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Basic Collage with Positive and Negative Shapes

By Cheryl Trowbridge 9 Comments

Colorful Collage with Positive and Negative Shapes

I do this project with my first graders every year to help them understand the concept of positive and negative shapes.  This project also teaches symmetry and offers important practice in cutting on a fold and applying glue.  First graders are often surprised by the shapes they see when they unfold their papers - they are some pretty cute kids! Materials: 9x12 black (or … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Abstract Design, Collage, Cutting, Mixed Media, Paper, Tips for Teaching Art Tagged With: collage, paper, positive/negative space, scissors, symmetry, teaching tips

Stained Glass Name Designs

By Cheryl Trowbridge 4 Comments

This is a simple project, and a great introduction to the concept of positive and negative space for younger kids. Any project using their names is typically a guaranteed hit!!Materials:White paper, any sizePencil and eraserBlack chisel tip markersWater-based markers in a variety of colorsVocabulary:Positive Space - the object or objects you are drawing (in this case, the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Abstract (Representational), Lessons, Lettering, Markers / Pen and Ink, Names Tagged With: markers, names, positive/negative space

Valentine Card with Negative Space Resist

By Cheryl Trowbridge 1 Comment

Use contact paper and masking tape to create a resist for a beautiful watercolor wash background!Materials:Contact paper, 4 pieces 3" x 4"Masking tape or painter's tape (Lessen the tackiness by sticking the tape onto your clothes first, that way it won't tear your paper when you remove it.)ScissorsWatercolor paper, 9”x 12” (the Strathmore “Kids Paint Pad” is a good low-cost … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hearts, Holiday / Event, Lessons, Painting, Valentine's Day, Watercolor, Words / Letters Tagged With: cards, holidays, positive/negative space, Valentines

Positive/Negative Space Collage #2

By Cheryl Trowbridge 2 Comments

This project is similar to the last one I posted, but this one has a mirror image that works vertically as well as horizontally. It's really not that much more difficult, especially if you've already done the first one, but it's definitely impressive! (Both are adapted from the book Wild & Wonderful Art Lessons by Gene Baer, a great resource which unfortunately is long out … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Abstract (Non-representational), Abstract Design, Collage, Cutting, Lessons, Paper Tagged With: collage, Notan, positive/negative space, symmetry

Positive/Negative Space Collage #1

By Cheryl Trowbridge 1 Comment

Cut paper collage is a great way to teach the concepts of positive/negative space and symmetry. This lesson is inspired by the art of Japanese 'Notan', which emphasizes the contrast between light and dark. Each student's project will look unique, everyone will feel successful, and it's not even messy! You can't beat that combination!  1. Each student will need two pieces … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Abstract (Non-representational), Abstract Design, Collage, Cutting, Lessons, Paper Tagged With: collage, Notan, positive/negative space, symmetry

Grade 2 Portfolios – “My Many Colored Days”

By Cheryl Trowbridge Leave a Comment

This project is a great way to use last year's broken crayons! You can even assign students the job of peeling paper off the broken crayons just for this purpose.... some kids LOVE to do this!! "My Many Colored Days", written (but not illustrated) by the beloved Dr. Seuss, is the inspiration for my Grade 2 portfolio lesson. Dr. Seuss wrote this text more than 20 years before … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Abstract (Representational), Book Reviews, Books, Crayon, Drawing, Famous Artists, Lessons, Markers / Pen and Ink, Mixed Media, Painting, People, Seuss, Dr., Watercolor Tagged With: books, crayon resist, Dr. Seuss, emotions, moods, My Many Colored Days, portfolios, positive/negative space

Negative Space Tree Drawings

By Cheryl Trowbridge 3 Comments

6th Grade Drawings of the Trees in our Parking Lot! This project is ideal for that time of year when the trees have lost their leaves and the new leaves haven't sprouted yet. Kids love any excuse to get out of the classroom, so if you can, go outside and have them do the first part of this project "from life". If that's not possible, or you don't have any good trees … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Drawing, Markers / Pen and Ink, Trees Tagged With: drawing, markers, positive/negative space, trees

Shadow Tracing

By Cheryl Trowbridge 4 Comments

Shadow tracing is a project that students from about 2nd or 3rd grade and up will love doing. It fits right in with discussions about composition, color theory, and positive/negative shapes. In the interest of full disclosure, one of the reasons students love it so much is that they have to go outside to do it! I guess we don't get out as often as we should in Art class, so … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Abstract (Non-representational), Abstract Design, Art Concepts, Drawing, Lessons, Painting, Tempera Tagged With: color, positive/negative shapes, positive/negative space, shadow tracing, tempera

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