Inuit Whale Portraits

I recently completed these Inuit Whale portraits with Grade 2 in my current residency.




It is mixed media on canvas.

We did them in multiple layers so there is some 3D action happening.

I was surprised at how well they turned out, awesome job Grade 2!






Before I give the 'how to', so we are clear and I don't get targeted again by those online haters (as my students call them):

Disclaimer: I am not an Inuit artist, this is my interpretation solely for the use of teachers and parents when teaching the social studies curriculum.  My blog is not a forum to address any concerns about larger issues, only to assist other art educators with their work.

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- primed canvas, I use the 8 x 11" multipack from Micheals which I buy on sale (this week it's $17.99 for a pack of 10). You could also use primed heavy cardboard or 1/8" masonite.
- blue or yellow acrylic paint.  I use the Craft Smart brand from Micheals for all my residencies. It gives great coverage, lots of colours, and is priced right.  The current brand offered to most schools in the Calgary area is too translucent, requiring multiple coats…..very frustrating.
- recycled cardboard
- drywall filler
- black acrylic paint
- white craft foam
- red and black card stock
- tacky glue
- Mod podge for sealing
- my templates: jumping whale, swimming whale
- wax paper

PROCEDURE:

Paint your canvas, make sure to do the 4 sides as well.

Using my templates, cut out the base of the whale out of cardboard.

We had 75 whales being created so I made sure (tried to) that the kids wrote their names on the coloured side of the cardboard.

Working on top of wax paper, add a layer of dry wall filler.  I just get the kids to use their fingers to spread on a nice coat.

Leave to dry. (about 6 hrs.) If they curl a bit just gently bend straight.

Paint over the drywall with black acrylic paint.

Leave to dry.

I gave each child a piece of white craft foam.  I made 6 sets of stencils for each type of whale which the kids shared.  I labelled and numbered each set and placed them in a ziploc bag. This worked well and we didn't lose any pieces.

Trace out all pieces in pencil and them cut out.

Glue the black base piece to the canvas with tacky glue.  If it is really curly you might have to use the glue gun (adults only).

Glue on the white foam pieces and then cut additional pieces out of red and black card stock to add.

I did not give out any stencils for the red and black details.  The kids designed their own. For the mouth cut a rounded rectangle and the cut in half with a zig zag.  Glue into place leaving some space between the 2 pieces.

I had some copies of my original drawings for the kids to follow if they wanted.  it was like putting a puzzle together.

When glue has dried add a nice coat of Mod podge to seal and add a nice shiny coat.

You can see yellow wasn't the most popular paint choice.




Great work Grade 2!




See you next time.

Gail 

Pastel Resist Night Skyline

Happy New Year everyone!  I hope it was a good break.  I was in Florida with my family.  It was nice to see flowers and green grass again.

I'm back at it, scheduled into residencies up until Spring break.

This week's project is one I presented at ECEC as part of my Canadian series, pastel resist skylines.  This is Toronto but any skyline will do.  My hometown here in Calgary also works well with reflections in the Bow river.






MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- reference photo of skyline
- white drawing paper, pastels work well on paper with a little bit of tooth or roughness
- green painter's tape, art board
- pencil, eraser, ruler
- oil pastels
- black sharpie
- disk tempera paint

PROCEDURE:

Place your paper onto your art board and tape into place.  This will give you that nice clean edge at the end.


In pencil draw out your skyline.  You can use a reference photo to draw a specific city or just have the kids create their own.  Draw a horizon line in the lower third of your paper.  Your skyline will be reflected in this lower section.  Most cities are near water and this water is where we see the reflections.

Go over your skyline with sharpie or permanent black marker, just the outline.

The skyline is a nighttime scene.  With oil pastel add in all the windows and the lights on top of the buildings.

I used some black pastel to define the horizon line and some of the sides of the buildings.

In the lower third, the water, smudge in the reflections.  You want them to correspond to the buildings so smudge long rectangles of colour.
Don't forget the moon if you have added one.

When the pastel has all been added it's time to add the paint.

Start at the horizon line. Working up add some purple paint, gradually make it darker purple adding some blue and then black when you reach the top.

The part below the horizon is darker than the sky.  A little purple but mostly black.

When the top of the horizon line has dried (it takes only minutes), go over the buildings with black tempera.  This is the secret and makes them stand out from the sky.

When it has fully dried remove the painter's tape.



With our short days in January this project fits well.  If you are starting an Olympic theme there is a great night skyline of Sochi here just click on #3.

Here is another skyline project you could try:


 Night or Day Skylines.



Give it a try and I'll see you next time.

Bottle Angels

Here is another angel project.  The unique thing about these angels is that a bottle, (recycled water bottle, pop bottle) forms the base.



You can make small or large ones depending on what's in your recycle bin.

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- plastic bottles, (water or pop), rinsed out and dried
- paper, I'm using kraft paper but you can use wrapping paper, newspaper, whatever you have on hand
- paint and markers
- thin cardboard (cereal box)
- string or cording
- glue and tape
- styrofoam ball for the head, you could also papier mach over foil ball or rolled newspaper ball
- garland or ribbon for hair

PROCEDURE:

Take your bottles and cut off the bottom.




I poked a hole first with my awl so I could get the end of my scissors in and then cut.

Cut your paper into rectangles that are 4 inches taller than the height of the bottle and long enough to cover the bottle with a 2 inch overlap or so.



If using plain paper (kraft, newspaper, etc) paint designs on the paper.

You can add details in markers, pencil crayons,  and glitter glue.

Set aside to dry.

I used a Styrofoam ball as a base for my head.  You could just use it straight, or add a layer of papier mache or air dry clay.

You could also roll up some paper or foil into a ball and cover it with papier mache or air dry clay.

I used paper clay to coat my head.  I made a small nose as well.

To hold my heads while they dry I used a piece of cut paper roll an a piece of wax paper to stop it from sticking.

It needs to dry overnight.

Take your decorated paper, flip to the unpainted side.  Place the bottle on the paper.  Using tape stick the paper edge to the bottle.

Wrap the paper around the bottle, there should be enough for some overlap and glue together.  I used an elastic band to hold the paper on the bottle while the glue was setting up.


Take the excess paper at the bottom of the bottle and fold up tucking it into the opening.

Do the same for the top of the bottle.


You can wrap the neck of the bottle with a piece of string or decorative cording.

I made the wings from thin cardboard.  You can cover them with fancy wrapping paper or paint them like I did.


The coloured side of the cereal box took 2 coats of paint.

I used a cap from a spray bottle to print circles all over the cardboard in silver paint.

When my heads were dry I painted them with a flesh tone, added some pink cheeks, eyes and mouths.

Glue on some ribbon or garland for hair.

I wrapped some star garland into a circle for halos.

Glue the head to the top of the bottle.

Cut the wings out of the cardboard.  I used a teardrop shape.

I used a glue gun to stick them on the angels.

I put glue on the point of the teardrop shape.

Glue to the back of the angel.

and that's it, angel completed.

Make a set with different sized bottles for a nice display.

Easy Paper Angels

I have been making a lot of Angels this year for Christmas. This one is quick and made from items you already have lying around your house.





They are based on a fold so they stand on their own and could also be made into a card.

A good way to fill in that corner or to decorate the table.




















MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- heavy paper, chipboard, or thin cardboard like from a cereal box
- paint or scrapbooking paper for the dress
- tacky glue
- cardstock in skin tones, I used the one called 'kraft' that is the same colour as kraft paper
- sequins, glitter glue, scrap of garland
- silver and/or gold wrapping paper/scrapbook paper
- white and pink pencil crayon
- white gel pen, black fine sharpie
- fancy ribbon, the wider the better, to make our angel wings

PROCEDURE:

I was going to include my template but I'm having issues with my scanner right now.  As soon as I get it up and running again I will add them.

It's basically a long bell shape.  You want a nice straight line at the base so it will stand.  When I made my template I folded my paper and drew only one side.  I then cut on the fold so my design was symmetrical.
Trace onto your cardboard or heavy paper and cut out.  My large angel body is 7" high and the small ones are 4.5".

Take the body and fold in half.  You can use a bone folder or ruler to help.

I decided to paint my angels but you could also cover them in scrapbooking paper or even wrapping paper.  Just cut to size and glue on to both sides.


I painted mine white.  The colourful side of the cardboard needed 2 coats.

I then dry brushed on some gold and silver paint on the back.  I find metallic paint to be quite translucent so it helps having that white primer.  It has a nice weathered look.

To the front I added a thin coat of iridescent glitter glue for a little shine.  I always brush on my glitter glue so I can just have a thin coat as it takes so long to dry!

Now it's time to decorate the dress.

Using a small piece of cardboard dipped into metallic paint I add small lines.  Dipping the end of my pencil in paint gives me dots.

Draw on the arms in pencil first and then use some fine black sharpie.

Instead of hands I have the angels holding a cut paper shape.  I used my punches but you could easily just cut out a star or heart shape.

I used foil scrapbooking paper but wrapping paper would also be nice.

Fold the shape in half and then glue into place.

Add some sequins or gems glued on with tacky glue.  Avoid gluing these directly on the fold as they will just tend to fall off.

Now it's time to add some wings.  If your ribbon is wide enough you can cut both out in a single piece.

It's a heart shape with long sides.  I traced it on the paper so you could see the shape.

If your ribbon is smaller just cut each wing separately.

Glue onto the back of your angel.

Time for the face. Using skin toned card stock cut a circle shape.  Use a punch or trace around a circular object.

Draw in your face using white pencil crayon or gel pen.  I like to make my angels singing with closed eyes.

Use some pink pencil crayon for rosy cheeks.

Fold the face and then glue into place.

Finally add some hair.  Using a scrap of garland glue into place on top of the head.

Find a nice spot for your angel to stand.  You can also fold it up and put it in a card or have it be the card.

Some other angel crafts I've done over the years:




FOLK ART ANGELS

TISSUE PAPER ANGELS

ANGEL CLOTHESLINE

HAND and FOOT ANGELS

CLOTHESPIN ANGELS

ANGEL CAROLER


More Angel projects on the way.