An Oldie but a Goodie... Crayon Batik!

Its SPRING!  And I think anyone who lived through this past nasty winter is VERY ready for it!!  We decided to celebrate it in the Art room with the 4th graders’ art project.  Its an oldie but a goodie…crayon batik!! 

We start with a little background info on fabric batik and look at some examples from different cultures. 

The process - although I’m sure you already know it - is to simply color heavily on printer paper (heavier paper does not seem to work as well) and outline each object in black crayon.  We chose to do a “Spring” theme because we were all very excited that its starting to warm up and we can be OUTSIDE! 

After coloring every single part of the paper with crayon (anything left white will turn black/gray)

students gently “crinkle” the paper by balling it up and flattening it out a couple of times.

Then we paint!  We cover the paper with watered down black tempera paint and then gently wipe the excess off with paper towels.  It settles beautifully in the creases and gives a lovely batik effect.  The “wow factor” of having the kids paint over their crayon art with black paint is pretty cool…they kind of freak out - until they see how neat these turn out. I love introducing them to new processes and ways of creating! 

Happy Spring!!

Textured Monsters and Aliens

Nothing is more fun than giving kids the opportunity to use their imagination!  This 4th grade project is a great way to do just that, while we study texture at the same time.  

We start out by talking about texture and then exploring the Art room and the hallway, gym and foyer area and searching for textures to do as crayon rubbings.  Students have a great time collecting rubbings and labeling their textures.

Then we come back to the room and talk about designing something that has never been seen before.  I invite them to turn on the pictures in their heads and design a (friendly) monster or alien!  

When designing, I ask them to think about how they will address:
* the facial features
* the limbs 
* the torso  
They are challenged to incorporate as many interesting shapes into their creatures as they can.

AND THEN…texture time!  We get our texture on by overlapping small pieces of masking tape on select areas of the monster or alien and using our trusty crayons to color. (We don’t use crayons much in my art classes…is that weird?)

We talk about the color rule we use in every grade and with every medium: coloring is ALWAYS more interesting when you mix colors…whether its paint, colored pencils, pastels or crayons.  The taped area takes this blending of colors especially well and their monster and alien creations have so much personality!  

Happy Creating!

Crayon and Watercolor Pumpkins

For most of my teaching career, I have been a 7th - 12th grade Art teacher.  I enjoy teenagers and (aside from the crazy hormones) really have fun connecting with and helping them mature into the lovely human beings they will become.  A few years ago, I added 4th, 5th and 6th grade to my teaching repertoire.  Welcome to a whole new world! - I’m still adjusting to that addition to my curriculum.

Yesterday, I got to branch out even further when one of the lower elementary teachers asked if I would mind being the “prize” for a behavior program in her second grade class.  If her students fill a bucket with their good behavior certificates, they get to choose an activity as a reward.  I was so happy to be chosen as the reward!

SOOOOO....I had freshmen and juniors in my afternoon classes and then the second graders showed up!  What an exuberant, messy, joyful, excited group of students!  When they all actually “OOOOHHHH’ed” after I showed them what happens when you paint with watercolor over crayon, I felt like a rockstar!

It hurts my heart that the only Art our lower elementary students get is in their classrooms.  Those awesome teachers do a good job of giving them some Art experiences, but they have so many other things to worry about teaching, it gets tricky for them.  With our block schedule, there is no time in my day to add any more classes.  SO - if I can be the “prize” now and then...I am happy to oblige.

This simple project just goes to show that a little inspiration can go a long way with the delicious creativity of a child.  I showed the students how to draw a couple of different pumpkins and talked about overlapping shapes with them.  We put some details on our pumpkins and added some background patterns.  

 I told them to use their muscles when they color - but not so much that they’d break their crayons (and a few did.):-)  We layered colors on and did some outlining.

Then it was time for the magic as I showed them how to paint with watercolors over their drawings. I encouraged them to use colors on the opposite side of the color wheel. (I threw in a little complementary color info, but I think that went over their heads a bit). Cue the “rockstar” feeling!

I was absolutely thrilled at the results.  Each artwork had its own personality and style.  Not once did a student say, “I can’t do this” or “I’m terrible at this” or any of the other laments I hear out of older students’ mouths.  Oh how I wish I could bottle that attitude up and give it to my big kids!  What a lovely way to experience an Art project!  Happy Fall everyone!