Winter Pine Tree Paintings (2nd)
Guys... that's what I live for! There's something about working on winter art projects that lifts your spirits. Which brings me to my happy place: a place full of scarves, Starbucks coffee, Christmas lights, family time and 2 weeks of work! And while that's all still a bit out of place... I'm pretty sure it's not in my class! :)This whole project came about when I was trying to find a quick two-day replacement for the second years in this round. I was vacationing with my husband for two days on a trip to the mountains.. so I knew that this shift wasn't enough time to do my usual "winter landscapes" project. So I went to Pinterest and found inspiration in Mrs. Werner's Art Room .
I started this project with a color mixing evaluation with second graders. We've talked about how you can mix primaries to create secondary colors...but wait a minute...did you know you can mix primaries and secondary colors to make amazing tertiary colors!? I know you know that... but babies haven't learned it yet. ;)After a little discussion, we started drawing the backs of the winter trees. Students were given 3 primary colors and 3 secondary colors in rainbow order and were asked to use 3 or 4 to create concentric circles that also included the third color on their paper. Some students listened...others were crazy about colors and used them all...but did I blame them? I would probably do the same. :)
On the second day we talked about evergreens and how to draw them. I posted a PPT slide showing various images of pine trees and then showed them how to approach me.
I drew a black line across the top of the page (bottom to top) and then used a drybrush technique to "wet the paper with black paint" to create texture for the needles .
My students replied:
All of them. Weather. I said. **nod**
Then my children returned to their places and began to draw.
After a while I called Mat and showed them how to use the same white paint dry brush technique to add snow to my painting. Then I turned the brush over and used the pen to draw white dots of falling snow.
I have to say... I LOVE the results. I was thinking about how I would teach this lesson 5 minutes before entering my class. So I was very happy to see her finished work. Much luck!
