Paper Chain Christmas Tree Card

I call this my “minimalist” tree card. Art stores like Michael’s have lots of pretty scrapbook paper these days; I prefer ones with a small scale print.

1. Cut strips of paper 5" long by 1/2 " wide and follow the folding and chaining technique on my post “Paper Chains, Gum Wrapper Style”.

2. Fold and chain 6 links for the bottom row of the tree, 4 for the middle, 2 for the top and 1 for the trunk.

3. Arrange the chain segments as shown on a piece of white paper, about 5" x 7" and glue in place. Glue the white paper to a slightly larger colored paper for an accent.

Highlight and Shadow Snowman

This shaded snowman project comes from “For the Love of Art” blog. Great idea that can have many upward levels of complexity added. Thanks for the idea Kristin!

1. I used my favorite scrapbook paper from Joann’s as they come in some really pretty packs of blue. A letter size sheet was folded in half to make a card, and I drew a very simple snowman on the front.

2. I traced the snowman with a black marker.

3. Highlights and shadows were added with colored pencils. When light shines on an object, the brightest side is said to have a “highlight” and the darkest side a “shadow”. When you start with colored paper, students can use white and darker colored pencil to accomplish this look.

Watercolor Gingerbread Cookie

My new watercolor project, Gingerbread Cookie Boy (or Girl, of course).  Kinders can concentrate on just drawing a large, symmetrical shape while 1st and 2nd graders can try adding a shadow to give their cookie more dimension.

1. I drew a large, symmetrical cookie shape on a letter size piece of watercolor paper. The outline was traced in crayon, and thick bands of color were added to resemble fat lines of frosting. White lines always brighten up the art, so I added a few. To make a shadow, color a black edge on one side of the cookie as shown.

2. I used brown Dick Blick liquid watercolor paint and filled in the cookie, over all the crayon. Lastly, the background was painted. You just can't beat how great crayons and watercolor paint work together!

Shop Project HOPE Art’s CafePress Store

I just created this new journal over at Project HOPE Art’s CafePress Store. It’s made with the mural students painted in Haiti during my visit there last August. I love the colors and think this would make a great gift for any art lover who can never have too many journals to sketch in. The price is $14.49 and $5 from each sale will go back to support Project HOPE Art. So let your holiday shopping dollars help a great cause while you get totally original presents for your friends and family. It’s a win/win!

Juice Box Apartment Buildings

I've found that turning a juice box inside out creates a great pallet for 3D art, especially when building features are applied. Using crayon on a corrugated cardboard surface also makes a brick-like pattern.

1. Each student got an empty box and were shown how to pop open the ends and ease open the slit on the long side so the box could lie flat. They also bent all the folds in opposite directions to uncurl the box.

2. With the glue flap tucked inside, the long side was taped with invisible tape. The ends were folded in and taped also. Working as partners helped so one student could hold while the other taped.

3. I handed out copies of my “Winter Town” sheet for window and door drawing inspiration. Students sketched theirs out in pencil and traced with a fat, chisel tip black marker. 

4. The entire building was colored in crayon, and right over the tape which helped to conceal it.

I’m featured on the new Strathmore ATC packaging!

Here’s a peek at the new packaging for Strathmore Art Trading Cards, made with Bamboo paper. This package of 120 blank cards includes an instruction sheet with two of my projects, “House on the Hill” and “Sea Life”.

I started collaborating over the summer with Strathmore, and could not be more proud to work with a company that has a long history of providing fine art papers to leading artists around the world. Stay tuned as I try out more ideas with these cards and share my results.

How to Draw a Snow Bear

This very simple bear drawing worked well today as students could concentrate on their coloring technique. Careful filling in of the background sky is what really makes this art successful.

1. Following the diagram above, students draw the bear and hat in pencil on letter size paper.

2. The bear is traced with a black Sharpie, and the nose and eyes were filled in.

3. The hat is colored as desired. With the sky marker color, snow circles were drawn and then colored around to fill in the sky.