Students finished their snowy landscapes with the perfect tool. Sharpie paint markers allowed all the art to easily get a delicate sprinkling of snow. This art is getting used for annual holiday … Read More
Try giving young students a cat head template and challenge them to fill the page. This young 2nd grader, Benjamin, made an adorable painting as a result. MATERIALS Download Cat head PDF … Read More
The world’s easiest way to decorate a pumpkin — just pour paint Jackson Pollock style. MATERIALS White foam pumpkin, from Michaels or Amazon Old acrylic paint, bright colors Newspaper and small cup … Read More
You pretty much can’t lose when you make pumpkins your subject matter for a painting. The line work alone is perfect for teaching kids how to give their circles dimension, let alone … Read More
This air-dry clay starfish will give students a change to practice their blending skills. Five fingers need to be mushed in the middle to make him nice and sturdy. MATERIALS Air-Dry clay … Read More
I had my Model Magic students try working in a diorama-like setting today and apply fish and more to a wall of blue. When the clamshell was closed, they really did resemble … Read More
I made this condensed tutorial for three aliens as it is fun to mix and match the different eyes, hands and feet. It’s a good direct draw project for the very young … Read More
If you have ever tried to make glue drawings for chalk pastel or color stick art, but didn’t love the way the glue dried? Drawing with white glue, letting it dry, and … Read More
There’s nothing prettier than a colorful maple leaf, but who needs lots of xeroxed copies that all exactly match each other? Learn how to draw your own with my tutorial and you … Read More
If you want to draw a cute cottage house, then you can also surround it with the landscaping of your dreams too. MATERIALS Download Cottage PDF Tutorial Drawing paper Black marker Crayons … Read More
Am I the only one who thinks this California Quail looks like he was designed by committee? Kind of funny that he represents a state known for being concerned about its looks. … Read More
Here’s what I love about selling over the internet, customers can make requests, and you can turn around and help them FAST. I was reminded that my Line Art Portrait eBook could really use … Read More
Finally, an air dry clay project that is easy enough for kinders, lets students practice some clay skills, AND makes something pretty darn cute. These well-rounded projects are hard to find, so … Read More
I really like this point of view for drawing a bird. It fills a page in a nice and balanced way, and could probably be adapted to many other breeds too. MATERIALS … Read More
Here’s a new tutorial that shows you how to draw a duck that is true to it’s mallard coloring, with an a added touch of cuteness to the eyes. Students can use … Read More
This hanging bat tutorial has been a favorite for years, especially with teachers. I’ve made a new deluxe version that includes a full size sample, coloring and tracing page. MATERIALS Deluxe Draw … Read More
There are many great Minecraft self portrait ideas over on Pinterest, but I am going to have my students use this approach, with a pre-printed grid. I love how this will add … Read More
Here’s a solar eclipse art project that is easy for all ages and good shading practice. Love it when science and art work together. MATERIALS Astrobright cardstock paper (found mine at … Read More
Here’s an idea for a transportation craft project. It costs about $1.50 for both gift boxes and makes a pretty cool looking truck with no prep work at all. MATERIALS White gift … Read More
I saw this idea for drawing a tree on Artsonia.com, and love showing kids how lines can give dimension to their art. MATERIALS Draw a Hand Tree Tutorial (download here) Drawing paper … Read More
Once again I have to give credit to an amazing site called Krokotak.com. This Angler fish project is just too clever with its underbite, spike teeth and pipe cleaner antennae. MATERIALS 16″ … Read More
I keep finding the most original new ideas at this site called Krokotak.com. They seem to have a knack for collecting really original ideas, which is not easy these days. I love … Read More
I created this leaf template years ago, after getting inspired by some Zentangle art. Here’s a fun project when studying lines as an element of art. Below is the link to download … Read More
Awhile back I spent a bit of time trying to find a way to make something fun with pipe cleaners, something that I knew young students could do without a lot of … Read More
I’ve exchanged friendship bracelet projects for this round braid, which could certainly still look great on any wrist. After set up, there’s just one repeating step. MATERIALS • Yarn • Chip board, … Read More
I am happy to release my new Gold Rush package. It includes 3 sizes of my new San Francisco Niantic Hotel mural (6, 15 and 28 pages) and a new “Wanted” Poster … Read More
I’m happy to share my very first “How To” video, which is one of my favorite Model Magic projects for kinders. It tied in to their science studies last spring, showed them … Read More
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
So it seems that my collection of animal tutorials was missing one certain little black and white animal. Here to correct that is how to draw a skunk. MATERIALS PDF Skunk Drawing … Read More
I have used this as a first project of the year quite often the template helps all skill levels get off to a good start, and still has lots of room for … Read More
A fun way to show kinders how to draw a flower. Simple shapes with a twist of adding pins between the petals. MATERIALS • Download Pin Flower PDF tutorial • Drawing paper … Read More
Every fall I look for a new twist on a self-portrait project to start the school year. I like this one as the fold line guides will force them to fill their … Read More
My Current Top Five Most Pinned Projects 1. Draw a Dandelion 2. Warm Hands from my PDF Shop 3. Layered Winter Landscape 4. Craft Stick Easel 5. Van … Read More
A little first grader made this beach drawing years ago. I love everything about it. I thought it was time for a tutorial as it makes for a fun drawing this time … Read More
It seems to me that the study of insects needn’t be done in unexciting black and white diagrams. Students can make some colorful studies in art, and use them for science reports … Read More
Here is how I made my cover art for a new paper from Strathmore. It’s very thick and black, perfect for those projects that always made construction paper flop and wrinkle. I’m … Read More
I sometimes give my young kinder and 1st grade students a template to trace for the first step of a project. For this easy dog drawing, children had the head template to … Read More
My favorite alternative to art texture plates is plastic embroidery mesh from the fabric store. If you buy them large and cut them up, they are pretty cheap. MATERIALS • White … Read More
Here’s my secret to keeping lots of student artwork organized – without taking up any of my valuable time. My after school drawing students each receive a Profolio portfolio, which have a … Read More
Some believe that you need to spend 10,000 hours to master a skill. Personally, I think that between teaching my daytime and after school children’s drawing classes for 10 plus years, I’m … 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
Have students start by tracing their hand, and then add all the details they can see. MATERIALS • Journal Page or Drawing Paper • Pencil • Black Sharpie, ultra fine tip DIRECTIONS … 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
M.C. Escher was one of the world’s most famous graphic artists. He created many visual riddles, and an amazingly detailed piece titled “Eye” that offers lots of detail. Students may use either … Read More
If you collect as much misc. stuff as I do, then you just might be a good candidate to make this recycled art project with your students. These robots were made over four weeks in an … 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
I actually ran out of drawing paper recently and tried out this food wrap (dry wax paper) that was left over from an old project. MATERIALS • Dry wax paper, 12″ x … Read More
If you need a Japanese-themed art project, this works well even for kinders. In fact, I love the “wobbly” lines of the young ones – it’s what make their art so charming. MATERIALS … Read More
Carp windsocks decorate the landscape of Japan from April through early May, in honor of Children’s Day. I love these inexpensive precut fish made with paper that just soaks up color. They come flat … Read More
