At The Dentist

Observational drawings.

One of my favourite infant drawing lessons, great results every time.   

Even pupils with the most basic of drawing skills produce exciting, detailed and well observed drawings.   These examples were drawn by 4, 5 and 6 year olds.   I love black pen drawings.

The children start off by drawing a large circle for the mouth.  This seems to make them think differently about drawing a face, approaching it from a different aspect, it makes them listen to instructions and observe more closely.  Although some still draw the nose and eyes within the confines of the mouth because it is a familiar face shape, most end up making really true representation of the subject.

AND THEN THERE WERE CUBES

As part of my Maths/Art themed term, I have had some of my classes creating cuboid structures on isometric or rotated squared paper.

They love the effect and can't get over how "sticky-outy" it becomes.

  

           

It's important to start with a top, then add three vertical edges and the bottom two edges.   Its a great way to reinforce all the previous 3D mathematical language that they have learned.  Words like face, edge, corner, diagonal, vertical and horizontal are all covered.  When the grey and black tones are added the whole picture really comes alive and the children want to experiment with holes in the larger blocks.  

I had to bribe most of them to finish and go home at the end of the day!

SPHERES

My older classes are at the stage where they want to make drawings with some element of realism.  This lesson ticks all the boxes.  It gives confidence and pleasure. 

I showed the class this M.C. Escher image to inspire them.  They all thought that it would be something that would be well beyond their capabilities.

I told them that I would show them how to draw a simple sphere.

The class all drew and cut a perfect circular stencil (they thought it was going to be really easy by now!) .   

The children added a linear pattern without drawing an outline.   Using the stencil to mask the paper, a perfect circle is created. They used pen and  scribbled, stroked, and  textured on the patterns. 

 Most of the pupils realised that if they drew slightly curved lines it added to the 3D illusion. 

Still with stencil over the circle, the pupils were shown how to render the tone with pencil and learned to use finger and graphite smudging to add really subtle form.

The next stage will be to make spheres using charcoal and add a shadow to create a standing form.  Watch this space for the next instalment!

LINEAR ILLUSIONS

Drawing block for my P5's and P6's.  We are looking at line, and giving it movement and form.

We are also linking the theme with pattern and tone.

Some of the classes have experimented by adding screws, buttons and bolts.

I can't decide if I like the coloured ones or the monotone.

A bit of creative pinning has given them an extra dimension on the wall. 

This class made their lines into ribbons.