"Painted Ladies" : Drawing Victorian Homes

Drawing detailed architecture can be difficult for any age but for elementary students, it can be daunting. These beautiful Victorian homes were created by fifth grade students. We decided to start the drawing in pencil and work to add finishing details with a black marker. It's one of the few art projects that begins with a pencil and eraser but a necessary one.
I can't give a step-by-step tutorial since I didn't take enough pictures along the way, but I will offer a few pieces of advice.
I start the lesson by explaining the defining elements in Victorian Homes and talk about the Painted Ladies in San Francisco. I explain how detail is important, especially around the roof tops and window frames.
Then, I pass out an assortment of cardboard templates. I use these templates for my Castle Drawings and they work wonders. Using tag board, I cut out an assortment of squares, rectangles and columns. Use whatever size is good for use. You don't have to be precise. Then use the cardboard templates to trace sections of the homes.
Looking at the student's artwork below, notice how each section of their houses is basically one of these shapes. The idea is to get them thinking in terms of quadrants. A square for the door area, a square for the windows, a rectangle for the roof, etc.
Have the students trace the templates in pencil, creating and building a house. After all the floors and sections are added, they can add windows, steps, doors, balconies, rooftops, etc.
Use a black marker to trace over all lines and add finishing detail such as brickwork and roof top shingles.

San Francisco's Painted Ladies










These Victorian homes were drawn by the fifth grade students in Mrs. Bosse and Mr. Ranson's Class

Torn Paper Owls for Second Grade

These adorable owls were created by my second grade students. It appeared to be the perfect project for them. Each student determined which owl they wanted to draw: in-flight or sitting. Tearing the bits of paper proved easy for their nimble hands. I'm quite sure that this lesson would be suitable for either first or perhaps third, but any higher grade might find the project too simple.

Supplies

• 12" x 18" blue construction paper

• Scraps of browns, whites, grays and black paper for the owl

• Bits of green, orange or yellow paper for the eyes and beak

• Glue sticks and scissors

• Black, yellow and white oil pastel for drawing the outline

Step: 1 Drawing the Owl

On the white board, I show the students how to draw a simple owl. I tack a few pictures on the white board to give examples of sitting owls and in-flight owls (Picture books are good references).
After my demonstration, you can either do a directed line drawing with the students, or have them draw on their own (About five minutes). Have them draw in oil pastel and if they make a mistake, either turn the paper over if it is major or simply tell them that they'll be covering up most of the drawing with paper.
Add stars and a moon and color in deeply.

Step 2: Filling in the Owl with "Feathers"

Provide a variety of browns, grays and black paper either in a container on each table or from a central station in the art room. Show the kids how to tear the paper into long strips then into small squares. It helps to have a bunch of feathers before gluing.
Now, swipe the glue around a small area and fill with feathers. Work fast before the glue dries!
Fill in the entire face first. Yes, you will cover the eyes but the kids will remember where they are! Get ready for step 3...

Step 3: Adding the Beak and Eyes

This is the only time the children need scissors. Cut out large circles for the eyes and another smaller circle to go inside the eyes. I generally let them chose their own colors. I like the eyes that look like fried eggs!
Do the same for the beak.

Step 4: Filling in the Wings and Body

For best results, encourage the children to use different colors for the body and wings. If they are the same, they tend to blend in together. Show them how to do multiple colors for feathers, stripes, etc.

Tip: Most kids can finish this project in two forty minute lessons, but of course, some need much longer. Keep a tray of "feathers" for future classes so when time becomes available, the child can return to his project and finish.

Alternate Owl Drawing:

SB Parent spotlights Deep Space Sparkle!

Hey! Deep Space Sparkle is in the spotlight! SB.Parent.com has a great feature on their site, call Moms on the Move. Check out my profile here.
Thanks SB Parent!

City at Night Skyline Collage

That Artist Lady offers a complete tutorial on this lesson. The fun part is digging into your gift wrap box and selecting the odds and ends that will become windows, smoke stacks and doors.
I did this lesson with sixth graders and initially thought the lesson would be to young for them, but it wasn't.
Drawing the city skyline was easy (I used my cardboard templates that I created for my "castle" project) and offered an assortment of rulers (different widths).
I'm afraid my camera wasn't cooperating when I took the pictures, so many didn't turn out. But still, you can see how much they enjoyed this project.
Thanks Artist Lady for such a great project and easy-to-understand instructions!

Planets and Galaxy Project for Fifth Grade

Inspired by the Spheres in Space lesson over at Art Project for Kids, I adapted it to include a sparkly galaxy and cut-out planets.

Step 1: Fold a 12" x 18" white paper in half. Using various sized round containers, trace 5-6 circles onto the sheet of paper (only half the sheet). Cut out circles and use remaining paper as a mat to protect the table.
Step 2: Color and blend colored chalk onto circles, blending right off the edges.
Step 3: Using white chalk, color in one edge of the circle to create a highlight. Blend with fingers. Then, with black chalk, color the opposite side (working with the round edges) creating a shadow.
Step 4: Splatter paint a 12" x 18" sheet of black paper. I like to offer glitter paint as well as white paint as options.
Step 5: Glue planets to galaxy.

Fancy Glitter Fish

I love seeing the expressions on my second grade student's faces as they arrived into the art room. Eyes wide, big smiles and yes, even a few squeals from the girls. These "Glitter Fish" are always a welcomed project.

I begin by asking my students the difference between a realistic and a whimsical drawings. They all know. After all, how many fish do you see wearing crowns?
I tell them that they can draw any type of fish they want as long as it has a body that is round or oval in shape, a mouth for eating, a tail for propelling and fins for beauty!
They get busy drawing in oil pastel (no pencils, please!) or crayons and then I pass out the paint. Not just any paint, mind you, but glitter paint.
Tip: The glitter paint I buy is somewhat of a disappointment. It's too sheer. So to remedy this problem, I add a few squirts of liquid watercolor and a dollop of Mod Podge to my glitter paint. Give it a stir and you have the perfect paint.

This lesson can be done in one 40-minute sessions. To add more interest to the painting, the children can cut around the fish and mount on pretty paper.

Ultimate Blog Party

I love parties almost as much as I love art, so after discovering Five Minutes For Mom's Ultimate Blog Party, I hopped on over and joined in on the fun.
I know most of you who visit Deep Space Sparkle are here for the art lessons, but if you're anything like me, I'm always curious what else is out there.
Are there any super creative parents who have art or craft lessons to share?
What about elementary school teachers...what are your favorite art subjects?
Maybe, there are more blogs out there, supporting art teachers, inspiring children or just plain having fun. I'd like to meet you!

Besides being an art teacher, I devote most of my spare time writing novels for teens. I'm not published, but would it be too brash if I said it was only a matter of time? I adore writing and creating and blog about both on my personal blog, Capturing Joy.

The Ultimate Blog Party is not just about networking, either. There are prizes! I can't believe all the inspiring moms out there who not only make great things and provide such exceptional services, but are willing to give some away!

My top prize choices are:
#44 Moving Forward A gift certificate for Usborne Books
#56 A suprise box of art supplies from KV Creative Designs
INTL19 A Sponsor Spot on Tip Junkie
INTL21 Blog/Web Ad pack from Foundation Studio
INTL61 Amazon Gift Certificate from Robyyn's Ravings

Click on the banner and join the fun!
Patty