Self Portraits

First I took pictures of each student next to a window facing the camera straight on

Then print and cut in half between the two front teeth and up the middle of the nose

Then use a glue stick to attach one side to a piece of drawing paper

Then use the side of a silver oil pastel to cover the back of the other side as dark as possible

Then line up the pieces perfectly and tape the top to the drawing paper 

Use a pencil to trace the side with the oil pastel to make a print

Lift the paper and peel it off to use as your drawing reference. Trace the oil pastel with pencil to darken the lines….don't forget to do that step because the oil pastel print is very light 

Now using your reference find the shadows and lightly color the shadows with your pencil. They will be on the side of the eye, under or around the nose, cheeks,under bottom lip, neck, and ears. I remind them not to draw lines in between teeth they just make curved lines at the bottom and top of the teeth. NO LINES in between teeth or up the side of the nose.

Then use your finger or a tissue to smooth out the shadows. If a highlight gets covered use an eraser to add highlights. 

Use a black (preferably prisma color ) pencil and draw a line across the top of the eye, the pupil, and the sides of the iris if visible. Easy on the eyelashes…

Then add black pencil to the corners of the mouth, and nostril if visible

Now darken the dark parts of the hair paying close attention to highlights and shadows

Cut the head and shoulders out 

Glue on abstract background

We used tempera paint in squirt bottles and  drew shapes, lines, and dots 

Scrape with a scraper pressing very hard

Trace with sharpie and zen tangle the white edges

Here is some student work from fourth and fifth graders 

Multi Media Collage

My fifth graders have just started their Multi Media Collage and I just had to post our first steps!!

The students have created their backgrounds already and will add their decorations and photos this week and next week! 

I cannot wait to see all the creative ideas they have with this project!! 

Here are the steps

Students created the background for their multi media collage using neon tempera paint and sponges on HEAVY watercolor paper

 1. paint the image printed on xerox paper with tempera varnish or acrylic gel medium ( I used the tempera varnish becauase I had some already)

2. place it in the area you want and roll with brayer or rub gently all over with your hand

3. let dry completely.

4. use a sponge to gently wet and then rub the white paper away and VOILA! Your image apears on the painting

 5. Use old books to cut out shapes and oil pastels to make a stencil positive negative effect

6. Review the rules of composition

never in the center, not on the bottom of the page, make it big, make it touch three sides of the paper, and use overlapping for depth 

7.Use stamps and paint to embellish and add layers

Here is another exaple I made using the process above

Back To School All School Selfie Mural

Every year we try to do something that the kids can express their uniqueness in a simple artwork that is combined into an all school mural.This year we used a cell phone template I made to create a self portrait "selfie" and then design a phone case on the back that represents their interests.

Students enjoyed sending sweet text messages to their friends and taking "selfies" with their friends!!!

I took a selfie with each class and let them PHOTOBOMB!!!

talking on their phones