"Consider negative space"

Focus on the negative space which is the space around what you have drawn or the background. Sketch two or three winter trees overlapping to create interesting shapes between the branches and trunks. Using pencil or watercolour, colour these spaces. With Year 5 or 6 students, you can create a wonderful artwork by choosing sunset colours with watercolour. Paint one shape at a time and use wet-in-wet technique. For example, in the lower shapes paint with yellow and then dab on orange towards the top. Make sure the paint is wet enough to have the colours blend on the page. Moving higher, the colours would be orange to red, red to purple and purple to blue. This abstract effect is quite challenging but the kids will love it!

"Newspaper Christmas trees"

A very cheap and wonderful collaborative activity is to make Christmas trees from newspaper. You need some thin dowel (or similar round wood) about 60 - 70 cm long, lots of newspaper (smaller size) and sticky tape. To make the tubes to construct the tree, carefully roll the newspaper tightly around the dowel beginning on a slight angle, slip this off and secure with sticky tape. As you remove this from the dowel, gently tease it out so it is longer. Create a firm "trunk" by sticking 4 or 5 tubes together. Attach tubes higher and higher and bend out to create branches. Lightly spray with green/gold/silver paint to dust with colour. Students can make decorations from recycled materials if they wish. The students are amazed at what they can create.

"Photocopy artwork to enhance presentation"

I love to use the photocopier! Today I photocopied some artwork and the colours became gorgeous shades of grey. I am going to mount these with the originals on a coloured background, angling each with original in full view. Looks really interesting. Also another great idea is to create a new artwork by cutting the photocopy into puzzle pieces or strips and choosing half to paste onto the original in the correct position. This really captures the audience interest and looks quite sophisticated. Try it!

"Continuous line and exploring colours" Year 2

Year 2 were given a limited time to draw three fish without lifting their marker until they needed to draw the eye and mouth. Each had to be different and could overlap to create perspective. The key is to very clearly model how to draw in this way. Seaweed, starfish, shells, jellyfish etc could be added if they wished. Using "wet-in-wet" watercolour technique, the students saturated the fish with with water. Next colour was dabbed on to mix naturally on the artwork. Once again, limit the colours and begin with just two. This lesson is so easy and could easily be adapted by choosing a different subject matter.

"You have permission to flick that paint"

The comments I heard after an art lesson this week were priceless.
"That was the the best art lesson ever!"
"That was SO much fun."
What we did was very simple. The students were creating a whimsical background for their next art project in Year 4 and I "allowed" the students to flick their watercolours on. Using tablet watercolour sets (old as the hills) and plenty of water, they loaded their brushes with colour. This was then flicked on to their work by holding their brush steady with one hand. With the other hand they used their thumb to press down just below the bristles and pointer finger to flick the bristles up. The students simply loved this activity. Another great idea is to use this process to create interesting papers to collage in mixed media artwork or as a background for printing or drawing. I don't know why I haven't done this more often!

Set up an "artist's studio"

I had an idea to reward students for their great attitude in art which might appeal and wouldn't cost a cent. Set up an "artist's studio" in the corner of the room where they can earn time to be creative. Here they would have extra space, possibly an easel, access to a broader range of materials etc etc...I haven't tried this yet but will shortly!! I think the students would love it, particularly if you have large classes and not much space.

"Exploring lines & taking risks!"

My Year 3 class loved using expressive lines in black marker to portray a rainforest. Strong vertical  lines of the tree trunks contrasted with tangled lines of the canopy and ordered lines in the ferns on the forest floor. Random markings created a sense of texture to the tree trunks. Next water was applied with a brush and watercolour dabbed on to mix naturally on the artwork. Students had access to a limited range of colours initially. This activity was quite inexpensive as paint was rationed carefully. The students were very pleased with the outcome so far! Will post completed artwork next week :)