Here’s a fun and easy Faith Ringgold art project that was inspired by the wonderful illustrations she made for her first children’s book “Tar Beach”. Students can learn how to draw in the wonderfully simple style of the artist and author.

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Faith Ringgold is an American artist best known for her colorful quilt paintings about American history and politics. Tar Beach, her first book that was written for children, has collected awards ever since it was published in 1991.

Tar Beach is the roof of Cassie’s Harlem apartment building, and her dearest wish is to be free to go wherever she wants to go. The book tells the story how she dreams of flying, and all the things she might see if she could.

This tutorial will help students draw a child in a flying position, surrounded by stars and a bridge. surrounded by a colorful border. They can choose to draw a child that looks like Cassie … or a someone that looks more like themselves. A few tweaks to the clothes and hair will do the trick.

As a message of hope and imagination, Tar Beach is a wonderful book to share to any time of the year, but especially so during the month of Black History celebrations.