Aurora Borealis

Technique/Medium: Acrylic, splatter painting, soft pastels
Time: 1-1.5 hours
Theme: Night sky, landscape, stars, lights, Aurora Borealis, winter
Age: 5-8 year old (smaller paper)
9-12 years (larger paper)

Prototype Examples

"Aurora Borealis" by Sinthia Cousineau
"Aurora Borealis" by Sinthia Cousineau

Classroom Set-up

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  • In my classroom set-up for 8 students, I had  twotables for 4 students in which I placed a large sheet of mixed media paper and my prototype examples. On those tables I poured black acrylic paint in a styrofoam containing with sponge rollers.
  • I had prepared the 3rd table with  black cardstock paper and pastels and a video of  real Aurora Borealis to inspire the kids. This 3rd table was the exploration/pratice table for kids to pratice with oil pastels as they waited for the paint of their main artwork to dry.
  • I also place a materials table for paint supplies between all tables (palettes, paintbrushes, toothbrushes, water jars, rag, paints, and cotton balls).
  • There was also a demonstration table which I used to demonstrate the various steps and allow kids to pratice the splatter paint technique with a toothbrush .
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Materials

  • Black and white acrylic paints
  • Sponge Rollers 
  • ​Small paintbrushes
  • Black cardstock paper
  • Large mixed media paper
  • Masking tape
  • Scissors
  • 1 box of pastels per 4 students
  • Styrofoam containers
  • Prototype Examples
  • Cotton Balls (for erasing pastels)
  • Toothbrushes
  • Rags for cleaning
  • ​Water container
  • Extra: Tablet with Youtube video of real  Aurora Borealis

Project Steps

Step 1: Tape the mixed media paper to the table with masking tape.
Step 2: Apply black paint to the paper and spread with throughout the paper with a sponge roller.

Step 3: Spatter white paint on the paper with a toothbrush. With a small paintbrush, paint a moon.

Step 4: Once the paint is dry, use a white pastel to draw in the winter landscape at the base of the drawing. Blend pastel with finger and add more colours if desired

Step 5: With coloured pastels apply different Aurora Borealis lights to the sky, while blending two colours near each other with your finger. 

Step 6: Apply more colours on top of pre-existing colours, continue blending and use cotton balls to erase the undesired parts and create a cloud like effect in the sky.

Student's Creating their Artworks

Student Artworks

My class of 9-12 year olds at Art Neuf 
Student Age 9
Student Age 9
Student Age 11
Student Age 9
Student Age 8 
Students Age 5
Student Artwork age 5-8 
Student Age 8
Student Age 5