This week’s picture is of a TREE IN FOUR SEASONS, using COLLAGE and CHALK PASTELS as the medium.
In this picture, your child explored:
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Working with chalk pastels
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Creating a collage using paper & glue
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Using a repeating background to create different pictures
THE DRAWING:
In this week’s picture your child created a scene representing a tree in each of the four seasons. Trees are a wonderful way to demonstrate the progression of the seasons because they experience such drastic changes in each season. First, we created the background by cutting out four tree “skeletons” from black construction paper. We then arranged the trees on blank paper and designed each tree and its background to represent the four seasons, using chalk pastels.
This is a simple picture with lots of room for creativity! Your child’s drawing will include many elements representing what, for him, is most significant about each of the four seasons.
Look at the images below with your child, and discuss different elements of the four seasons. Ask her what is her favorite part of each season, and what is most significant to her. (For example, “What is the first thing you think of when you think of winter? How is that pictured in your drawing?”) This is also a fun opportunity to discuss what the seasons mean in different parts of the U.S. and the world. Use this activity to discuss various aspects of seasons with them – why we have seasons, and why they are different in the northern and southern hemispheres – and talk about the impact this reversal of seasons could have on your child’s life. (Snow during summer vacation, and warm weather during the holiday season!)
The "skeleton" of a tree (like the ones we made from construction paper) are its trunk and branches.
Many trees flower in the spring.
In summer, tree leaves mature and often are at their brightest.
In fall, leaves turn bright red, gold, and orange.
Finally, in winter trees shed their leaves altogether.
THE MEDIUM:
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:
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To explain how each tree represents his favorite parts of the four seasons.
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How she used collage to build her picture.
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To explain the correct use of chalk pastels.