Tempera and Chalk Sugar Skulls

This art lesson works well for grades 6 or 7.  It is good to start with a study of the traditional Day of the Dead customs from central and southern Mexico and learn the basics of Zentangle design (see my previous post).  This follow up lesson uses patterning and bold colors in tempera and chalk to create a brightly colored sugar skull painting on watercolor paper. 

Our mixed media sugar skulls radiate strong personalities and bold colors.

The lesson starts with a blank skull shape pre-printed on watercolor paper.  Details are added in pencil, then outlined with black marker.

Jillian draws face details in pencil.

 Trace over the pencil with a bold, black marker.

Paint in areas using tempera paints.

Jillian paints a yellow red design over the yellow background.

Using thickened tempera paints to keep the colors bold and bright, start painting the lightest colors first, then add the darker colors.  

Melody's skull has a cowboy theme.

Gretchen adds octopus tentacles to her skull.

After the paint dries, cut the skull out.

Next, mount the skull on mat board backing with glue, and use chalk pastels to add more details and a border around the painted skull.

The proud artists show their beautifully decorated sugar skulls:

Jillian

Melody

Gretchen

We are looking forward to creating more exciting art together very soon, and hope you will visit us again in the studio.

Betsy

Chalk Flowers: The Smearing Truth

The snow has gone and mud is here, but flowers won't be out for a few weeks yet in North Pole. During this drab time of year, we just have to get down and dirty and smear a few of our own flowers.  Surprisingly, this rather messy, fingers-in-the-chalk method results in a delicate and lovely painting.

For inspiration, we looked at paintings by Georgia O'Keeffe, who captured the beautiful forms and intense colors of flowers in her work.

Red Poppy, by Georgia O'Keeffe

To start, we tore some paper to make an oval shaped stencil, chalked the outside edges,

placed the chalked stencil over the paper, and smeared the chalk into the center with our fingers.

Viola!  A bloom appeared.

After doing several blooms we tore a vase shape, chalked those edges, and smeared more chalk to make a vase on the paper.

Next, we added a few stems,

and leaves to make a nice composition.

To finish up, a coating of fixative was sprayed on the painting to keep the chalk from smearing more, and a backing paper was added.

Our artists have smeared up some beautiful paintings to be proud of:

Amy

Gretchen

Hailey

Madyson

Melody

Next week, our final lesson, will be a barrel of fun!  Stay tuned for more details, coming soon.

Anniversary Caricature - Sketch 2

This is the second sketch for the anniversary caricature I mentioned in my last post.  I made a photocopy so I could try the chalk coloring, though chalk does not do well on copy paper.  Pastel paper or something with a tooth will look much better.  There are a few changes I plan to make in the final drawing, including a little more work on the bride's train, plus adding some contours to faces and the gown, and maybe making the ribbons trail back a little so the children's names read a little better.