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
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 .
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.