Keith Haring Art Project

I thought I'd revisit this lesson from a few years ago. It's a perfect lesson to get you through an end-of-the-year slump. 5th graders love the graffiti nature of this project. To expedite completion, use a smaller size paper.

Fifth and Sixth grade students love Keith Haring! They are inspired by the simplicity of his action figures and influenced from his break dancing and graffiti like-art.
As a teacher, I love this lesson. I pass out a container full of prisma-color markers and let the kids go wild! I only have a few tips for this type of lesson. Practice drawing the Keith Haring figure first and then tell the kids to color in their figures with a solid color.
We brainstormed over backgrounds, but mostly I wanted the kids to come up with their own. We spoke about color and energy, but really, the kids got it.

Line Drawing: Graphic Squares

Here is another take on my Line Drawing Series. These graphic illustrations are perfect for fourth grade when many children love to doodle. Instead of leaving the pictures black and white, you can take it a step further and either color in with marker or add watercolor paints.

Step One: Drawing a Grid
It doesn't really matter how the kids divide up their paper, but I can tell you what's easiest. Two straight lines across the paper and two lines down. Simple. Of course, some kids will go a bit crazy adding intersecting lines, but they will figure out that this method is limiting. But more on that later...

Step Two: Drawing Shapes, Lines and Patterns
This step can either be fun or frustrating. Many kids will go to town creating their lines and patterns, but many won't. Ideas will expire after the second square, so be a good Girl Scout and be prepared. Have a plethora of squiggles and patterns available to them. You can do this in a couple of ways. Either provide them with a handy-dandy handout (obviously this is not my method or it would be included in this post) or run amok and create some of your own squiggles on the white board. Brainstorm. Have fun. Create some lousy patterns and some good ones. Need not be perfect.
Tip: Use a waterproof black marker. Sharpies are the ideal choice but if such pens aren't available, use Prismacolor markers. Expensive, but are waterproof. To avoid the waterproof problem all together, don't use watercolor paints in Step 3.


Step Three: Coloring in...
As I mentioned above, you must use a waterproof black marker if you intend to paint the patterns. If you don't, you will end up with black smears covering the paper. I subjected one such class to this unfortunate blunder, and although the kids were enthusiastic in spirit, I know it caused inner turmoil with my young artists.
But let's face it, using markers is easier and requires less set-up. So dig out your bins of markers and let the kids go at it.
This is a great activity for kids to finish up during "free time" so keep the art accessible.

Step Four: Making the Art Dramatic
To kick this piece up a notch, add strips of black constrcution paper along the straight lines. Use a glue stick and make sure the kids snip off the ends. I think it finishes the piece well, but it does take some time.

Teachers note: This art project takes longer to complete than you think. I allowed two 45-minute sessions for this project and only 25% finished the entire project. Many kids didn't want to complete it becasue it took so much time, so here's a thought. Cut your paper in half. I used a 12" x 18" piece so reduce it to 9" x 6" and you'll increase your productivity.

Joan Miro Art Project

I'm always searching for one session lessons. You know the ones. Art projects that don't take two or three class times to complete. This Joan Miro inspired lesson is one such lesson. I teach this lesson to first grade but second or third grade would enjoy it as well.
First grade students have a good laugh as I explain shapes and lines, and drawing lines on shapes and lines over lines that sit on shapes.... you get the idea!

I've never done this before on my blog but it occurred to me that taking a photograph of my white board while demonstrating a lesson might help some of you visualize how I teach. As you can see, I display photocopies/print-outs/calendars of the artists work, a sample of the finished lesson and then I draw. I always break the lesson down into bits and pieces.


With the Miro lesson, I spoke about Miro's art in terms of shapes and lines. Explain the difference, especially for first graders. I like to draw a curvy line and ask them what it is. They say a line and they're right. Then, I connect the curvy line so that it becomes a shape. This way the kids see how a line and a shape differ.
Big oval head or small triangle head or wiggly, squishy round head. I draw all three and the kids can decide if they would like to copy or try their own version. I do the same for the body, giving lots of options.
I set out Crayola braod tip markers and black medium tipped markers and let the kids draw. Becasue there are few large shapes to color, this lesson doesn't take much time to complete. Only 40 minutes or so.

"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

Flower Drawings for Second Grade

Understanding how shapes come together to form pictures is one of the easiest and most satisfying lessons to teach younger kids. Many of my lessons involve drawing simple objects, and flowers are one of them.
The idea is to think about composition. Show the kids how drawing the centers of the flowers first gives them more control over how the final picture will look. Demonstrate how to draw large and small centers using ovals and circles. Then, show them how to add petals, make tulips, leaves, etc.

Draw as many graphic flower shapes as you can. Get their creativity spinning by showing unique flowers that have a square or triangular shape.
Now, give them a black marker and let them go.
After the flowers are drawn, it's time to connect them. By drawing one line from the side of one paper to the other side, connecting the flowers as you go, gives the piece a cohesive look. Double the line and the picture is ready to color.
You could use pencil crayons or markers for this part.

Hot Air Balloon Drawing Lesson for Third Grade

This is a simple, yet satisfying drawing lesson suitable for 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th grade.
Begin with a paper plate (8") , a small rectangle cut from tag board (approx. 2" x 3"), pencils and a sheet of 12" x 18" white paper.
Trace the plate towards the top of the white paper. Trace the rectangle a few inches below the circle. Now, draw sections in the balloon, beginning with a line straight down the middle and curved lines extending beyond that. (see blue shapes in sample)
Attach the rectangle with two straight lines, connecting the "basket" to the balloon. You can chose to have a rounded basket simply by rounding out the bottom of the rectangle.
Next, trace over all keeper lines with a black pen, add patterns and color in with markers.

Balloons were done by second and third grade students...