Tuesday, February 26, 2008

An Art Project to Spark Your Creativity!



I am an elementary art teacher. Recently we received some beautiful vellum paper (like thick tracing paper) for free from the recycle and reuse center. My husband, also an art teacher, created this simple symmetrical drawing project using the vellum. I started doing some drawings as examples and it really sparked my creativity. The kids loved it and all the teachers that have enjoyed seeing them hung in the windows.

Here are the directions and some pictures. The trick is to just draw....don't worry about it being a work of art - just draw, trace and color. Do it with a child...I have had kids coming in at recess to finish theirs!

You need some tracing paper, vellum or thin white paper that you can see through.

Fold the paper in the center. Make it a softer fold so it does not break the paper. Draw half of your design in pencil. It is nice to have a center element.




Draw over your design in marker. Turn the paper over, put the paper on a surface that will help you see through the paper. Trace with marker onto the other side of the
paper.

Open the paper up, and add color with markers. I actually used Crayola water markers - they worked well over the vellum. Use the side of the marker for smooth strokes. If you want to add more black lines for patterns and designs - draw on one side, fold and trace the lines to the other side.

Hang in a window and enjoy! ( you may want to use permanent marker for less fading). Remember to have fun and get your creativity going!

6 comments:

L. Carol Christopher said...

Great idea! Thanks for the tip.

Sherie said...

Great article ad what a wonderful idea.

Andi said...

This is a fun idea! I think I have some vellum somewhere around here...

Mrs.Kwitty said...

Very nice--it's like a pretty stained glass! Thanks for sharing.
Smiles, Karen

MadeByAmanda said...

Oh, that's neat! I wish I had some vellum. You know, I have noticed sometimes that simple projects spark your creativity. I think your brain is freed from paying so much attention to technique, so can go further in new directions.

Little Lovables said...

this looks so fun! I will have to try it.