5th Grade - One Point Perspective Abstracts inspired by Fernand Leger

Students love learning one-point perspective. Drawing a shape 3 dimensionally is very exciting a satisfying! I have taught perspective in many ways, but this might be my favorite! 

After a comprehensive slideshow and video demonstrating how to draw shapes in perspective with a horizon line and vanishing point. Students practice until mastery on a 12x18. Drawing at least 15-20 shapes on both sides. 

The next day, we look at several paintings by Fernand Leger. Students discuss how he used perspective in his work and paints with highlights and shadows to create forms. 

On a new paper, I demonstrate drawing at least 5 shapes in one-point perspective, however, I use at least 3 different vanishing points, moving them around. After the 5 shapes, students may draw more to the background, keeping it simple and flat. We outlined with black PITT pens.  When coloring with oil pastels, we started with the 5 shapes, being sure to blend light to dark. When coloring the shapes in the background, color blending them light to dark like the 3D shapes gives the illusion of more dimensions! My students LOVED this project! I highly recommend it!!! 

3rd Grade - Peter Max Hearts

My ALL TIME FAVORITE artist to teach is... PETER MAX! I love his painterly style... I am a painter myself, and just love his quick blendy brush strokes!

I have been doing this lesson for over a decade... not every year, not exactly the same way, but it never gets old. I start the motivation for this lesson with two short video's I found on You Tube. 

Here they are...

   

Each video is about 5 minutes long. Once the kids watch these, they can't wait 

to get brushes in their hands!!! Have fun friends!

5th Grade - Fall Pumpkins!

I love this project for translating 3D forms on a 2D surface.  Highlight and shadow... blending analogous colors... so fun!  I prefer this project on blue and purple construction paper.  Black glue and chalk are so nice together!

We start by tracing three 6" circles on the paper, then three more half on, to make it look like a snapshot of a pumpkin patch.  Next, draw the stem IN THE PUMPKIN adding a vine coming off.  Next, draw from the stem the groves of the pumpkin radiating outward.  Last step of drawing... add subtle curves from each groove line on the bottom side of the pumpkin, gives it a more organic form.  Then, black glue! (India Ink and glue) 

The next week, we color with chalk pastels, starting with lighter yellow oranges in the center of each section of the pumpkin, then getting darker as we go towards the grooves where the shadow would be.  Students love this, they feel like they have really drawn something 3D!