Hello! It looks like we're in for a super exciting fall. This year we're offering art classes at the new Dick Blick Arts Supply store (check facebook for half off specials) and coming this October....a second location in Pooler! Hip, Hip, Hooray! ..... And that's only the beginning!
One purpose of our blog is to share new as well as past successful art projects. As we swing into high gear at the studio we'll have new projects and drawing sheets available, in the mean time, here's a lesson from last spring that became a studio favorite,
Mixed Media Hot Air Balloons!
Hot Air Balloons are fun, whimsical, and composed of simple shapes! These factors make the hot air balloon a popular subject matter for a variety of projects. Last Spring I gave this project to my Express Yourself class (ages 3-6) and was blown away by the fantastic yet different results they came up with!
To start each student was given a piece of drawing paper and told to scribble on one side using different color oil pastels, the more color the better! Students then painted over the oil pastels using watered down acrylic paint. Oil pastels create a nice border between paper and paint ensuring colors still show through!
Next each student practiced drawing their hot air balloon using simple shapes. Practice drawings are a good way to sneak in extra drawing, always encourage practice drawing!
Time for the background! Students were given a sheet of Bristol paper to paint half yellow and half blue.
While backgrounds dried students began assembling the pieces for their hot air balloons. Using the paper they prepared earlier, students drew circles (balloons) on the back of their paper to cut out. Next came the square (basket), cut from brown construction paper.
Let's put it all together! After gluing balloon and basket shapes to background it was time to get creative! I had pre-cut yarn for connecting lines as well as toothpicks for ladders. My favorite part of every project is when the students are left to add their own personal touches. Animals, ribbon, and butterflies were just some of the fun things dreamed up!
This project is designed to stretch out the creative process, work on drawing and motor skills as well as encourage creativity. Enjoy!
