Project Ideas Submitted
Here are some of the ideas that were submitted and considered for 2020-21.
Although we have found enough projects for 2020-21, if you'd like to share another project that we may consider in the future or any notes for these existing projects, please e-mail southbayhandsonart@gmail.com.
A Colorful Village
Students can create their own village! They can learn how to make simple houses and 3d houses. They can vary them, add different windows, doors, roofs...Color or shade in. Probably best for younger grades :) Credit to Cassi Stephens and her website.
Example of lesson (with video)...but you have to scroll down a bit...
https://cassiestephens.blogspot.com/2017/09/in-art-room-colorful-village.html


Behind My Mask: Mask Selfie
Lesson Example with video:


Blue Dog (George Rodrigue)
In the mid-1990s Rodrigue's Blue Dog paintings, based on a Cajun legend called Loup-garou, catapulted him to worldwide fame. And the artwork can bring smiles :). Students can follow a step-by-step on how to create a blue dog portrait, and they can either color it in their own style (maybe Blue Dog's Friend!) or keep it a true blue dog. Backgrounds can be plain/simple, or add some special touch (like a palm tree) or pattered wallpaper, or add a whole scene (like a soccer field). There is also a kids book, 'Why is Blue Dog Blue' that people read on youtube.
Lesson examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exfKCyoE-Tw&list=PL74PsHQkoAK8396OvlxoakMTChnJHpjsi&index=6&t=302s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Glf-0e_6IA
https://www.deepspacesparkle.com/george-rodrigues-blue-dog-art-lesson/
Why is Blue Dog Blue book reading:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UcGWvgo8RQ

Colors (Kandinsky)
Do a couple different versions for younger and older. Kandinsky did this piece as a study to see how colors work together. I think we talk about color and mood and have them choose colors that are associated with various emotions for some of the squares... and let them play with color relationships on the rest.
Paper and a set of colored anything (pastels, markers, crayons or colored pencils.)
Example lesson video (history): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7d6zscZF5I

Desserts (Wayne Thiebaud)
Students can learn about Wayne Thiebaud, and his stylized dessert artwork. Then either we can guide draw them something like lollipops, cake, cupcake. We could include lessons of shapes for younger students, and/or shading for older kids to add to the lesson. Or if we want, they can let them look at his artwork samples and do their own dessert.
Example lesson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6q3ra1oWgs
Example sample pictures video:



Contour Lines / Overlap Drawing
Example lesson (Art Supply Drawing):




Dinosaurs (Charles Knight)
Charles Knight (1874 – 1953) was known for his many illustrations of prehistoric creatures, most notably dinosaurs! He would study the skeleton scientists would put together, and help figure out what they might have looked like or behaved. We can give students pictures of dinosaurs and they can study it and draw it the best they can, and/or have a step-by-step on how to draw one. Then they can add ground, background, and color. Saw similar projects for grades K-2. Probably better for younger kids, but we can add something to make it more interesting or challenging for older kids.
Lesson example:
https://artprep.weebly.com/dinosaur-pictures.html
Another lesson example:
http://aschukei.blogspot.com/2014/03/1st-grade-rockin-dinosaurs.html
Video with his artwork:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaA7qcIJyzU
Info on the artist
https://www.the-scientist.com/foundations/painting-dinosaurs--early-20th-century-65253


Drawing with an Eraser (When Pencil Met Eraser)
Example video lesson (with book reading):



Dubuffet Styled Scribble Art
Colors to look like his style would be white paper, black outline with red and blue, but if they want to make a purple and yellow version that'd fine too!
Example Lesson Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck5Zm6wN_Zo
Example Lessons:
http://sgpart.blogspot.com/2011/04/cardboard-sculptures-inspired-by-jean.html
https://artroombritt.blogspot.com/2017/12/jean-dubuffet-continuous-line-portrait.html



Elephants (Salvador Dali)
Example lessons:
http://elementaryartfun.blogspot.com/2011/03/salvador-dali-elephants-and.html
http://kidsartists.blogspot.com/2013/02/high-legged-elephant-in-style-of.html




Galaxy Skies (Jen Aranyi)
Example lesson video:
Jen Aranyi's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz3DGteMa_4UubrT8bLRzpA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenaranyi/?hl=en

Grid Art Technique
The grid method involves drawing a grid over your reference photo, and then drawing a grid of equal ratio on your work surface (paper, canvas, wood panel, etc). Throughout history many famous artists have used the Grid Method for drawing including M.C. Escher, Leonardo Da Vinci, Albrecht Durer, Van Gogh. You can use a simple 4 square grid to help give you a general idea where things go, or have a grid with 100s of squares to help make a more exact copy of another image or scene. We can supply a picture/grid to print OR if kids can't print or prefer they can pick their own picture OR we can have some on the screen for them to use. Bonus...they can color it in / decorate it after.
Example video of technique:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=088v4hXE4xs





Henna Hands
This is a multicultural project that teaches children about the use of henna a traditional art form that has been practiced in India, the Middle East (especially Pakistan), and parts of Africa (Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan) for hundreds of years. Students will learn about symbols, pattern and the cultural significance of Mehndi, the art of painting henna on the body. Works well with dark brown sharpie, marker, or crayon. Should work with pencil too. Brown is preferred because it is most similar to the henna color, but other colors would do. Scissors, glue, colored paper are in the original lesson, but can be simplified and kept on one sheet of paper (not cut out) if we don't want to have students mount the hands on colored paper
Lesson Plan example: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1of7OxgE8WJ9WHZwEd2gKwVGBLt0WokuMegSHgVMZWW4/edit
Lesson Example with pics (scroll past 404 error ):
https://thomaselementaryart.blogspot.com/search?q=henna
Lesson Example:




Illusion of Space
Example video of technique:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS4HhudIN4s&feature=emb_logo
Example lesson for 2nd graders:
https://khyman.blogspot.com/2017/01/illusion-of-space-with-2nd-graders.html



It Takes All Kinds Of Fish To Make A School
Books:
https://www.lindakranz.com/books_you-be-you.php
Video of book:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwAQvHBCY2M
Video of book 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu9capmEY5I
Lesson Example:
https://cassiestephens.blogspot.com/2016/08/in-art-room-you-be-you-collaborative.html?m=1



Kawaii Style Doodles
Students can learn about the Kawaii art style. Kawaii is the Japanese artistic and cultural style that emphasizes the quality of cuteness, using bright colors and characters with a childlike appearance. Think Hello Kitty! Pikachu! The drawing of the characters is simple which makes it pretty easy for everyone to do it including children as it does not require a special skill to creatively design one. the beauty of Kawaii art is in simplicity and creativity. Students can practice making simple faces, then learn simple body shapes (like cat, dog, ice cream cone, donut), and put them together. Maybe younger students can put a few of them together or put in rows. Older students can stack - like a cup of cats...or some other container. Can be left just pen/pencil and paper, or colored in after.
Example lesson (by a company selling pens!)



Lettering
Example background/job interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&time_continue=284&v=ix2VDSIrE84
Example lesson description:
https://josettebrouwer.edublogs.org/2014/09/08/whats-your-name/
Sample calligraphy video lesson for kids:




Optical Illusions
Example lesson (Wavy Paper Illusions):
http://www.refrigeratorart.gallery/wavy-paper-illusions.html



Parts of a Landscape
Example lesson (with example kid pictures):
http://www.refrigeratorart.gallery/parts-of-a-landscape.html
Example lesson video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPxXnrhb1bA
Example pictures by another school:
http://apexelementaryart.blogspot.com/2012/05/whimsical-landscapes.html




Realism in the clouds (NC Wyeth)
A project based on "The Giant" painting.

Robots and Donuts (Eric Joyner)
Example lesson (Robots and Donuts):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_jwF4_jsuw&list=PL74PsHQkoAK8396OvlxoakMTChnJHpjsi&index=2&t=0s
Example lesson (Robots only)
https://cassiestephens.blogspot.com/2020/03/robot-week-lets-draw-robots-with-shapes.html



Shape Explosions - Illusion/Perspective
Sample lesson:
http://www.refrigeratorart.gallery/shape-explosions.html
Sample pictures from another class:
http://sheridanartists.blogspot.com/2014/06/3d-shape-explosions.html



Simple Perspective
Students can learn about a simple one point perspective. Then are asked to draw something that would use a one-point perspective, like a road, a runway, a train track, a red carpet. They can learn things look bigger in front and smaller far away - so they can fill their page with cacti, or trees, or buildings, dogs...whatever they want. Color. We could adjust for older students and add a more complex perspective.
Example lesson video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5EEGJWuLRU

Stippling
Example Video:

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Surf (Heather Brown)
Heather Brown She has been coined the "Godmother of Modern Surf Art" by the Los Angeles Times. She grew up in Southern California, and moved to Hawaii. There she studied art and fell in love with surfing. A teacher posted a lesson they did with 3rd graders. They learn how she does creates movement by simply using curved and wavy lines. Also by using colors to give the waves volume. Need to test OK with crayons/markers/colored pencils, but I think it would work!
Example lesson (with lots of kid samples with paint):
http://www.shinebritezamorano.com/2012/11/surfs-up.html
Example video on artist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyksz0BpbMY
Examples of her artwork:




Texture Hands
Texture is how something feels, or looks like it would feel. Learn about texture and how you can show create texture in your artwork. Have samples of different textures, experiment with drawing different textures (vary samples for grades). Practice drawing some textures. Draw outline of your hand and fill in parts with textures. If too hard for little ones, can be adapted to draw a different scene with texture (like a simple house, roof, grass, rock path...). Expansion idea for kids that want to do more - make hand look like it is coming out of the ground, or use textures on cube shapes...
Example lesson video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8JXI-8e9uc
Example lesson link (with other videos): https://www.weeyasmithsartclass.com/texture.html



Turtles (Turtle Alley)
Students can learn about Turtle Alley, in Malaysia. It is an alley where they display kids turtle artwork to help raise awareness of the endangerment of turtles. Also, they can learn a little about turtles. They can follow a directed drawing of a turtle (or perhaps multiple styles), or draw their own. They can decorate their surroundings as they wish!
Example lesson on how to draw a turtle: https://www.deepspacesparkle.com/sea-turtles-drawing-painting-lesson/
Example background:



Faces (Giuseppe Archimboldo)
(Alternative artist could be Jim Shores who makes faces out of recycled material.)
Lesson Example 1 (with food):
https://theartyteacher.com/downloads/making-faces/
Lesson Example 2 (with found objects)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMo_jfO6--c
Giuseppe Archimboldo Background/Examples:
https://www.theartstory.org/artist/arcimboldo-giuseppe/artworks/




Everyday Object Art
Lesson artist examples:
https://www.boredpanda.com/everyday-objects-turned-into-illustrations-javier-perez/
Additional add-on idea: We could expand and give other similar options/challenges as well like: (a) put a cut-out picture on a piece of paper and use it as a base for a drawing. You can find pictures from food boxes or magazines or grocery fliers - stuff around your house (b) try drawing a everyday household item - like a still life!



Foil Art - Embossing
Example video:


Foil Figures (Sculptor Alberto Giacometti)
Sample Lesson Plan:
https://nurturestore.co.uk/giacometti-sculpture-art-project-for-kids
Video on Artist:




Mixed Media Pet Collage
materials: scissors, glue, background sheet of paper, assorted pieces of found paper from home: scrapbook, newspaper, magazine, maps, junk mail, construction paper, wrapping paper. Students could even make their own paper using supplies they have at home. To color in the eyes: markers, colored pencil, pastels, paint can all be used. Black marker or crayon for drawing.
Lesson example:
http://elementaryartfun.blogspot.com/search/label/collage
Lesson example 2:
https://artroombritt.blogspot.com/2018/04/oversized-cat-and-dog-mixed-media.html?m=1
Background art info on collage: https://mymodernmet.com/collage-art-collage/




Nature Walk Mandalas (Andy Goldsworthy)
(& Found Objects option)
Inspired by British artist Andy Goldsworthy's Land Art, students will go on a nature walk to collect natural items (sticks, rocks, leaves, petals, etc.) and use them to create a non-permanent mandala pattern of their choice. They can snap a photograph of the finished piece to share with their classmates. The lesson will encourage students to pay closer attention to detail as they walk outside, think about color, shape and pattern, and relax their expectations that their artwork should "last forever." Anyone who has access to the outdoors can do it, and it can be as elaborate as each student desires. :) Another option for kids is to make the Mandala with found objects (like toys!) if they can't go outside or prefer.
Example video (lots of artist samples) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USgiTXAEC9E
Example lesson video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kqblctdCn8






Recreating a Masterpiece with found objects
Lesson Example:
https://theartyteacher.com/painting-with-no-paint/
Lesson Example (scroll down page):
https://glittermeetsglue.com/distance-learning-art-projects-resources/


Shadow Art (Vincent Bay)
Students can explore the science of light and shadow with art. Vincent Bay is an artist that uses shadows in his artwork. Kids can use various objects to create shadows and then art with those shadows. Either use the shadow as a dark shading in an artwork and take a picture...or draw the outline of the shadow on the paper and then decorate.
Example lesson site: https://campkinda.org/weekly-adventures/art-escape/art-in-the-shadows
Example artist video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NInkH0ukCOI


Watercolor Painting with markers
Turn markers into watercolor using simple printmaking with a ziplock bag. Color with washable markers on the bag, spray with water (or maybe use a paper towel to moisten), then stamp onto paper (watercolor or mixed media best). This could be a standalone project or use this idea to incorporate into another project. This lesson example uses sharpie/permanent marker as well to draw an image to put the water color over, but in others they do the watercolor first, let it dry, then use a regular marker on top.
Videos on using a ziplock bag for water coloring:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvA9Uh779Gw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgrY90tViBc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg5W2_mmSf0
https://colormadehappy.com/kids-watercolor-painting-markers/

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