In this picture, your child explored:

• Southwestern symbolism
• Using oil pastels
• Mixing mediums
• Designing a balanced composition

THE DRAWING:

Sun & Moon

This week’s drawing is of a symbolically represented sun and moon. While the sun and moon are symbolically representative of many different things in different cultures, we created this picture using symbols of the southwest. (Elements your child may have used include feathers, cactuses, flowers and fish, as well as many other Native American and even Aztec symbols.)

Interesting Facts About Aztec & Native American Beliefs About the Sun & Moon:

• The Aztecs believed the sun fought the darkness every night and rose in the morning to save mankind.
• They also believed that if they fed the sun blood, it would rise again in the morning.
• The sun god was the Aztecs’ most worshipped god; they believed that without him there would be no world.
• The moon, conversely, was seen as “envious” of the sun, and the loser of the constant battle when the sun rose each morning.
• Many Native Americans celebrated Sundance, a religious festival celebrating renewal, spiritual rebirth, and regeneration of the living Earth with all its components.
• Native Americans saw the sun as the Life giver, creating warmth, growth, and all that is good & well.

THE MEDIUM:

Mixed Media

Mixing mediums (the materials used to create a picture) is a fun technique to create contrast in a picture. Encourage your child to try more multimedia projects at home. Mixing mediums encourages children to think carefully about the effect created by different mediums – the contrast between the texture created by markers and that created by chalk, for example, can be better understood by children when the elements are presented side-by-side.

Oil Pastels

The primary medium used in this project was oil pastels. Oil pastels look similar to crayons and are made from pigment mixed with oil and wax. The most high quality brands are quite soft, and can yield stunning results when used carefully.

Oil pastels can be a difficult medium; they require patience and perseverance. Oil pastels should be applied in layers and carefully blended with a finger tip or q-tip between each layer. If you are interested in experimenting with oil pastels with your child, there are many different brands available both online and in most art and craft supply stores. You can read more helpful tips for using oil pastels here and in last week’s post.

We also experimented with using texture plates to add dimension and interest to the picture.  

Ask Your Child:

·         To describe the composition he created; ask about creative choices such as color, balance and symbols included.

·         Talk to your child about Aztec and Native American symbolism in art.

In this picture, your child explored:

• Drawing animals
• Using oil pastels
• Building a drawing using layering

THE DRAWING:

Puppy in Hammock

This week’s drawing is of a cute puppy peering out of a hammock.

THE MEDIUM:

Using Oil Pastels:

The primary focus of this particular project was using oil pastels. Oil pastels look very similar to crayons; they are made from pigment mixed with oil and wax. The most high quality brands are quite soft, and can yield stunning results when used carefully.

The first oil pastels were made in 1925 and were called Cray-Pas because they were a cross between crayons and brilliantly pigmented soft pastels. Professional grade oil pastels were specially developed not long after this for Pablo Picasso and Henri Goetz! Goetz wanted a sketch medium that would blend in with painted layers, so he could use it to start oil paintings; Picasso wanted to draw and blend the crayons directly onto the canvas, using the crayons as a medium in their own right.

Oil pastels can be a difficult medium; they require patience and perseverance. One of the things your child may have heard from his teacher during the lesson is that sometimes drawings have an “ugly phase” before they are completed. This is often true of pictures using oil pastels as a medium, because the initial, unblended stages of the picture can look very basic and unfinished.

Oil pastels should be applied in layers and carefully blended with a finger tip or q-tip between each layer. While this process can be difficult, especially for younger children, careful practice with oil pastels will yield amazing results for your young artist! 

If you are interested in experimenting with oil pastels with your child, there are many different brands available both online and in most art and craft supply stores. You can read more helpful tips for using oil pastels here.

We also experimented with using texture plates to add dimension and interest to the picture.  

Ask Your Child:

·         To describe the scene he created; ask questions about the background, breed of puppy, etc.

·         What she learned about layering and coloring with oil pastels.

In this picture, your child explored:

• Anime drawing techniques
• Creativity in character and fashion design
• Drawing a reflection
•  Color theory, including hue & value and analogous colors

THE DRAWING:

Girl Looking In Mirror

This week’s drawing is a picture of a girl, drawn in anime style, looking in the mirror. With your child, look at these famous drawings of girls looking in the mirror (by artists ranging from Picasso to Norman Rockwell), and compare similarities and differences to the art they created in class.

Norman Rockwell – Girl At Mirror, 1954 

Pablo Picasso – Girl Before A Mirror, 1932 

William Henry Hunt – Girl Looking In A Mirror By Lamplight, 1827

 Anime Style

This picture was drawn imitating anime style. Anime art (also known as manga) is a popular form of art developed from Japanese animation styles. Some characteristics of anime art include large eyes, unusually proportioned bodies (extremely long legs and tiny waists), and “pointy” hair.

THE MEDIUM:

Using Prismacolor Markers:

 Prismacolor Markers are fun and easy to use. These artist quality markers have two tips: a fine tip for coloring small spaces, and a broad, flat tip for coloring larger areas. These markers provide rich color saturation and smooth ink coverage.

Ask Your Child:

·         To describe elements of anime drawings.

·         About the fashion design she created in her picture.

·         To describe the different elements of color he learned about in class.

In this picture, your child explored:

• Mixed media
• Warm & cool colors
• Composition, including realistic drawing

THE DRAWING:

Gecko & Hibiscus

This week’s drawing is a picture of a gecko posing by a hibiscus flower. The hibiscus flower is a bright tropical flower which can be very fun to draw. The Hawaiian hibiscus is the state flower of Hawaii; these flowers bear blooms almost every day, but the blossoms last only for a day, even when on the bush. The flowers bloom from spring through the early summer.

Fun facts About Geckos:

• Adult geckos can range in size anywhere from 3/4 inch to 14 inches long. 
• Most geckos are nocturnal; their large eyes see very well in the dark.
• Geckos are found on every continent except Antarctica.
• Most domesticated geckos are leopard geckos. They have an extremely long lifespan (usually 15-20 years – and some have lived up to 30 years!).
• Geckos are the only reptiles who can use their “voice.”  They can make barking, chirping or clicking noises when interacting socially with other geckos. 
• Some geckos can be fairly aggressive, and will bite when provoked. Some geckos eat other lizards and small rodents, and some species of geckos are able to spray an irritating liquid from the end of their tails.
• One of the strangest geckos is the flying gecko (Ptychozoon kuhli), which is found the tropical rain forests of Malaysia. It has wide flaps of skin along its abdomen and webbed feet, legs and tail, which makes it able to glide through the air from tree to tree.
• Teflon is the only known surface to which geckos cannot cling.

THE MEDIUM:

Mixed Media

Mixing mediums (the materials used to create a picture) is a fun technique to create contrast in a picture. Encourage your child to try more multimedia projects at home. Mixing mediums encourages children to think carefully about the effect created by different mediums – the contrast between the texture created by markers and that created by chalk, for example, can be better understood by children when the elements are presented side-by-side.

Using NuPastel Chalk Pastels

At KidzArt we use Prismacolor NuPastel color sticks. This form of chalk has a slightly varnished surface, which keeps it harder and cleaner than other varieties. They come in thin sticks which can be easily broken to be more manageable for small hands. 

We show the kids how to use their fingers or a tissue to blend the chalk pastels; q-tips blend well in smaller areas. Because of the medium’s texture, the pictures can smear easily; you may want to spray the finished artwork with hairspray to help the chalk adhere to the page. When coloring with chalk pastels, it is important for right handed kids to start coloring on the left side of their paper, and vice-versa for left-handed students. This minimizes smearing with the hand as it moves across the page. Start with lighter colors and then add darker colors on top.

Using Prismacolor Markers:

Prismacolor Markers are fun and easy to use. These artist quality markers have two tips: a fine tip for coloring small spaces, and a broad, flat tip for coloring larger areas. These markers provide rich color saturation and smooth ink coverage.

Ask Your Child:

·         What he learned about geckos.

·         To explain various design elements (symmetry, color, etc) within her flower.

·         To discuss the techniques he used while mixing prismacolor markers and chalk pastels in his drawing.

In this picture, your child explored:

• The visual arts in other cultures (China)
• The visual arts in relation to other artistic disciplines (theater, opera)
• Elements of design, pattern, and symmetry

THE DRAWING:

Chinese Opera Mask

This week’s drawing is of a Chinese Opera Mask. Chinese opera is a popular form of drama and musical theatre in China, dating back as far as the third century. The art form is characterized by performers in brightly colored costumes moving to dramatic music. Chinese opera varies dramatically from our western version of opera; it is complicated performing art combining singing, music, dialogue, acrobatics, martial arts and pantomime.

Most prominent in Chinese opera are actors wearing masks, which are frequently changed throughout the performance. These masks can be either actual masks, often made from wood, or thick face paint applied directly to the performer’s face.

The faces on the masks were often dramatically exaggerated, and used color to describe different characters’ personalities. Through the use of color, the audience would be able to instantly interpret a character’s nature.

• Red indicated devotion, courage & uprightness.
• Yellow signifies fierceness, ambition & coolheadedness.
• Blue represents staunchness, fierceness & astuteness.
• White suggests treacherousness, suspiciousness & craftiness.
• Black symbolizes roughness & fierceness.
• Purple stands for uprightness, sophistication & coolheadedness.
• Gold & silver are reserved for gods and spirits.

This site has further interesting explanations of different uses of color and design in Chinese opera masks.

THE MEDIUM:

Using Prismacolor Markers

Prismacolor Markers are fun and easy to use. These artist quality markers have two tips: a fine tip for coloring small spaces, and a broad, flat tip for coloring larger areas. These markers provide rich color saturation and smooth ink coverage.

Ask Your Child:

·         To describe their Chinese opera mask’s unique patterns and symbols and interpret their face’s character using the color meanings listed above.

·         To explain how this is an example of functional art.

·         To explain the relationship between visual art and other art forms such as theater and opera (older children).

In this picture, your child explored:

• Collage and mixed media
• Choices in art
•  Composition, including symmetry and design

THE PROJECT:

Flower

In preparation for Valentine’s Day, your child created a card featuring a lovely flower. Typically during a class session the teacher and all students will create together a specific drawing. This class was somewhat different; instead of the entire class creating the same flower, children were given wide latitude in creating their own, unique flower.

For some children, this is exciting; for others, who are hesitant of creativity and enjoy the structure of following the teacher’s work, this may have been more challenging. This project encouraged children to carefully consider their composition before beginning, as well as emphasizing lessons in symmetry and design, complementary color schemes, and even motor skills (cutting paper to create collage elements).

THE MEDIUM:

Collage & Mixed Media

Most children enjoy creating collages because of the myriad of possibilities and options for unique compositions. Collage is the perfect mixture of messiness and creativity to engage a child’s interest. In this picture, the primary collage element was paper, in varying colors and textures, but the possibilities for collage are endless. Mixing many elements – anything from feathers and buttons to paper and string – will keep children intrigued and entertained for hours! Collage can often be a very “green” form of art, as well, and was one of the many art styles we highlighted in our 2009 Save the Earth with Art summer camp.

One famous collage artist of the early 20^th century was Henri Matisse. Matisse was a French painter who turned to collage when his health began to fail. Matisse wrote, “The paper cutouts allow me to draw with color. For me, it is a simplification. Instead of drawing an outline and then filling in with color - with one modifying the other - I draw directly in color … It is not a starting point, it is a completion.” Mattise’s final and most works evolved into a collection of mixed-media collages. Matisse arranged brightly colored paper cutouts into intense compositions, and added text in his own handwriting to produce a book entitled Jazz, a powerful visual representation of jazz music.

If your child enjoyed this week’s collage project, enjoy this Matisse-inspired project with them.

Mixing mediums (the materials used to create a picture) is a fun technique to create contrast in a picture. Encourage your child to try more multimedia projects at home. Mixing mediums encourages children to think carefully about the effect created by different mediums – the contrast between the texture created by markers and that created by chalk, for example, can be better understood by children when the elements are presented side-by-side.

Ask Your Child:

·         To explain how he planned his flower before creating it.

·         To explain various design elements (symmetry, color, etc) within her flower.

·         To discuss other elements (besides paper) which could be effectively introduced into his collage. (For example, buttons make great flower centers.)

In this picture, your child explored:

• The history of Ta Moko – the sacred tattoos of the Maori people of New Zealand.
• Symbols and motifs in art
• Repetition, pattern, and symmetry

THE DRAWING:

Tattooed Maori Face

This week’s drawing is of a tattooed Maori face. Ta Moko is the sacred art of tattooing, often characterized by patterns on the face. This ancient tradition was practiced by the Maori peoples of New Zealand.

The Legend

Maori mythology tells the story of a love affair between a young man named Mataora (”Face of Vitality”) and a young underworld princess named Niwareka. One day Mataora beat Niwareka, and she ran away from him, back her father’s realm. Mataora was filled with guilt and heartbreak, and followed after his princess. When he finally arrived, his face paint was messed and dirty after his voyage. Her family taunted and mocked him for his bedraggled appearance. Humbled, Mataora begged Niwareka for forgiveness, which she eventually accepted. Niwareka’s father then offered to teach Mataora the art of tattooing. The lovers eventually returned together to the human world, bringing with them the art of ta moko.

The Art of Ta Moko

Traditionally, the Maori used tattooing as a means of personal identification. Moko – carving –was used to create a genealogy through the patterns on the skin. It was also a history of a person’s achievements, representing tribal status like a resume. It served to remind the bearer of their responsibilities in life.

A chisel, or a sharp bladed tool, was carved from the bird’s bone, and then was used to cut the skin. The chisel was then dipped into dark pigment made from the local Kauri tree or soot made from burnt caterpillars or leaves. This dark pigment was then tapped into the skin. It was a very painful and long process, but was a great honor; those without tattoos were considered to have no social status.

Tattoo Meanings

Moko is similar to an identity card or passport. For men, Moko showed rank, status and ferocity, instantly demonstrating the bearer’s power and authority. Certain outward signs, combined with tattoos, could instantly define someone’s identity. For example, a chief with Moko wearing a dog cloak could be identified as a person in charge of warriors. It would be a great insult if the chief was not appropriately recognized, and this insult could lead to utu - vengeance.

The male facial tattoo is generally divided into eight sections:*

1. Ngakaipikirau (rank) – center forehead
2. Ngunga (position) – eyebrows
3. Uirere (hapu rank) – eye/ nose area
4. Uma (first or second marriage) – temples
5. Raurau (signature) – under-nose area
6. Taiohou (work) – cheeks
7. Wairua (mana) – chin
8. Taitoto (birth status) – jaw

*Source: Maori Face Tattoo

Ancestry is indicated on each side of the face; typically the father’s side is depicted on the left and the mother’s on the right. Descent was a foremost requirement before a Moko could be undertaken. If one side of a person’s ancestry was not of rank, that side would have no design. Similarly, no tattoo in the forehead center means the wearer has no rank.

THE MEDIUM:

Sharpies on Folia Paper

At KidzArt we use sharpies for almost all our drawings. In this picture, instead of adding color through other mediums once the drawing is completed, we drew the picture (using sharpies) on colored paper.

This rainbow colored paper we used is called Folia Paper. This paper adds an intense punch of color to any project. Often used for origami projects, this paper is lightweight, with a high-gloss surface. These rainbow packs can be purchased in a variety of color variations. 

Ask Your Child:

·         To describe the unique patterns and symbols on her Maori face mask.

·         To talk about the history behind the Maori face tattoos and the Maori people of New Zealand.

·         To explain possible meanings for his unique tattoo design.

·         To describe unique elements in her drawing, such as borders and other embellishments.

In this picture, your child explored:

• Designs and history of the Native American Thunderbird symbol
• Symbols and motifs in art
• Repetition, pattern, and symmetry

THE DRAWING:

Native American Thunderbird

This week’s drawing is of the Native American Thunderbird. Some fun facts about the thunderbird symbol:

• The Thunderbird’s name comes from the idea that its enormous wings create thunder. The Lakota name for the Thunderbird is Wakį́ya, a word formed from two words meaning “sacred” and “winged.”
• According to Indian legend in the Pacific Northwest Coast, the Thunderbird is powerful enough to hurt and even carry off the giant Killer Whale. This is the basis for the legend “The Thunderbird and the Whale.”
• Some tribes saw the Thunderbird as an individual entity, some as plural.
• The singular Thunderbird was said to be the servant of the Great Spirit, residing on the top of a mountain. It only flew about to carry messages from one spirit to another.
• The plural form of the thunderbirds were believed to be able to shape shift into human form by tilting back their beaks like a mask, and removing their feathers like feather-covered blankets. There are even stories of thunderbirds in human form marrying into pure human families; some Native American families trace their lineage to such an event.
• Some legends saw the Thunderbird as protective, keeping Indian tribes safe from harm. Others saw it as a fearful creature, carrying off any who dared cross its sacred mountain.

The Air Force Thunderbirds adopted the name, influenced by the strong Indian culture and folklore of the southwestern U.S. where the team was activated. Indian legends regarded the Thunderbird with fear and respect; when it took to the skies, the earth trembled with the thunder of its great wings. Nothing in nature could challenge the Thunderbird. This was just the commanding presence the Air Force Thunderbirds wished to inspire.

THE MEDIUM:

Using NuPastel Chalk Pastels

At KidzArt we use Prismacolor NuPastel color sticks. This form of chalk has a slightly varnished surface, which keeps it harder and cleaner than other varieties. They come in thin sticks which can be easily broken to be more manageable for small hands. 

We show the kids how to use their fingers or a tissue to blend the chalk pastels; q-tips blend well in smaller areas. Because of the medium’s texture, the pictures can smear easily; you may want to spray the finished artwork with hairspray to help the chalk adhere to the page.

Ask Your Child:

·         To describe their Thunderbird’s unique patterns and symbols.

·         To talk about the history behind the Thunderbird symbol.

·         To explain the chalk pastel techniques she used in her picture.

In this picture, your child explored:

• Using watercolor pencils lightly and darkly to show depth and shadow
• Technique to make surfaces look wet or shiny (white paper on nose and pupils)
•  The African wild dog

THE DRAWING:

African Wild Dog

This week’s drawing is of the African wild dog. Some fun facts about this animal:

• Their scientific name is Lycaon pictus, Latin for “painted wolf.”
• African wild dogs are the second most endangered carnivore in Africa. This is due to habitat loss and fragmentation, as people are moving into more and more of the dogs’ territory. Packs needs between 80 and 800 square miles of land to roam and hunt. Most national parks in Africa are not large enough for even one wild dog pack, and family groups living outside protected areas are often killed by farmers and ranchers.
• African wild dogs are most like wolves in their social structure but seem to be gentler within their pack. The average pack is between 5 - 20 dogs
• Each dog has an individual pattern of splotches and splashes of black and different shades of brown-and-white markings. These marking give it one of its common names: African painted dog. Their “disruptive coloration” makes the pack look much larger than it really is.
• African wild dogs hunt twice a day, usually at dawn and dusk.
• When chasing prey they can run up to 60 km/ hr and sustain this for several kilometers.
• Wild dogs are very efficient hunters, with a 38-85% success rate – almost always more efficient than lions and spotted hyenas.
• Packs begin each day with a greeting ceremony. The dogs fill the morning air with excited chirps and twitters as they gear up for the first hunt of the day. They run shoulder to shoulder and then pause to leap over and dive under each other. The dogs appear to “kiss” one another, licking and poking at the corners of each other’s mouths. This is a food-begging behavior that plays an important role in social bonding within the pack.
• There is one dominant male and female, the “alpha pair,” in a wild dog pack.
• The alpha female can have up to 21 pups in one litter, more than any other dog species. All the pack members help care for the puppies.
• With most social mammals, the females stay with the group and raise their young while the males leave to start new groups. The African wild dogs do just the opposite! The females leave the pack, sometimes as a group of sisters, to join a new pack, when they are about three years old. Males generally remain in the pack they were born into. Therefore, packs are mostly made up of males and have very few females, sometimes only one.

THE MEDIUM:

Using Watercolor Pencils & Liquid Watercolor

At KidzArt we use Watercolor Crayons, a great medium for creating lovely watercolor pictures without the mess. (Some classes also used liquid watercolor to color the background of the picture.) We use several brands of watercolor crayons; one is Caran d’Ache Neocolor II Artists’ Crayons.

Watercolor crayons look just like regular crayons; pictures  are colored just as any normal picture would be, allowing children more control over color than they can often manage with traditional or liquid watercolors. Once the drawing is colored, however, a paint-brush or q-tip is used to add water over the color. The crayon seemingly “melts,” creating a beautiful watercolor picture!

Ask Your Child:

·         To describe their dog’s unique “painted” pattern.

·         To point out and describe any unique elements in the African landscape he may have added.

·         To explain the watercolor crayons and liquid watercolor techniques she used in her picture.

In this picture, your child explored:

·         Three-dimensional black and white art.

·         Creating a drawing with a notable light source.

·         Using contrasting light and dark shades and values to add depth and perspective to a drawing.

THE DRAWING:

Functional Art

This week’s drawing is integrated with a very basic craft which makes it an example of functional art: something which is both beautiful and useful. Functional art can be very rewarding for children, who enjoy putting their art to good use. Creating a portfolio is also an encouragement to children to continue creating; a safe place of their own to store art can encourage children to take ownership of and pride in their work.

Three Dimensional Art & Light Sources

The interest in this black-and-white picture comes from its realism, despite the presence of just two colors. So what makes a picture appear realistic and three-dimensional?

Point out the importance of proportion in creating a unified composition; for example, the snowman, the tree and the house should not be the same size. In this picture, much of the three dimensionality of the picture comes from the “roundness” of the snowman and the moon; they should appear to be round balls, not flat circles. Look at this picture of a moon and observe how the shades and brightness show it is a sphere, not a flat object.

Shading and light source are also important - to craft realistic shades there are a few things to keep in mind: 

* you must recognize where exactly the light comes from
* notice which angle and direction the moonlight is shining at
* the proper silhouette/outline of the shadow cast by the moonlight shining on each object

For a great explanation on the effect of light source on a picture, look at this article and the extremely helpful (kid-friendly!) drawing demonstrating the different ways it is possible to draw light sources.

THE MEDIUM:

Using Art Stix & Colored Pencils

At KidzArt we often use Prismacolor Art Stix, which are simply woodless colored pencils, in lieu of actual pencils. Similar in shape and size to the NuPastels we use for chalk drawings, their consistency is smooth, hard and almost waxy, creating clean, rich color. The thick lead comes in a wide variety of colors. Art Stix work well on large areas, and are excellent for layering.

In this picture, with white as the only color, the pencils should be used softly at first, adding layers of colors to add dimension and realism. The pencil should also be used to create texture and interest, such as in the tree bark and the ground.

Art Stix’s unique size makes it easy to lay colors down fast, without the constant need to sharpen pencils or worry about broken pencil tips. Colored pencil, with or without lead, is a very “forgiving” medium if applied lightly at first; this makes it particularly effective in a drawing such as this, where shading and values are crucial.

Ask Your Child:

·         To explain the light source in the picture – how the moon is shining over the landscape.

·         To point out unique elements in the landscape.

·         To demonstrate how he added layers with the Art Stix to create depth and texture.