“Queen for a Day” Art Journal Page

One of the nice features about the pattern paper in the Strathmore Art Journal Kits, is that they are double sided. The back coordinates with the front, so colorful collages are possible without wasting a lot of paper.

1. I had students cut out a rectangle from one of their pattern pages, and then triangles from one side to make a crown. A small rounded rim was cut out, as well as 3 circles to stick on the top points of the crown. All were glued down to a white journal page.

2. The face and shoulders were drawn in pencil under the crown. When complete, all lines were traced with a fine-tip permanent marker. A writing prompt was added on a side saying, “My name is Queen _______.’

3. The face and hair were colored in with pencil crayon, and the background was shaded as well.

5. Don’t miss entering my Art Journal Kit Giveaway.

Hot Air Balloon Art Journal Page

Here’s an idea for using the beautiful pattern paper in the Strathmore® Art Journal Kits. Hot air balloons can tie in nicely with future dreams of travel.

1. Students cut 3 circles from the pattern paper, ranging in size from 1.5" to 2.5". The circles are glued to a white page in the art journal kit.

2. With a ultra-fine tip marker, students draw a basket under each balloon, and connect them to a ring around the balloon.

3. A travel wish is written around the balloons in permanent marker.
4. Using watercolor pencils, clouds are drawn, colored around and painted with water.
5. Don’t miss entering my Art Journal Kit Giveaway posted yesterday...

Recycled Turkey on a Stick

This ingenious idea for making turkeys from old food boxes comes from My Plum Pudding. It’s a great use of those colorful coated boxes that I love to collect.
This turkey is made entirely from cut up boxes that are attached to a 1/4" wooden dowel from Michael’s. This bird may look fairly simple, but I learned that the proportion of all the circles were important so I made a visual diagram for those interested in making their own. Click here to view.

Tempera Turkey Painting

This project uses the same drawing technique that I posted about here, but it's drawn in a large format (about 12" x 18") and painted with tempera paint.

I let the students finish the feathers in whatever manner they wished –with realistic or whimsical patterns. My goal was to have them practice their radial drawing with the feather lines extending out from the body. I compared it to the lines that radiate from the sun, which most students seemed to grasp, even the 1st graders.

Sundresses for Haiti now at 165!

I’d like to give a special thank you to all the amazing seamstresses who continue to send in homemade sun dresses for HOPE Art’s Dress Drive. Our original goal was 30, a new one for each girl, and our count as of today is 165 and still climbing!

For those of you who followed HOPE Art’s Kickstarter Drive to both deliver dresses and create more art in Haiti – it’s a done deal. The funds were raised and the travel plans for January are on! If you would still like to be a part of this dress drive, all goods are welcomed and may be sent to:

HOPE Art
c/o Earth Art Studio
767 Cathedral Dr.
Aptos, CA 95003

P.S. Thanks to Louee from Santa Rosa for sending in this lovely dress.

Recycled Pencil Stars

One by-product of art classes is lots of half-used pencils. I have boxes of them that are a bit too awkward to hold, but seem too long to throw away. I think I just figured out how I want to decorate our school hall next month.

1. Sharpen 10 pencils so they are all the same length.

2. Hot glue the tips together to make 5 “V”s. Let cool.

3. Arrange so that the erasers all touch each other and hot glue them together. Let cool. Flip over and glue the back joints as well to secure. I picture lots of stars hanging by string in our school hall. There may be glitter involved....

Pattern Cat with Markers

This drawing was inspired by artist Heather Galler. I simplified some of her details, but kept the basic brilliant idea of a cat filled with patterns for my next afterschool drawing class.

1. My favorite combo is using Sharpies and BIC markers on coated white paper. I bought some wholesale at Kelly Paper for about $14 a 250-sheet ream. For those interested, the exact name of the paper is “Tango Advantage C1S Digital, 27M 10pt”. As for color, the Sharpies and BICs have such sophisticated palettes that they put any other class markers to shame. Students begin by drawing a cat head and body and tail with a pencil. The facial features are added and all lines are traced in black.

2. Students divide up the body with a series of squares and rectangles and trace in black.

3. The boxes and rectangles are colored in with markers. When dry, lines may be added inside at will.

4. After the body is colored in, stars and a background color may be added as well.

My Neighborhood Drawing

Third grade students in my school have a neighborhood theme with their reading work right now, so I thought I’d try out a map-type project for them. It worked well as students began with some guidelines but then were then left to add things on their own.

1. Each student got an 11" x 17" sheet of cardstock paper, printed with very light gridlines you can download HERE. I had cardboard rectangles (8.5" x 5") for students to stack and trace to divide the paper into 3 sections.

2. The middle block was saved for our school, drawn flat to keep things simple. Streets and cars could be added, but no people as they often turn out to be a distraction.

3. The “block” above and below could be any building in the area, drawn in pencil and then traced with marker.

4. Art was filled in with colored pencil. I liked how students were engrossed in remembering all the buildings in our neighborhood as they made their art.