Finished Grumpy Cats

This project was inspired by this lesson from Kathy from Art Projects for Kids (as always, a great source) and this collection of Grumpy Cats I saw on Pinterest. For whatever reason, I didn't use Kathy's helpful tutorial for the kids to draw their cats, hence the wide variety of shapes.( I second guessed myself on this decision after the lesson, but I do like the variety of outcomes).

After my K thru 5th group lightly pencil sketched their cats, I had them use chisel tipped markers to add line work and to give their cats details. Last, they used chalk pastels and charcoal to darken their eyes and add shading to give the look of Grumpy Cat, aka, Tardar Sauce (the internet sensation) The backgrounds were a take on Mark Rothko Color Fields which I had tried before on this cat project. They were created with chalk pastels on black paper. I think they create a great atmosphere to offset their Grumpy Cats.

Grumpy Cats

Just couldn't resist seeing my students' "Grumpy Cats" all together before they put their own finishing touches on their individual pieces. Stay tuned.....

Bulldog Love

Thank you to Natalie from smART Class for this Great lesson and draw-a-long she provided. It was the perfect project to kick off my summer art class, Cool Canines and Fantastic Felines. They also had the option of adding a hat to their dog just for fun. After the children drew and Sharpied their pups, they used oil pastel to add color. The last step was to paint the background with liquid watercolors. Love all these cute faces! Artwork by children K-5th.

Barn Owls

K thru 5th graders looked at photos of The Common Barn Owl, which dwells in all continents except Antarctica. They are often utilized on farms, orchards and vineyards for rodent control. The children used chalk pastels with finger blending to create their ghost-faced like creatures.