Peru Mixed Media Canvas

So my current "Artist in Residence" program is ending but I wanted to show you the Mixed Media that Grade 3 completed.

Peru is part of the social studies curriculum so we made these canvases.












MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- pre primed canvas (on sale this week at Michael's in the 10 pack) or you can use a piece of cardboard
- acrylic paint
- art shirts or smocks to protect student's clothes from acrylic paint
- pieces of sponge
- pieces of corrugated cardboard
- drywall compound
- plain paper
- reference photos of Machu Picchu
- watercolor or tempura paints
- llama pictures
- text printed from computer, (PERU, INCA, or Machu Picchu)
- Aleene's Tacky glue
- scissors
- Mod Podge, optional 

PROCEDURE:

Hand out some reference photos of Machu Picchu to the students.

Hand out canvas or cardboard substrate (background or base).

Hand out extra pieces of corrugated cardboard.  Have the kids line up a corner of the cardboard with the canvas.  Trace out a mountain ridge in pencil and then cut out of cardboard.

Place canvas aside.

Place a little drywall compound on a recycled plate.

Add some texture to the tops of the mountains.  This is not to represent snow but to add that 3D texture to appear rocky.


Let dry, about 4 - 6 hrs.

Cut a piece of paper to fit into the bottom part of your cardboard mountain.  Now Machu Picchu is a fairly complicated ruin for Grade 3 so I had them draw out a portion of the ruin on the paper.

Add some color to your design with watercolor or tempera disk.

Add some outlines with fine sharpie.

Put on those art shirts to protect your clothes from the acrylic paint.  Paint your canvas with sky colors.  Make sure to paint the sides as well as we won't be framing these.  Add some clouds or mist with white paint and a sponge.  Let dry.

Paint your mountain.  You don't need to paint the bottom section where your paper design of the Machu Picchu ruin will be .  Let dry.

When I was researching this project it seemed like every time a tourist at Machuu Pichuu was trying to get a good picture of the site a llama would come up and stick their head into the shot, (probably looking for food), so I added this element.  Find a picture of a llama, there are lots on the web, and cut out the shape. Glue the design of the ruin to the bottom part of your mountain and then glue your llama into place.

Glue the mountain piece onto the background with more tacky glue or a glue gun, (adults only).    Now we need a title.  You can either print off an assortment of titles for your students, have them do it during computer time, or have them free hand it.  Paint the paper with watercolor or tempera disk to give it some color.  Cut out and glue into place on your piece.

Finally you can add a protective coat of Mod Podge if you wish.

Here are some of the completed canvases that the Grade 3's made.  (By the way Mrs. K at my home school, I plan on doing these when I get back!)

I'm planning a post of the completed student work for next time and I'm teaching pysanky like crazy over the next two weeks.  (my hands are already multi colored from all the egg dying!).  See you soon.

Nautical Canvas

As part of the "artist in residence" program I'm currently conducting each class is completing a canvas piece.

This is the Grade 2 project.  They are currently studying water, learning about buoyancy, why boats float, types of boats, etc.










MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- pre primed canvas, I buy the Michael's Value 10 packs when on sale, you can also use cardboard
- drywall compound, I bought a large bucket for $20 and the whole school has used it
- spatulas, old gift cards, plastic knives, or even rectangles of cardboard for spreading
- wax paper
- cardboard scraps
- scissors
- paint
- Aleene's Tacky glue or a glue gun (to be used by an adult)
- string
- colored tape
- Mod podge for sealing, optional

PROCEDURE:

Take the cardboard scraps and cut out a hull (boat) shape.  Depending on the style of boat you are making you can add sails, cabins, exhaust pipes, paddle wheels, etc.

Place on top of your canvas or cardboard to make sure it fits.


Set shapes aside for now.



Take a little bit of drywall compound and put on a recycled plate. Place your canvas on top of wax paper.

Spread the compound on the bottom 3rd of the canvas making wave patterns.

Set aside to dry.

Take the remaining compound and spread a layer on top of your shapes.

Using a skewer or toothpick you can etch in some designs for your boat.



Leave shapes to dry.

When the drywall compound has dried (about 6 hrs or so) you can start painting your pieces.

Paint your canvas background. 

Then paint your boat shapes.

Add details.

When the canvas and the boat pieces are dry glue into place with either Tacky glue or a glue gun.

You can add some string for rigging.  Just glue into place tucking the ends under the boat shapes.


Add little flags with colored tape.

Finally you can seal the whole thing with some Mod Podge for a nice shiny coat.


I hope to show you some student results shortly.

 That's it.








See you soon.

Mixed Media Skyline

So here is a project I'm doing with the Grade Ones....Mixed Media Skylines.

The buildings have different widths so we have some 3D interest going on.























MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- canvas or cardboard substrate (base)
- cardboard, chipboard, heavy corrugated cardboard, Styrofoam, or packing material
- Dry Dek or drywall compound (a huge bucket will only cost $20.00)
- wax paper
- household items for texturing, (combs, toothpicks, Lego, straws, etc.)
- acrylic craft paint
- paintbrushes
- assorted screws, washers, whatever excess hardware on hand
- colored paper, book pages, newspaper
- scissors
- Aleene's tacky glue
- moon clip art from "The Graphics Fairy"
- star sequins
- Mod Podge, acrylic medium, or sealer

PROCEDURE:

Cut some rectangles out of cardboard and chipboard.  If you don't have any packing material (I just happen to have some 2 inch wide corrugated cardboard) you can use Styrofoam, even boxes.  You can also glue several pieces together to make a thick piece.  For the Grade Ones I'll have this already cut into rectangles, triangles and semi circles.

Lay it out on top of your canvas or background so you know you have enough buildings.

Apply the drywall compound onto the cardboard.  Use a spatula from the hardware store (only 88 cents) or even an old gift card. Apply to just the front for the thin pieces and include the sides for the thicker pieces.  You can use some household items for texturing if you want.

You can stick in some washers now if you want or glue them on later after you have painted.  I did it both ways. Let dry about 6-8 hrs.

Paint your background with black acrylic paint and let dry.

Splatter on some white paint for stars.  With the kids I use a splatter box.

Paint the buildings with acrylic paint.  Let dry.  Glue on some windows with colored paper, book pages, or newspaper.

Glue the buildings onto the background.  Add the moon and a few sequin stars.

Finally add a coat of Mod Podge, acrylic medium, or your usual sealer for a nice shiny finish.

That's it.  What a wonderful project!

See you next time.

How to Make a Rainbow Fish

I'm starting a new "artist in residence" program tomorrow.  I've been busy sourcing supplies, making samples, PowerPoint's, etc all while finishing off projects at my other school...whew!

One of the projects we will be doing is mixed media Rainbow Fish in Kindergarten.

March seems to be "Rainbow Fish" month for many Kinders out there.  It all starts by reading Marcus Pfister's book "The Rainbow Fish". 
















MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- corrugated cardboard
- Dry Dek or drywall compound
- toothpick, spoon
- liquid tempera paint
- clear gems
- shell
- glitter glue
- sequins
- Aleene's Tacky glue
- black sharpie
- Mod Podge, optional

PROCEDURE:

I drew out a Rainbow Fish shape on corrugated cardboard and then used it as a template to trace out.....oh 40 more.

Cut out.

Have the kids spread Dry Dek or regular drywall compound over the cardboard.  It's kinda like icing a cookie.

You want enough to be able to add some texture.

Using a toothpick draw some lines in the tail and fins.

Then using a spoon you can make some scale depressions.  You can also just use your finger.  The compound is a bit sticky so you might need a tissue or 2.



Start at the tail and work your way back.  Leave some area plain for the face.

Let the drywall compound set, about 8 hrs. or so.

Meanwhile you can paint your shell, this is the special scale, silver.

You can then add some glitter glue to make it really sparkle.

When your fish is dry paint with liquid tempera.  Bright colors work best.

To make the fish eye I found these glass gems at the Dollar Store, you know the decorative ones for vases.

They have a flat side to them.

Trace around one and then add a black circle (pupil) with sharpie or marker.

Cut out and glue or tape to the bottom.  I used Mod Podge but any acrylic medium would also work.

Glue into place on the fish with tacky glue.

Glue the special scale (the shell) into place as well.

You can add lips at this time as well with marker or sharpie.


Paint in for some color.

You can then add a few large sequins for some extra sparkle.  You know those Kinders, gotta have some bling.

Finally you can seal the whole thing with some Mod Podge for a nice glossy finish and you're done.



To hang on the bulletin board attach a wire loop to the back with some duct tape and then hang with push pins or thumbtacks.


That's it.

Some other fishy projects you might want to try:

FISH PRINTS

PAINTED FISH

CLAY FISH LIGHTS











See you soon.