paint pigment list:

• Napthol or Pyrrol Red
• Hansa or Light Yellow
• Pthalo Green (blue shade)
• Cyan or Cerulean Blue
• Ultramarine Blue
• Dioxazine Purple
• Magenta
• Burnt Umber
• Raw Sienna
• Titanium White (professional grade only)

Students set up their work area. Ask several people to go get water tubs filled, and others to find smocks. That way you have two or three groups in different areas so you don’t get backed up with lines.

Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.

All materials are suggestions and may be modified as you see fit. We have tried many items, and these seem to allow the most versatility for the cost.

Brushes should be nylon for springiness and durability. Round brushes are the most versatile.

Paint pigment list:

• Napthol or Pyrrol Red
• Hansa or Light Yellow
• Pthalo Green (blue shade)
• Cyan or Cerulean Blue
• Ultramarine Blue
• Dioxazine Purple
• Magenta
• Burnt Umber
• Raw Sienna
• Titanium White (professional grade only)

Students set up their work area. Ask several people to go get water tubs filled, and others to find smocks. That way you have two or three groups in different areas so you don’t get backed up with lines.

Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.

All materials are suggestions and may be modified as you see fit. We have tried many items, and these seem to allow the most versatility for the cost.

Brushes should be nylon for springiness and durability. Round brushes are the most versatile.

Paint pigment list:

• Napthol or Pyrrol Red
• Hansa or Light Yellow
• Pthalo Green (blue shade)
• Cyan or Cerulean Blue
• Ultramarine Blue
• Dioxazine Purple
• Magenta
• Burnt Umber
• Raw Sienna
• Titanium White (professional grade only)

Students set up their work area. Ask several people to go get water tubs filled, and others to find smocks. That way you have two or three groups in different areas so you don’t get backed up with lines.

Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.

All materials are suggestions and may be modified as you see fit. We have tried many items, and these seem to allow the most versatility for the cost.

Brushes should be nylon for springiness and durability. Round brushes are the most versatile.

Paint pigment list:

• Napthol or Pyrrol Red
• Hansa or Light Yellow
• Pthalo Green (blue shade)
• Cyan or Cerulean Blue
• Ultramarine Blue
• Dioxazine Purple
• Magenta
• Burnt Umber
• Raw Sienna
• Titanium White (professional grade only)

Students set up their work area. Ask several people to go get water tubs filled, and others to find smocks. That way you have two or three groups in different areas so you don’t get backed up with lines.

Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.

All materials are suggestions and may be modified as you see fit. We have tried many items, and these seem to allow the most versatility for the cost.

Brushes should be nylon for springiness and durability. Round brushes are the most versatile.

Paint pigment list:

• Napthol or Pyrrol Red
• Hansa or Light Yellow
• Pthalo Green (blue shade)
• Cyan or Cerulean Blue
• Ultramarine Blue
• Dioxazine Purple
• Magenta
• Burnt Umber
• Raw Sienna
• Titanium White (professional grade only)

Students set up their work area. Ask several people to go get water tubs filled, and others to find smocks. That way you have two or three groups in different areas so you don’t get backed up with lines.

Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.

All materials are suggestions and may be modified as you see fit. We have tried many items, and these seem to allow the most versatility for the cost.

Brushes should be nylon for springiness and durability. Round brushes are the most versatile.

Paint pigment list:

• Napthol or Pyrrol Red
• Hansa or Light Yellow
• Pthalo Green (blue shade)
• Cyan or Cerulean Blue
• Ultramarine Blue
• Dioxazine Purple
• Magenta
• Burnt Umber
• Raw Sienna
• Titanium White (professional grade only)

Students set up their work area. Ask several people to go get water tubs filled, and others to find smocks. That way you have two or three groups in different areas so you don’t get backed up with lines.

Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.

All materials are suggestions and may be modified as you see fit. We have tried many items, and these seem to allow the most versatility for the cost.

Brushes should be nylon for springiness and durability. Round brushes are the most versatile.

Paint pigment list:

• Napthol or Pyrrol Red
• Hansa or Light Yellow
• Pthalo Green (blue shade)
• Cyan or Cerulean Blue
• Ultramarine Blue
• Dioxazine Purple
• Magenta
• Burnt Umber
• Raw Sienna
• Titanium White (professional grade only)

Students set up their work area. Ask several people to go get water tubs filled, and others to find smocks. That way you have two or three groups in different areas so you don’t get backed up with lines.

Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.

Students set up their work area.

• Wash hands
• Super-wash brushes if used
• Put art supplies away
• Wipe tables & toss trash
• Remove any smocks (last)
• Check for items on floors and tables

Try to get photos of your student’s artwork. Find a good spot for quick lighting without highlights or shadows from your hands and device. Ideally in-between two strong lights on each side.

Make sure you see the kids connect with parents and tell them about the class if you can!

Connect the Heart

This lesson is about fun and self-expression

Have a bunch of amazing supplies ready, and cut a few things apart before-hand in a way that make you look amazing.

Print all of your PDFs from the lesson plan and cut any references apart as needed.

STUDENT’S

MATERIALS

• 14″ x 17″ Sketch Paper
• 11″ x 15″ watercolor paper
• 2B Pencil
• 4B pencil
• Ebony pencil
• Black Sharpie
• Markers
• India ink
• Ink dip pen with metal nib (not too sharp a point)
• Soft compressed charcoal sticks (not pencils)
• Canvas pencil (dark gray colored pencil)
• White erasers
• Kneaded erasers
• Acrylic paints
• Oil pastels
• Blender sticks (stumps)
• Sandpaper boards (to clean blenders)
• Paper palette pad, or disposable trays/plates
• 11″ x 14″ Canvas (loose or from real canvas pad)
• Canvas boards (optional)
• Tape – blue painter’s tape
• Brushes – All sizes

Week #

Month 1 – 5

Students will learn cool stuff.

Week #

Month 1 – 5

Students will learn cool stuff.

Use this button to view our parent’s blog. Share the link: http://parentart.org, with your student’s parents so your they can read about the lesson each week.