Lesson At A Glance

A brief overview of each step. Buttons jump to each section for detailed information.

15 Minutes – Artists’ Choice (optional)

15 Min – Draw using recently learned observation methods

5 Min – Re-draw the flower using a black marker

10 Min – Show artist how to do an etching monoprint

15 Min – Students create a print

5 Min – Clean up painting

13 Min – Color flowers from steps 2 & 4

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 best with your phone.

Ask them to work with one piece of paper for a while. If someone uses the phrase, “free draw”, explain that artists’ choice is something only artists can do, while free-draw is something anyone can do. You want to use the phrase to elevate the students’ expectations of their work.

Everyone should take their time with the work and make a finished piece of art. Limiting the paper can also help kids focus on the work. If someone finishes in super-fast time, ask them what more they can do to the existing paper. Ask again several times – unless they appear overly frustrated; then you can allow them to move on to a new work.

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Help your student draw flowers from life or from reference prints. They will be using observation methods learned in the last lesson.

By this step, you need to have set up the flower vases along the tables. If you get into a bind and cannot find or afford real life setups, you can print the reference PDF above.

Don’t worry if they can’t quite wrap their minds around the idea of drawing big shapes first, or tickle lines. You’re planting seeds that will help them later. It takes a lot of work and practice to draw lightly (guide lines when their older). Never stress a child over doing something “right” or “wrong”. Just let them enjoy themselves, but mention these more advanced ideas so they understand them when they’re ready.

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Look at Pinboard of artwork examples of unrealistic colors, freaky fun colors and patterns in artwork.

Encourage students and help students as needed by asking questions and giving your honest responses. Later in the lesson, take a moment to get their attention and make the lesson point in the next step.

Freaky Flowers (tap any image to open viewer)

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Help students redraw their flowers. Students will need a fine tipped black marker and their drawings from the previous step

Once students are finished with their pencil lines, have them trace over their drawing in black marker. Have them write their name on the back and set aside for later.

Alternatively, you can have them redraw on a new sheet of paper. This is helpful if the pencil lines are too dark to erase. Tracing is great for this stage, since it will help them see the big shape.

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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)

Show your class how to do an etching monoprint.

Have your students watch as you do this demo.

1. Mix up two alike colors in your acrylic paints (such as pink and red, or red and dark red)
2. Paint a thin layer onto the wax or palette paper. Remember not to use this paper directly on a hard table surface – use cardboard or the back of a pad as a buffer.
3. Draw white lines (backwards!) by etching them in the wet paint using the eraser end of a regular school pencil.
4. Lay a sheet of heavy card stock carefully over the etched paint.
5. Gently rub all over or use a roller to transfer the print
6. Peel the paper up to reveal the print. IT’S BACKWARDS!

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Smocks should be worn, because acrylic paint will not wash out of clothing once it dries.

Have several acrylic paints already mixed for this. You can give students a choice between two sets of alike (analogous) colors, or just have two colors that everyone uses. It’s more fun when there is more than one color on each print.

Water based printing ink is great because it dries much slower than acrylics, and can be spritzed with a water sprayer to rejuvenate.

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• 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

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Encourage students to blend their pastels, giving them a paint-like quality instead of the crayon look. You can blend in several ways:

• Use a lighter color that is similar
• Use a white pastel
• Use a blending stick (paper stump)
• Use your finger and/or a paper towel

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• 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

Week 33: Starry Nights

Students learn how Van Gogh saw the world differently and how they can add expression to their own work. The Starry Night painting is viewed and copied as an exercise for how to add to what the world looks like with color, technique, and movement.

Week 34: Lizards & Desert

This is a fun project that uses several techniques to create a desert image with a southwest feel to it.