Flower vase/Still life

So... in getting ready for the new school year,  I realized there are a few projects from last year that I never posted!  Here we go:

Age Group: 1st grade and up
Supplies Needed:
White paper (any size will work, but I like to use larger than 8 1/2 x 11 on this project). 
Tempera paint
Watercolors

To begin this project, we first looked at famous works of art including flower vases. 

Van Gogh, Sunflowers

 Pablo Picasso,  Hand with Flowers

(The above works of art can be found in The Art Book, which is available for check out from Mrs. De St. Jeor in the Grovecrest Library.)

Next, the students folded their white sheets of paper in half vertically, pressed a crease to get a horizon line, and then unfolded the paper.  (The crease is still visible and helps them to judge where to draw things).  We then drew a line across the lower half of the paper to represent the table.   Next came a simple vase drawing using a pencil.  Then they could add flowers and designs in the vase with tempera paint.  This was the end of our first session.

The next time we met, they completed flower details and painted designs in the table cloth with tempera paint, and then painted the background with watercolors.  The finished projects are so unique and colorful. 

(Of course they would look a lot better if I ever remember to bring my real camera instead of  the camera on my phone which isn't great as you can tell.)

I love this one above.  He wanted to be different so he painted roses. Awesome.

The painting above was created by a first grader from a class I taught last year.  You can see how the same concepts can be taught to different grade levels.  Their interpretation will grow each year! 

If you have any questions, please let me know grovecrestart@gmail.com