Paper Quilling

Image by tofutti break via Flickr

Paper Quilling is a type of art done in Colonial times and it is a fun project that can be done with students of various ages. One tip would be to use wider paper strips for the younger kids.
Materials:
6"x9" black background paper w/ yarn attached for hanging.
1/2" strips of colored paper
pen to wrap paper around (pencils can leave ridges?)
glue

First I showed paper quill examples that I'd found on the internet. Then I created some example quills, and I drew on the board some examples of the designs the students could make by wrapping their paper around their pens.

Students were told they could make a random design, or an actual subject with their quills.

I also explained the importance of wrapping the paper "on top of itself".If they wrapped the paper NOT on top of itself, they would end up with an uneven quill that would be difficult to glue onto the background paper.

This one, below, is too uneven for gluing.
As a time management tip, I told the students they would have 20 minutes for quilling and 13 minutes for gluing. I didn't pass out the glue until after the first 20 minutes, then I collected the paper strips and students glued down the quills they'd made.

(This one above, reminds me of Matisse's "Jazz" art...I love it!)

Thank you Flamson Middle School students!!

Dainty Wire Star

Easy Dainty Star

Need: 5 buttons

wire, mine is 20" long for small star

skinny twine

String each button 4" apart on the wire.

Go through button twice to secure it in place.

Bend wire into shape of a star.

Tie off end wire at the end button, twist to secure, and cut excess wire.

Cut 5 pieces of twine.

Tie one piece of twine at each wire intersection.

Cut excess twine.

Attach matching twine loop for hanging!

Christmas Baking without the Calories

Fun tile project!

For this project kids were first given Sharpies and paper the same size as their tiles. They used Sharpie to write their name on the back of their tiles, then they drew their design on paper first for practice. Then kids painted their designs onto the tiles. We used Enamels and Porcelaine brand paint for ceramic and glass. (Not sure if this is allowed in a school classroom b/c of safety restrictions - I did this lesson in one of my home art classes.)

Tiles were air dried 24 hours, then baked for 30 min. at 325 degrees. The oven does not have to be pre-heated, the slow temp. rise is helpful for no cracks. (Note, there is a chemical smell when baking, yuk!)

Cool tiles.

Picasso Must Have Meant This Angel Artist

"All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."

Pablo Picasso, Spain, 1881-1973

Christmas Angel, Devin H. age 8

Painted Backgrounds

Here is a fun painting technique to use if you have extra time.
Tell your students they're going to paint a picture, but first they're going to paint the entire background with a solid color. The effect ends up similar to painting on colored paper, but brighter.
Our subject was a butterfly and flowers, but this technique can be used when painting any subject.

These samples were done on canvas, but heavy paper can be used instead.
Step 1: Paint the entire background a solid color, not blue.
Step 2: Paint the subject on top of the background color.
Step 3: Paint the sky blue around the subjects, but leave a bit of the background color showing through in border areas.

This is the example I showed the students. I explained how I painted orange background first, flowers&butterfly, and blue sky last and left some orange areas showing.

I had to reiterate a few times that the orange parts are showing on purpose, and it took some reminders to get the kids to "stop" painting before their entire background color was covered. (I'm sure you're familiar with the students in your class who will keep on painting, until an adult says....."Hmmm, do you think your art might be finished?"...or, I confess, sometimes those aren't the exact words I've used.)

Painted light green background first.

Painted yellow background first.

Painted olive green background first.

Michelangelo Quote

Image via Wikipedia

"If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all."

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, Italian, (1475 – 1564).

Blue & Rose Period

Image via Wikipedia

For this lesson we talked about Picasso's Blue and Rose Periods. Then we talked about color values.

The students were given old calendars w/ animals, chose an animal, then traced it onto white paper. In order to trace the pictures, students taped the calendar page up to the window to create a "lightbox" effect. This makes tracing much easier.

Students then chose either a blue or red palette for their animal. Working light to dark.

Lastly, the students painted a simple background.

After tracing their animals, students created light, medium and dark blue or red to be used for painting their animal.

If you like this lesson because of its emphasis on painting "values", check out my $6 downloadable PDF lesson on "The Great Wave". It comes with step by step intstructions, color picture samples, and a blue value chart to share with your students.