Fall Tree with Blowing Leaves

The basic concept behind perspective is learning that the further away objects are, the smaller they appear. This painting idea comes from o...

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Line Pattern Leaf

This is a study of patterns that could be simplified for kinder and 1st grade students. I drew my leaf and filled it in, but a large templat...

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Chalk Pastel Fall Landscape

This kind of loose, simple landscape lets chalk pastels do what they do best – make smudgy, soft colorful shapes. 1. Starting with an orange...

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Layered Apple Basket

This basket of apples is a good project for young students that are ready to add layers to their artwork. 1. Draw the basket by starting wit...

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Fall Oil Pastel Tree

I found this project on  Artsonia.com .  I love how it makes students think of trees as a series of branches, and not just a fluffy shape th...

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More Fall Leaves

I like using grids to organize art and fill a page at the same time. It eliminates the “tiny drawing on a large paper” syndrome. 1. I used m...

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Watercolor Crayon Resist Leaf

This is so simple but really makes a beautiful image. 1. Cut corrugated cardboard into rectangles that are at least as large as your drawing...

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American Gothic Face-in-the-Hole

A reader sent me this great photo a few days ago and wrote: “I am sending you these photos to show you how I adapted your American Gothic mu...

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Leaf Art Trading Cards

I went back to my favorite markers today, Sharpie brush, for my ATC class. Those brush tips just make for the best coloring! 1. Coated paper...

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Leaves with Lines

This is a good exercise for those small motor skills. I’ve found students have a lot of fun just losing themselves in their patterns. 1. Car...

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Watercolor Landscape

One of the very first steps in learning perspective is noticing that the further things are away from you, the smaller they appear. A fun wa...

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How to Draw a Pumpkin

Students can learn how to make circles look like spheres when they practice drawing pumpkins. I’ve broken my drawing into steps, and am happ...

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Tissue Paper Painting

Some tissue paper has an amazing ability to bleed when it is mixed with water. Cut-up squares can be used to control the color, making an ea...

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Scarecrow Portrait

Here’s a marker and crayon combo that worked really well in my watercolor class today. I like the clear edges that the markers make, and the...

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Butterfly Leaves

This project was inspired by Lois Ehlert’s beautiful book   “Leaf Man” . A little technology, namely stock photography and a color printer, ...

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Michaels Pumpkin Stamp Journal

I’d like to officially declare that I am on a mission. Some creative holidays are approaching, and I would like to prove that you don’t need...

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How to Draw A Maple Leaf

I love all things relating to the fall season, especially the wonderful shape and color of the classic fall maple leaf. It’s shape can look ...

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Tissue Paper Leaves

Fall leaves are made of lots of fun curvy shapes, so I had my art journal students trace them today to make a tissue paper collage of maple,...

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Tree Stamps and Watercolor

I’ve been wanting a rubber stamp collection for the longest time, and finally bought a few at Michael’s for my art journal class. If you pla...

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Fall Landscape Drawing

My first step in teaching perspective drawing is that foreground features are larger than similar background features. I recenty showed my n...

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