"Draw, Paint, Grow" Art Camp--Day 3

"Draw, Paint, Grow" Art Camp

June 10 - 13, 2013

Bear Paw Studio - North Pole, Alaska

Day 3

Today we started with an abstract drawing exercise that incorporated all our five shape elements in one fun composition.  Following oral directions, students added specific elements a few at a time, being sure to extend some to the edges of the paper and so on.  After all the elements were added, they filled in the newly created shapes with colors or patterns.  Each painting is unique, in spite of everyone following the same directions, and the variety of shapes is amazing.  This would be a great project for a rainy day!

Abstract drawing exercise

Next we used step directions to draw a bird.  This is what the directions looked like.

After drawing our birds, we learned some new techniques for painting transparent washes with watercolor to keep our colors full of light and energy.  We also learned that if we paint more transparently, we can see the drawing right through the paint, which helps with showing small details.

Aaron is working carefully on his painting. . . 

. . . and his finished painting is full of life.

Danielle paints her tail feathers . . .

. .  . which look awesome on her bird.

Gretchen draws a great duck . . . 

. . . swimming in some beautiful blue water.

Hailey works on her bird's wings. . . 

. . . and her bird is ready to fly!

Emma thinks about her colors . . . 

. .  . . and her bird ends up very color coordinated.

Kaylee likes yellows and green . . .

. . . and so does her bird!

Melody mixes some yellow up on her palette . . .

. . . for a lovely moon in her bird painting.

After paintings are done, students carefully mount them on a larger colored paper so they have that nice "framed" look.

Our sample bird stays in the studio, and all the other birds fly away to new homes with their owners.

It was another fun day of drawing, painting, and growing in our art.  Tomorrow is our last day, and it will be fun too.  Come back and see what we do.