Year End Accordian Book

This can be a quick journal project for kids to record some of their favorite memories from last year, or write hopes and wishes for the new one.

1. Start with large watercolor paper, the 22" x 30" size sheets, and cut into panels of 6" x 24". Fold the...

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Free Draw a Winter Town Download

This time of year it’s easy to add a little winter flair to architecture drawing. I love vintage features found on old buildings, so I’ve made a pdf file that has samples, along with a grid template that encourages students to draw straight lines. You can preview and download my free pdf file HERE.

1. Print on letter size paper. Students may refer to the sample page for ideas and then draw their own cityscape on the grid paper.
2. When the drawing is complete, all lines are traced over with a thin black marker.
3. Crayon or colored pencil may be used to color. Happy Holidays to all!

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How to Draw Rudolf the Reindeer

Here’s a follow-up to my Santa drawing from a few days ago. I used a grocery bag again and made this drawing that was inspired by some clip art I saw.

1. Follow the instructions on the Santa posting to draw your stamp border on a 6" square. Score by folding or use a ruler to draw the center guide lines.

2. Draw the back of the head as shown.

3. Add the front of the head, with the nose just touching the border.

4. Draw the ears and antlers.

5. Add the eye and the points on the antlers.

6. Erase all connecting lines, trace over with a thin black marker, and color with crayons or colored pencils.

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Free Christmas Card Coloring Download

I love the illuminated letters at clipartETC.com and I've used 
them to create this template for a last-minute Christmas card.
Click here to download your free pdf file.
1. Print on 8.5x11 card or cover stock in the landscape orientation.

2. Use fine point markers or colored pencils to color in the letters.

3. Fold the paper horizontally and you are ready to add your personal greeting inside.

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Doodle Book PDF

A Newsweek article published in July had some startling data about how our children’s creativity has been steadily on the decline since the 1990s in regard to their ability to generate new and unique ideas.

With that in mind, I have created my first Doodle Book containing 50 sketched images of familiar and abstract shapes to print on 8.5" x 11" paper (preview HERE). Each page is the beginning of a drawing that will challenge students to imagine and complete a bigger picture.

You can purchase my pdf file that includes a sample page for just $5. Click “Add to Cart” to purchase through Paypal and receive your confirmation and download link.

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How To Draw a Santa Stamp

I had really good results with this Santa drawing today. Any colored paper works, but my favorite is just a swatch of a brown grocery bag for that earthy, recycled look.

1. With a 6" square of brown...

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How to Draw a Giraffe

I tried out this giraffe drawing project today in my afterschool class. Just when I thought that maybe it was a bit too difficult for my youngest students, I turned around to see this amazing work of art by Lily G., a kindergartener. I can’t draw things this charming, but Lily sure can.

1. Students started with an 8.5" x 17" sheet..

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DragonArt Evolution Book Giveaway

And the DragonArt Book Giveaway Winner is. . .

 Janet who wrote...

I teach in a depressed urban district and my students love “how to draw books” especially ones with dragons. Even the “I can't draw crowd” will joyfully give it another try when they see this book! Thanks for the heads up and the chance to bring it home for my students.

Congratulations Janet, I have your email address and will contact you.
 Thanks so much to www.mediamuscle.com for sponsoring this giveaway.

I’m happy to start off the new year with a book giveaway, perfect for your dragon enthusiast. This book from J “NeonDragon” Peffer contains more than 20 different dragons to draw, all in very exciting poses with exotic and colorful backgrounds. Older kids will love the step-by-step instructions as shown on the sample page, and younger would probably just love to trace their cool shapes with tracing paper (that’s how I learned to draw).

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Draw a Christmas Ornament Card

I made this Christmas ornament drawing using a set of fine tip markers. If you draw the edges of a shape lightly in pencil, fill in the inside with lines, and then erase the outside pencil, the look can be rather sophisticated.
1. Lightly draw three straight lines of various lengths from the top of the card, and then add the outer shapes of an ornament.
2. Fill in little circles for the chains, add sets of horizontal lines and shapes to fill each ornament. Erase all pencil lines.

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Paper Chain Christmas Tree Card

I call this my “minimalist” tree card. Art stores like Michael’s have lots of pretty scrapbook paper these days; I prefer ones with a small scale print.
1. Cut strips of paper that are 5" long by 1/2 " wide...

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Cut & Tear Candle Card

This is a very simple paper project that has been my holiday staple for kinder classes for many years. Just change the colors to blue and gold for Hanukkah, or pink or blue for custom birthday cards.
1. Tip: Test the grain of the paper...

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First Printmaking Project

I learned in my afterschool printmaking class, once again, that keeping things simple really helps to introduce young students to a new process.

1. I spied some foam gingerbread men recently at the art store and knew they would make great printmaking shapes. My prep...

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Tinted Christmas Tree Painting

This picture looks best with just white crayon lines (no pencil) so my lesson plan calls for tracing cut-out shapes instead of drawing them.
1. Each student needs to draw three trees on a smaller sheet of scrap construction paper and cut them out. They may use...

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FREE New Year's Card Coloring Download

I’ve used the illuminated letters at clipartETC.com to create a template for a New Year’s card. Click here to download your free pdf file.

1. Print on 8.5x11 card or cover stock in the landscape orientation.

2. Use fine point markers or colored pencils to color in the letters.

3. Fold the paper horizontally and you are ready to add your personal greeting inside.

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Tissue Paper Christmas Tree

I’ve seen some really beautiful decorations made from just clear contact paper and tissue paper.

1. Cut two matching rectangles...

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Gingerbread Man Drawing

My graphic design days taught me that simple shapes take on much more interest when cropped or positioned in unusual ways. This gingerbread man has a lot more personality when large and peeking in from a corner, as opposed to small and standing in the middle of a paper.

1. I gave my students an 8.5" x 11" sheet of white cardstock paper...

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Mosaic CD Picture Frame

Looks like mosaic glass, right? It’s actually just an old CD cut up and glued to a wooden frame and painted with green metallic paint.

1. I used a heavy duty scissors to...

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“Stained Glass” Holiday Candles

 I’ve found that a candle theme works well for the holidays as so many religions celebrate with them. This is simply drawing candles and then breaking up the background for a faux stained glass look.

1. The students drew one candle...

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Monoprint Holiday Stars

 My afterschool printmaking class last week learned how to make simple monoprints. I found that given the diversity of students (and the young age) this very simple star drawing on plexiglass plates worked really well. Some also drew simple snowflakes after their stars were complete.

1. Each student worked...

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Giant Paper Mache Nutcracker, Part 2

My paper mache Nutcracker is now ready to be covered with a layer of white paper towels. The outlined figures represent 4 ft. tall students, which shows just how tall this guy really is. I’d love to make a whole row of these to line our school hall.

An overview of the work done so far...

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Giant Paper Mache Nutcracker, Part 1

I had often thought that my collected juice cartons could make a really cool giant paper mache figure, so with my Nutcracker theme going on this year, I guess it was only a matter of time before I put the two together. This figure is made from heavy cardboard cartons that contain 12 of the pouch-type juices. There are many brands, but the sizes are all the same and the boxes are all wonderfully strong.

I started by heavily taping together...

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Gingerbread “Cookie” Painting

This is a good way to turn ugly brown construction paper into something pretty cute. The white tempera paint looks a lot like real frosting, and oil pastels are an easy way to add details.
With an 18" x 12" sheet of...

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