Term 3 session 7

Today we finished the abstract paintings. While drawing their images, the children used the knowledge they have gained over the past weeks by looking the negative shapes around the images they were replicating to ensure the lines were correct. It is amazing how more accurate the drawings become by using this method.
It is also very satisfying watching the children make their own decisions and experiment with different media to achieve quality artworks.

Continuation of the bird compositions
The children were given a choice of media to complete their composition. They decided on pastel and black dye. For many of them, they had not learned how to use pastel correctly or how to draw in chalk to hold the place for the dye.

The children prepared their plan (process on previous blog) and draw their images onto brown craft paper (A2) with chalk. The brown craft paper has a tooth (rough side) that holds the pastel.

Because the children have been copying line drawings they have to research the birds used, making sure they know the name, habitat and colour of the plumage.

Next step apply the pastel. This has to be thickly applied with no gaps showing the paper. They have to be careful not to apply the pastel to the chalk lines. Once the pastel is applied to the paper dye will not penetrate, so if they accidentally pastel over the chalk line the black dye will not have the same impact.

Blending of pastels and tonal changes create interest within each image. I discourage the use of straight colour to areas larger than a fist. Scratching a pattern into the thick pastel is also effective. Textures can be created by stroke marks or circular movement of the pastel. To keep the colours clean the pastel ends must be kept clean. I tell the children the pastels like having their ‘nose blown’ with a tissue. Keep plenty of tissues available.
The foreground images are being coloured first then we will look at the background colours. That will be a discussion about complimentary colours and the colour wheel.