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 these.– – –
Grades 6 – 12
Week of April 14 – 18
1 Hour & 45 Minutes
Student Work
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 Minutes – Draw animal in charcoal from reference
10 min – Show dance video, practice movement
10 min – Draw animal in pencil
2 min – Set up for ink
10 min – Paint with ink on sketch paper
10 min – Create final ink on watercolor paper
10 min – Experiment with color
10 min – If time, add color to ink
2 Min – Everyone helps
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.
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
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.
1.1 Print
Reference
Expressive Animals
Cut images apart and print enough for each student to choose from several.
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. Next week you’ll add watercolor to the drawings.”
1.3 draw
“We often draw using our hand and fingers to move the pencil or brush. Today you should use your arm with large sweeping movements.
Make every line important. Take your time in-between each stroke to plan where you’ll draw the line.”
1.5 draw
Advanced Student Lesson
CREATIONS - tap here to open
Our Creations lessons are for students who have completed the two years of Foundations and are ready to begin using all that they have learned to create new work. These more challenging versions of the same concepts and techniques are easily taught along-side students in the Foundations course. This allows for excellent review, and is encouraging for students to see progress from each viewpoint.
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
Play video and instruct while it plays
“Notice how smooth and fluid the dancer’s movement is. Artists use similar movements to paint. If your movement is all exactly the same, then the dance would be kind of boring. The same is true with painting. You want to create variety in your movement, but also flow with the subject matter. Be in tune with what your are drawing, the same way that the dancer is in tune with the music.
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
Show Examples. Here are two links. One is a contemporary artist, and the other is to a Pinterest board of traditional Sumi-e work. Show these examples while your students work if you have time. You can save the artist link until a later step today if you want, but try to show the Sumi-e work now.
“Tell your students to behave! They are crazy and getting out of control.
Also, the coffee is cold and I’m starting to get cranky. This is placement text to simulate a real teacher talk which does not currently exist in this space. This is due to the fact that the coffee is cold and I’m starting to get cranky. This is placement text to simulate a real teacher talk which does not currently exist in this space. This is due to the fact that the coffee is cold and I’m starting to get cranky. This is placement text to simulate a real teacher talk which does not currently exist in this space. This is due to the fact that …”
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
Set up work area
“Ink is wonderful – yet horrible. It’s easily spilled and hard to clean up. It is waterproof, and stains everything it touches. Unlike paint, it runs everywhere and gets on things you didn’t think it could. You should be very careful when opening ink.
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.
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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
Practice Random Lines
“Use a medium small brush and ink to draw some random lines only, on a piece of sketch paper. Try a few times, and work to get good, deliberate movements as you draw.
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
Practice Animal
“Now try your hand on a new piece of paper and create a line drawing of your animal.”
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
Brushes should be nylon for springiness and durability. Round brushes are the most versatile.
6.1 prep
6.2 create
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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
- palette
8.1 Set up
Set up for watercolor by mixing up acrylic pigments and watering them down on the palette til they have a 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
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
11.2 PHOTO
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.
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
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.
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.
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.