Style
Each lesson Plan focuses primarily on one of the 4 Cornerstones of Art:
Drawing | Painting | Color | Style
OVERVIEW
This week we will create an expressive ink drawing of an animal. Students that have time at the end of class will add oil pastel and/or watercolor to their works.– – –
Grades 3 – 5
Week of April 14 – 18
1 Hour & 45 Minutes
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.
10 min – Show dance video, practice movement
10 min – Paint with ink on sketch paper
10 min – Create final ink on watercolor paper
5 min – Intro to 3D project
2 Min – Everyone helps
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.
STEP 1. Warm Up
Students make charcoal drawings and learn about drawing with their whole arm. 10 MinutesLEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to sketch with acrylic
M A T E R I A L S
- 14″ x 17″ sketch pad
- 4B pencil
- Charcoal
- White and kneaded erasers
- Cheasel reference stand & clip
1.1 Print
Reference
Expressive Animals
Cut images apart and print enough for each student to choose from several.
Hand out reference prints. Set all of the images out on a table or counter, and let groups of students come choose what they want.
3 Pages – Opens in new window
1.2 choose
“As you look at the animal photos, think about which animal you would like to draw using lines. We’re going to practice line drawings and then use a brush dipped in ink to draw them. Once they dry you’ll add watercolor to the drawings.”
1.3 draw
Make every line important. Take your time in-between each stroke to plan where you’ll draw the line.”
1.5 draw
CREATIONS - tap here to open
Use the Student Instructions printout below to distribute to your Creations students. Tap the image to open the PDF in a new window.
More Expressive Animals
Overview: Advanced artists can work on their own expressive ink drawings or paintings using the advanced references below. Acrylic on canvas, or ink and watercolor can be used.
Tap images to open Creations Student Reference PDF (3 pages) in new windows
Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.
STEP 2. Dance
Students will watch a video and use their arms to make dance-like movements with their charcoal. 10 MinutesLEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to put emotion in their artwork
M A T E R I A L S
- 14″ x 17″ sketch pad
- Compressed stick of soft Charcoal
4.1 DEMO
After you have some good movement going, see if you can keep that movement and also create really nice-looking expressive lines. If you have a variety of motion, you’ll see a variety of lines too.”
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to draw an animal
M A T E R I A L S
- 14″ x 17″ sketch pad
- 4B pencil
- White and kneaded erasers
3.1 sketch
3.2 teach
Pinterest Gallery – Expressive Ink
Tap the icon to the left to open our special Pinboard showing examples of artwork to display to your class. See our Article for making Pinterest work on larger displays. You can also use a laptop or large tablet and gather everyone around like you’re using a book.
Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.
LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to set up their work area for ink
M A T E R I A L S
- 14″ x 17″ sketch pad
- Ink
- Brushes – Small and Medium
- Paper towels
- Smocks
4.1 setup
Of course, having a roll of paper towels handy, using a plate to secure the bottle to, and being careful, allows artists to use ink without too many mishaps. Electricity is dangerous, but we turn the lights on and off all the time without getting hurt because we use it properly.
Use ink properly!”
4.2 setup
Tape the ink bottle to a base, such as a lid or disposable saucer or plate. It also holds the cap so it won’t roll away and distribute ink where it should not be distributed. We use a bit of modeling clay and press the bottle into the clay to hold it to the plate. No pen is needed today.
Make sure the bottle is secure BEFORE you open it. Put the cap back on when you are not using it.
Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.
LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to work with ink
M A T E R I A L S
- 14″ x 17″ sketch pad
- Ink
- Brushes – Small and Medium
- Paper towels
- Smocks
5.1 practice
Accuracy is not the main goal. Making long bold lines that are confident is much better than accuracy for this type of work. Don’t make sketchy lines. This should look like you had fun when you drew it and like it was easy.
Put any pencils away. It is impossible to do a pencil guideline drawing of the animal first, and make this kind of expressive work. It should look very much like you did it all of a sudden, or what is called spontaneous. Take time before each stroke to visualize how you’ll do it.”
5.2 practice
5.3 help
Try not to say, “Don’t do it like that”. Instead say, “Can I show you something?”
5.4 Dispose
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to draw expressively with ink
M A T E R I A L S
- 11″ x 15″ or so watercolor paper
- Ink
- Pencil
- Brushes – Small and Medium
- Paper towels
- Smocks
6.1 prep
6.2 create
Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.
LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to plan their 3D Project
M A T E R I A L S
- Ink animal art (practices)
- Oil Pastels
- Blenders
- Sandpaper boards
- Paper towels
7.1 Color
Students can add oil pastels to their work. Encourage experimentation. This work isn’t what they would normally keep, so anything goes. Have fun, and see what happens.
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to brainstorm ideas for their artwork
M A T E R I A L S
- Final ink(s) on WC paper
- Brushes
- Paints (watercolor pans are best)
- eyedroppers
- Water tubs
- Paper towels
8.1 Set up
Set up for watercolor by mixing up scrylic pigments on the palette, then watering them down to watercolor consistency. Get 2 buckets of water, paper towels, etc. Make sure to mix the colors on the palette and also by dropping into wet paint.
8.2 Paint
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know the importance of cleaning up.
M A T E R I A L S
- Paper Towels
- Cleaning wipes
- Sink
- Waste baskets
- Well-lit spot for photos
- Camera or phone-camera
11.1 CLEAN
- 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
11.2 PHOTO
OBJECTIVES
- Practice and improvementin brush technique and using arm motion. Also in visualizing in 3D.
- Understanding how to express more than accuracy using line and ink. Also how planning and practice are an important part of artwork.
- Accomplishment in creating animal line art.
- Fulfillment from having many choices of expression.
TROUBLESPOTS
Small designs -in both the animal drawings and the cardboard, make sure students are getting their work large enough.
Intricate designs – Cardboard is hard to cut so shapes must be simple.
Inking the details – Simplicity is important. Wrinkles and other small details should not be expressed in the line art. These can be added later if desired.
ART WORDS
Sumi-e – A simple expressive style of line art that originated in China many centuries ago and is still practiced today. This is the Japanese name for it, which is widely used.
CLASSROOM
PREP
Print all of your PDFs from the lesson plan and cut any references apart as needed.
What your room needs
Here are your printable lists and room prep instructions.
Opens in new window
CLASSROOM
MATERIALS
- 8.5″ x 11″ copy paper
- Cheasel stand and clip
- Paper towels
- Smocks
- Cardstock paper
- Scissors
- Tape
- Flat cardboard pieces
- Box cutters (FOR TEACHERS ONLY)
- Camera or phone camera
STUDENT’S
MATERIALS
- 14” x 17” sketch pad
- 4B pencil
- Charcoal
- White and kneaded erasers
- Ink
- Brushes – small and mediu
PREVIEW
Week 35: 3D Art 2
Students will add watercolor to their expressive ink animal drawings, and then build their cardboard sculpture projects. They will coat finished work with gesso primer so it will dry for the next week.
Week 36: Final 3D Project
Everyone paints their project and finishes it up.
Firstlight Art
Bringing Great Art Instruction To Every Classroom
This is the curriculum site for Firstlight Art, created by Dennas Davis, illustrator of the original Beginner’s Bible, Betty Crocker Kids Cook, I The Fly, and many other children’s books. He has been featured in The Art Of Mickey Mouse collector’s calendar and Illustrator Masters. He has more than 5 million books in print world-wide in over 30 languages.
Dennas is the founder of Firstlight Art Academy in Nashville.
Dennas Davis
Founder
© Dennas Davis
All rights reserved. No copies of any of the content on homeschoolingart may be reproduced without express written permission.
Firstlight Art Academy
1710 Gen George Patton Dr
Suite # 108
Brentwood, Tennessee 37027