Owl with Full Moon

In our first drawing lesson of the year we will design an owl perching on a tree with a full moon. The students will follow the principles of design that we discussed in the previous lessons. Using only pens they will follow step by step instructions during the drawing of the owl. I will emphasize the importance of observing the subject during the actual drawing process, looking at each element or step at least 3 times before moving the pen on the paper and learning to view the subject piece by piece like a puzzle and not the whole. Once the drawing is done they will use prismacolor markers to color it in a realistic manner.

Above drawings were done by students ages 5 to 12.

Primary Fish and Broken Color

On our second lesson for this year I will introduce the primary colors with a fun painting project. The fish will be drawn with simple shapes then the student will choose the three primary colors to paint them. The next lesson I will discuss the Impressionist and the use of broken color. After viewing examples of art work by Monet and Pissarro I will demonstrate how you can lay two colors side by side directly on the paper and then mix them very lightly to create the effect of movement resulting in broken color. The results were stunning!

Introduction to Drawing using Abstract Art

This lesson I introduced a method of drawing using the 5 basic elements of shape and design. After the students did several warm up exercises I showed them several examples of Abstract Art and then they did their own little abstract following the 5 basic elements of shape and design.

Wassily Kandinsky color studies

Students will learn about the Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky as they focus on his life as an artist and a musician. Kandinsky believed that art could visually express music and is credited for painting the first modern abstractions.We will discuss some of his most important works and then while listening to classical music from different composers we will use different media to create fun color studies inspired by music and by his famous painting "Farbstudie Quadrate".

Students images will be posted soon.

Macaw in the Amazon

This lesson we will talk about the beautiful Macaw birds of the Amazon forest and then draw and color our drawing. The student may choose from different illustrations of scarlet, hyacinth or blue and yellow macaw. Above drawing were done by students age 7 to 10. Notice how they added a waterfall in the background. Very nice.

Redoute' botanical illustrations

In this class we will learn about the 18th Century Belgian artist Pierre-Joseph Redoute' and use his wonderful botanical illustrations as our inspiration. I will teach the importance that illustrators have played through the history of Botany and the students will have real flowers to draw from. They will be amazed at how many different ways you can draw flowers. Above illustrations were done by students age 7 to 10.

Blue Footed Booby

In today's lesson I will begin reading a beautifully illustrated book "Booby Hatch" and then after viewing a short documentary on this very amusing and clumsy bird we will learn to draw it and then color our picture. There are lots of giggles during this lesson! The drawings pictured above are done by students age 7 to 10.

Humpback Whale

In this class the students will learn about the humpback whale. I will play the beautiful sounds they make and then we will draw a humpback whale in the ocean. Some students even add a baby whale! Above drawing were done by students age 7 to 10.

Henri Rousseau and the Toucan-Winter Session/2nd drawing

In this lesson I will discuss the works of the French 19th Century artist Henri Rousseau and introduce them to his wonderful jungle scenes. I will show the students many images from this great artist to help spark their imagination.

We will learn to draw a Toucan in the jungle. Will talk about the rain forest and all the diverse animals and plants that live there.

Our focal point will be the toucan and once they have drawn it then they can choose what other animals and plants they like to add to their composition. I want them to fill the picture as much as possible just like Rousseau's works.

Coloring as always is left to their imagination.

The above drawings were done in class by a 5 year old and two 9 year old children.

Crazy Lion!-Winter Session/1st drawing

Here are the fantastic works my students produced on their second class! I am so proud. The first image is from a 5 year old student while the other two are from 9 year old students.

Henri Matisse Cut Outs

In this lesson I will talk about the artist Henri Matisse and discuss is later works. After being diagnosed with cancer he was confined to a wheel chair and for the last 14 years of his life he discovered a liberating way of using his creativity. He left behind the brushes and canvases and used scissors and bright colored paper to create what art historians believe where his most unique and exciting works. Henri considered this part of his life the most happy and fulfilling! This is a fun lesson for the students especially after realizing that a simple idea can indeed become a great work of art!

Aboriginal Dreamings

In this week's lesson I will talk about the Aboriginal culture and how through art they connect to the spiritual world. The students will listen to typical Aboriginal music and I will show them many examples of animal paintings done by the Aboriginals. The students will paint using tempera followed by a sequence of dots. Above art work was done by 6, 8 an 9 year old students