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Lois Mailou Jones Mask

Loïs Mailou Jones, African Masks, and Bold Design

This Lois Mailou Jones art lesson is a great way to introduce elementary students to an important American artist while giving them a creative project that feels playful and successful.

Students will draw a large mask shape, add bold features and patterns, and fill the design with bright crayon color. Leaving some of the paper showing helps create a dramatic resist effect when the black watercolor wash is added on top.

This lesson works well for grades 1–5 because the steps are simple, flexible, and easy to adapt for different skill levels. Younger students can focus on big shapes and bright colors, while older students can add more detailed patterns, expressive lines, and thoughtful design choices.

The project also gives students a hands-on way to explore the elements of art, especially line, shape, color, texture, and contrast. Scribbling is encouraged, which helps students loosen up, experiment with mark-making, and feel confident instead of worried about making their artwork perfect.

Teachers will appreciate that this lesson uses basic classroom supplies and creates striking results without complicated prep. The black watercolor wash adds an exciting final step that makes each mask drawing look bold, sketchy, and aged.

Grab this Lois Mailou Jones Art Lesson below

OPEN LOIS MAILOU JONES MASK LESSON

Materials for Lois Mailou Jones Mask Project

Colored Pencils or Crayons

A larger pack will offer more color choices.

Sharpie Markers Black

A permanent marker will give you a dark black color.

Pencils

I like how this brand always makes nice dark lines.

Watercolor Paper

It will give your colors a brighter look. Note: All of the links shared here are affiliate links.

A Lois Mailou Jones Art Lesson Step-by-Step Instructions

Time needed: 1 hour

Step by Step directions for a Lois Mailou Jones Mask

Draw the outer mask shape.
Add the large eye shapes.
Draw smaller eyes inside.
Add a geometric shaped nose.
Draw the eyebrow lines and a mouth.
Add horizontal and vertical lines.
Color with crayons, pressing hard for bright color, but leaving a “scribbly” kind of look.
Paint a wash black watercolor paint on top, dab dry with a tissue.
Continue painting and dabbing dry, until the entire drawing is finished.