Supplies: White card stock or watercolor paper, pencil, medium point black permanent marker, watercolor paints and brushes, water cups for
cleaning brushes, a paper towel per student. And you might want to place a small piece of tape on the back of the page just to keep the artwork from
moving around on them. Nothing that will stick forever, just to keep things in place for the time needed.
The paper towel comes in handy if watercolors start to bleed too much and they want to dab the color up. It also comes in handy to dry off their brushes.
Have different size brushes on hand. We used the brush that comes with the watercolor set. But, this is a slow process for some students that paint at a slower rate then others. Having a little bit of a larger size brush will be helpful to students if you see this happening. They can still use their small brush for the smaller areas.
White card stock will work fine, but watercolor paper will carry the color nicer. The watercolors to use are red, yellow, and blue for this project.
It’s a good idea to have a sample. Either a picture like the ones above or make your own sample to bring to class.
It’s also a great idea to make the project along with the children. Then they can see what you are doing and follow along.
Taking up most of the paper, and using pencil, have the child write down their first initial in the center of the page.
Advice the group to pick a point on their initial and draw a fairly large circle, this represents the face. (Again, this is where a demonstration comes in nicely). Add two smaller circles for eyes. A “U” shape that will touch both eyes. This will represent the nose. And finally, add squiggly lines at the top for hair. (If they end up drawing sticks for hair
that OK too.)
Next, add three lines at any three points around the page. The lines should be straight lines. As long as the lines are touching the letter at any point and going straight out. Advise the children to try not to cross any other part of their letter while making their straight lines. (If this happens just go with it.) The three lines help so that each section is painted with one of
the three colors.
Still working in pencil, add the following shapes around the page: Just one per section will be enough.
Circle
Square or Rectangle
Triangle
If they want to add a “snowflake stick” drawing they can add this as well. The ones that are 4 lines that all overlap each other with dots on the ends of each line. A bit like an asterisk mark.
Trace everything with a permanent black medium tip marker. Not a washable marker.
Using yellow, red, and blue watercolors fill in the different areas as desired. I would suggest starting with yellow. The reason is because if blue or red are added first and then yellow, if the paint brush the child is using doesn’t get cleaned very well the yellow will be muddy or green. Advise the group to try and spread the colors around so that one color in every area
doesn’t touch the same color of another section. If they have one or more “snowflakes” in their design they can add color over the entire snowflake or just add color over the lines.
If the student’s finds that they need to add a line to “make their art work” once painting has started, go ahead and let them do this. As long as an area is dry then a line can be added and then painted right over. If an area is already wet they CAN NOT add black marker over that area.
