Art Lesson from An Herbalist- for Homeschool

Level: Elementary, Middle, & Possibly High School Age
Written by: Jenel Schaffer

A lesson plan that shows students how to make a  Sandpaper print in either Abstract or Realistic design.

Time: 1 Class Period, 1.5-2.0 hours long
Concept: 2D Print with Sandpaper
Art Elements: Color, Shape, Line & Texture

After completing this project the student will be acquainted with the following:

• Complementary colors attract the viewer's attention.
• The 2D shape of the picture is important. Space should be used well.
• Using a variety of media on an art project is referred to as mixed media.
• Line will be very important for this project. Solid lines, thick lines, broken lines, diagonal as well as circular will all be used..
• Texture is a unique element for this artwork. The sandpaper print creates a beautiful, slightly raised image on the paper.

Vocabulary:
Mixed media, Shape, Mosaic, Complementary Colors, Pointillism

Motivators/Visuals:

• Teacher examples
• Pictures of Impressionist artwork (Gustave Caillebotte gystav kajbot, Camille Pissarro, or Pointillism  (George Seurat, Hippolyte Petitjean)
• Images from books or magazines that can be drawn realistically or turned into abstract images.

Materials:

• Pencils & erasers
• Large Construction paper (bigger than 8 x 10) or (Better quality Mixed Media Paper)
• Sandpaper 9x11
• Crayola Crayons (THE ONLY CRAYONS I SUGGEST)
• Glue Sticks
• Scissors
• Scrap paper

 
 
Lesson:

1. Share examples of your own work. As the teacher, or homeschool mom, make one of your own examples first. Show some examples of other artists works (see artists above). Engage in a small discussion of the noticeable characteristics of some of the works from Impressionist or Pointillist artists.  
2. Show the students how they will choose a magazine picture and turn it into an abstract image. (We will try to do two pictures. One realistic and one abstract). They will choose part of the image to draw realistically. Both pictures will be pretty simple (because of time). Let me explain more clearly.  Your students will choose 2 pictures from a magazine. Choose one that is abstract (shapes), and another that is an image of something. They will be making 2 print copies. The first will be drawn on the sandpaper with pencil and "replicate" the abstract picture. The second will be drawn with pencil on the sandpaper and will be as close to copying the image as possible. Depending on the age of the child, this will be close, or not so close. Then both drawn images, on the sandpaper will be colored darkly with crayons. (In truth both pictures will print in an abstract kind of way.) 
3. Let the students go back to their desks and quickly sketch with a pencil, on both pieces of sandpaper. Then they should color the pictures darkly with crayons. Color is very important. Not every color will be represented, so we will focus on complementary colors.
4. Have the students, as they are ready iron their sandpaper pictures onto white paper. HELP may be needed with the iron. 
5. Try to accomplish both images. However, if 2 are printed, and only one has the mosaic frame that is fine.
6. Quick review of each other’s work. Walk around the class to observe.
7. Cleanup

 

This is a small Altoid box that was turned into a treasure box. The top image was made with the sandpaper print technique.

Another Altoid box that has been changed into a decorative treasure box. Again the top print was made with the sandpaper technique and then further colored on. This is mixed media.

Print made on paper from sandpaper. Abstract original design. Elementary age.

Abstract print made on paper with sandpaper print. Elementary age.