You could call this an abstract version of how to draw a dandelion. Turn the ends into dots while drawing with metallic markers on black paper. It’s a pretty addictive. This how to draw a dandelion tutorial shares my favorite way to make a radial design that results in pretty consistent lines and patterns, without and tedious measuring. It’s all … Read More
Learn how to draw your dad in eight easy steps. Add the features that make him unique and you’ll have a one-of-a-kind Father’s Day gift. This cartoon style portrait simplifies lots of things, which is good, but you can still easily make adjustments to make your drawing as much like your father as possible. I recommend following the example of … Read More
Now this DIY Father’s Day card has a template that I thought some busy teachers might appreciate. Makes a great painting or Z fold card. There’s nothing like the combination of background tempera colors and oil pastel details on top. The two textures always look great together, and the pastels allow for some easy details to be added. MATERIALS D-A-D … Read More
Still not sure what to make for Father’s Day? For an artsy, colorful solution, bring out the markers and oil pastels. Messy, but beautiful. One of my readers, Laura T., shared her 2nd grader’s art with me. I love how colorful they look all side by side, they are so inspiring. Thanks so much for sharing them with me Laura! … Read More
You can make an easy Father’s Day craft AND practice make all kinds of triangles at the same time. If you can treat yourself to the Sharpie Brush markers shown, give them a try. They truly are one of the best “painting” experiences you can have. The markers just glide on, never drip (or course) and leave some of the … Read More
If you can draw circles and ovals, you can make a very cute cartoon cat drawing. An oversized head gets you off to a great start. The other good thing about cartoon drawing? You can use any crazy colors you like. Design your cat with your favorite colors, or your least favorite and see what happens. If you like this … Read More
You can add a lot of fun to a basic how to draw a cupcake lesson by drawing MANY of them, using lots of bright colors, and then maybe a shadow or two. These cupcakes were drawn on trading card size paper (2.5″ x 3.5″) and placed in a trading card sleeve. The repetition of a theme and cartoon style … Read More
How to draw a bike, for kids that are more interested in mechanical projects. And because the world could always use more engineers and architects. If you want to connect with the most students possible, try to include some mechanical drawing subject matter in your lessons too. I’ve seen too many students who couldn’t care less about drawing faces and … Read More
Here’s a fun Joan Miro art lesson that calls for a few supplies. It’s a great time to imitate Miro’s simple shapes, just like those found in his surrealist paintings. There are even some Common Core applications for this Joan Miro lesson. Cutting the needed yarn will … “Recognize and generate simple equivalent fractions using a visual fraction model.” MATERIALS … Read More
Here’s a rocket drawing easy enough for even first graders to try. And since every rocket needs a window so you can draw yourself inside, right? If you are ready for an extra challenge, try shading the background from black to purple or blue. Sometimes even ordinary supplies, like crayons, can produce some pretty extraordinary results. For many more drawing … Read More
There are many great Minecraft art projects all over on Pinterest, but I am going to have my students simply draw a self portrait, with the help of a pre-printed grid. Makes for a great back to school project, especially if names are added at the top or on their clothes. I love how this will add some math to … Read More
Here’s a simple landscape tutorial that illustrates how to draw perspective with a vanishing point. It shows just how much space can be implied in your drawing, simply by paying attention to lines and scale. The road that narrows, and the trees that get smaller and smaller, all add up to a scene with a very distant look. If you … Read More
I’ve found that most How to Draw the Eiffel Tower tutorials out there are either overly simple or overly complex. I made this one to find a happy medium. Luckily, the Eiffel Tower is made from lots of straight black beams, which are fairly easy to draw if you break them down into layers. Follow my tutorial to get the … Read More
Here’s one way to draw a raccoon with some very easy and simple shapes. Color it well so those bandit eyes really stand out. Be sure to fold the paper in half twice to get those center guidelines. Making the bottom of the head sit on the center line will guarantee a racoon that fills the paper. If you like … Read More
No need to draw an ice cream cone with just a circle and triangle. Try this soft serve version on a waffle cone with lots of swirly colors. Drawing a waffle cone as shown is also good practice for turning a flat shape into a round looking form. Just a few curved lines at the top and bottom will do … Read More
Learn how to make a Plesiosaur drawing with this unique tutorial. It lets you imagine what he looks like both in and out of the water. It’s a great way to see all of his body in his natural surroundings. Also, if you like this tutorial, there are many more like it in my “Draw Dinos and Dragons” ebook in … Read More
Learn how to draw a beach with a few fun extra items. An umbrella, pail and ball will tell everyone exactly where you are. Even the simplest of drawings can ooze charm, when drawn by children. Keep the shapes simple, encourage diligent coloring and you’ll probably end up with a lovely little masterpiece to frame yourself! Wish you had more … Read More
Here’s a pretty simple way to make a seagull drawing. His turned head lets you draw his body as large as possible, so be sure to fill that paper with your bird. You can use this turned head position with any bird, especially those with long beaks. It’s a small detail, but makes a nice composition, and adds a bit … Read More
Teach simple watercolor techniques with this Edward Hopper for kids art project. Students will enjoy making this lovely landscape in his style. This simple tutorial resembles Edward Hopper’s Lighthouse Hill painting. The simple home and lighthouse are easy to draw, which also makes for easy painting. If you have students that are ready to add shadows to their work, this … Read More
If you can draw an oval, curves and triangles, then you can learn how to draw a tiger face. This cute tiger is composed of some simple shapes that even most kinders know, so drawing them step-by-step is a great way to start. Simple, symmetrical shapes are the ones that children can most easily draw on their own, which is … Read More