Here’s another line art project, this time based on the very famous painting of Mona Lisa. This photoshopped face of Mona Lisa was originally posted quite awhile ago, but only with the … Read More
René Magritte was a Belgian surrealist artist who became well known for a number of witty and thought-provoking images. He wanted to challenge viewers to think about what they were looking at … Read More
Paul Klee was one of the great colorists in the history of painting. I developed this project that imitates his abstract “Castle and Sun” painting by having students trace cardboard shapes and fill them … Read More
Here’s another line art project, this time with Van Gogh’s amazing self-portrait. This photoshopped face of Van Gogh was originally posted quite awhile ago, but only with the one main page to draw … Read More
When you leave a graphic design job to start teaching art, you just might find yourself making your own project materials. And if you get a break in your busy schedule (hello summer!) … Read More
An overlapping lesson with Matisse-like shapes makes a colorful drawing exercise. Matisse didn’t start painting until he was about 20 years old, but then would paint morning, noon and night for pretty … Read More
Frank Stella is an American painter who fully embraced the idea that sometimes a painting can just be flat. In the 1960s he created some paintings titled the “Protractor Series” which you … Read More
This amazing Van Gogh Iris mural comes from Coral Schober in Ontario, Canada. She’s a volunteer Art Image Teacher at the Kortright Hills Public school, and made this Van Gogh Iris Mural … Read More
I’ve made a Modigliani self portrait tutorial in hopes that it encourages more to try it out. Something about the distortion frees students up from getting overly fussy with their drawing, and … Read More
How many art projects include art history, Common Core standards AND make something really striking? Not many, and I’ve been at this for quite awhile now. This project was inspired by Kandinsky’s … Read More
Wayne Thiebaud is an American artist best known for his paintings of cakes in light pastel shades. I exaggerated the colors and frostings a bit in this homage, and hope it adds … Read More
Andy Warhol’s repetitive style is fun to duplicate and the perfect example for students to create their own repetitive drawings. MATERIALS • Laser prints of famous people • Acetate • Sharpie markers, … Read More
Try adding some gold to your collage to make a really decorative work of art. Austrian painted Gustav Klimt lived in the early 1900’s, started his career as a decorator and is … Read More
More from my after school Sharpies on Canvas class, this time a from a kinder named Zoe. Students worked with a kind of Pop art theme by drawing animals and then adding … Read More
This is a match made in heaven, Brush Sharpie markers and Kandinsky on canvas. The brush markers just glide on the canvas and leave a brilliant color. Makes for a very fun … Read More
Kandinsky pretty much invented abstract art back in the early 1900’s. His “Study of Abstract Squares” is a fun and easy painting to imitate. Encourage students to lay in on thick, so … Read More
These watercolor resist hearts use rubber cement to lock in a paint color while the surrounding areas soak it up. I recommend it for a home project as it works best with … Read More
Looking for a collaborative project that creates a colorful, finished work of art? Try my favorite combo of Sharpies on dry wax paper, decoupaged to a stretched canvas and you are guaranteed … Read More
This amazing work of art comes all the way from the Middle East. Kristen D. wrote, “Hello, I just wanted to thank you so much for the brilliant tree project. I did … Read More
Jim Dine is an American pop artist, famous for his series of heart paintings. This project uses tissue paper, glue and oil pastels to create a heart in his very textured style. … Read More
I brought back one of my favorites, mini canvas art, for an after school class today. Mini canvases, brush Sharpies and homemade craft stick easels. My lesson was about making art with … Read More
This Nevelson found sculpture was inspired by her creation of wood assemblages. Louise was a passionate artist who worked hard to get recognition in the mostly male art world, and wished to … Read More
Here’s an easy way to make a very yummy looking cake sculpture, thanks to all the great food-looking colors that Model Magic comes in. Their natural set makes a perfect chocolate and … Read More
I’ve found a rather simple formula that will help students create their own Matisse collage. Henri Matisse was a French artist, known for his use of color. After losing the ability to … Read More
Here’s a maple leaf drawing idea that uses colors, Kandinsky-style. Kandinsky was one of the first artists to make abstract paintings that celebrated ideas as simple as rings of color. I followed … Read More
Vincent Van Gogh Wheat Field with Crows, shows a dramatic, cloudy sky filled with crows over a wheat field. The simple layout is perfect for practicing layers of oil pastels to see … Read More
Gustav Klimt was an Austrian painter who often used gold leaf to make his elaborately patterned paintings, as in “Adele Bloch-Bauer’s Portrait.” One way for students the appreciate all the patterns is … Read More
Klimt’s “Tree of Life” painting must be the epitome of decorative arts. Here’s a Tree of Life coloring page, borrowed from my Tree of Life mural template. It calls for some careful … Read More
It took every Adobe rotating and reflecting trick I knew of to recreate this famous Escher animal tessellation, and narrow it down to the just the repeating pattern. Wow, not one or … Read More
I combined some old comic book images to come up with this new “Crying Lady” that is a now a mural option over in my PDF Shop. It’s inspired by the work … Read More
Roy Lichtenstein used comic book images to make paintings about popular culture. I made this composite drawing of some old cartoons I found so students could do the same. All kinds of … Read More
In honor of the amazing Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, I have created a new color-by-number posterized mural. It only uses 3 colors plus black, so there are lots of coloring possibilities. • … Read More
This Modigliani self portrait project seems to work surprisingly well every time I try it. Something about the distortion frees students up from getting overly fussy, and thick pastels are the perfect … Read More
I made a “How to Draw like Paul Klee” tutorial to guide students in a continuous line drawing that would look a lot like Klee’s famous painting. This drawing is made by … Read More
So it turns out can make really cute miniature cakes with Model Magic because it comes in just the right cake and frosting colors. This may be one of my favorite Model … Read More
This has to be one of my most favorite collages any of my students have ever made. I just love how funny it looks, and how the head head fits the skirt … Read More
I created this Jasper Johns number painting so students could make a miniature version of his, and recycle an old CD case as well. MATERIALS • Old CD case, 1/4″ thick version … Read More
This is what makes blogging so incredibly rewarding, getting emails like this. “I’m a french ex-teacher who helps in the village where I live. Today and tomorrow we’re having an exhibition about … Read More
Mix Frankenstein with computer illustrated eye drawings and kids can have fun making some very silly faces. MATERIALS Pycomall, sheet of Cartoon Eyes $8 Drawing paper Black Sharpie marker, chisel tip Crayons … Read More
If you’ve ever painted on a flat coffee filter, you’ll know how fun it is to watch the color seep and spread and grow. That’s what got me started with trying to … Read More
How about making it “Opposite Day” in art class, one where scribbling is not only allowed, but encouraged? This lesson could tie in Jasper Johns for his textured letter paintings, or Robert … Read More
I’ve found a rather simple formula for a colorful Matisse collage that will help students create their own. Henri Matisse was a French artist, known for his use of color. After losing … Read More
This Campbell’s Soup Mural has got to be one of my favorite done by students, and sent in by art teacher Stephanie Schobel. Her students at King Kamehameha III School in Hawaii … Read More
Joan Miro was a Spanish painter who made very child like paintings. He often used some very simple shapes that students can easily imitate to make their own Surrealist painting. MATERIALS • Miro … Read More
My goal for this Sonia Delaunay Circle project was to have the students learn that if they used repeating shapes and colors in their art, they could create a very rhythmic picture. … Read More
Here is an adaptation of my popular Abstract Face project for older students. It still has simple features that fill the face, but allows for some personalization with hair and shoulders, etc. … Read More
Joan Miro was a Spanish painter who made very child like paintings. He often used some very simple shapes that students can easily imitate to make their own Surrealist painting. MATERIALS • Miro … Read More
Jim Dine is an American pop artist, famous for his series of heart paintings. This project uses tissue paper, glue and oil pastels to create a heart in his very textured style. … Read More
This Mini Mural Set consists of three smaller versions of these popular murals: “Sunflowers” by Van Gogh, “Red Room” by Matisse, and “Tree of LIfe” by Klimt. FINISHED DIMENSIONS • Sunflowers: 23″ … Read More
It’s possible to make really brilliantly colored paintings without expensive watercolor paper. Start with liquid watercolor paints, and paint on coffee filters. MATERIALS Mona Lisa PDF template Coffee filter Old steam iron … Read More
