This lesson idea is from art teacher Lauralee Chambers @2art.chambers on Instagram

This was such a fun lesson to teach my 5th graders! It took about (3) 40 minute art classes to complete.

DAY 1

We discussed how we would be utilizing the elements of Art; Line, Shape, Color, Texture, and Value to create these paintings.

I gave students a double-sided sheet of various paintbrush drawings to use as a reference while drawing their paintbrushes.

Students drew at least 6 large paintbrushes on 12×18” 80# paper with pencil. In their drawings I asked that the following be included ; at least 2 of the brushes had to overlap one another, at least 2 be drawn diagonally, and at least 1 drawn so the bristles pointed downward. Students could add also their own brush details within the handles.

Once all drawn in pencil, students traced over their pencil lines with an ultra fine point black sharpie. I showed students how to use the straight edge of a scrap piece of paper to keep their sharpie lines for the bristles from going into their paintbrush handles.

DAY 2

Students finished drawing if needed, then used a black oil pastel to draw a thick line along only one side of each brush. Only on all the brushes left sides or only on all the brushes right sides. Then using one finger gently smudge the oil pastel going in the same direction to create a shadow.

DAY 3

On the final day students used watercolors to create the splatter effect. I showed them how to use a watercolor brush to apply the paint only halfway up each brush towards the tips, and then add only water on the ends a little to dilute the color and help spread the paint where it meets the paper. Then using a medium sized tempera brush, they dipped into the same paint color and then flicked the bristles close to their papers to splatter. They also used the watercolor brush to splatter paint as well by shaking it or tapping their brush handle against another one.

I absolutely LOVE how they all came out and students had a lot of fun creating them!