Tag Archives: drawing

December 24, 2010 · 5:44 pm

Follow The Line

Follow The Line is a clever book by Laura Ljungkvist, which explores the idea of using one continuous line to make a drawing. Simply start at one end of the paper, illustrating whatever you like until you reach the other end. Just remember, no lifting or back tracking! Shapes will be formed when lines overlap, which can then be filled in with colour at the end. You’ll need nothing more than a stack of paper, some markers and kids in need of something to do. Enjoy, have fun, and I bid you all a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and plenty of vices to see you through it!

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Tagged as arts and crafts, Christmas, continuous line drawing, drawing, Follow The Line, Laura Ljungkvist

December 18, 2010 · 6:46 pm

Paul Klee Project

Insula Dulcamara by Paul Klee, 1938. Image:www.artchive.com

The Swiss/German artist, Paul Klee, was born in 1879 and today would have been his birthday. He was a great admirer of children’s art, primitive art, and deeply influenced by music, which he studied for years. Klee’s work has been associated with many different styles including Expressionism, Surrealism and Abstraction, but he generally liked to work independently, coming up with his own interpretation of trends. This combination of skills and interests, coupled with his mastery of colour and experimentation with different media, made Klee’s work unique.

In this project, we will focus on Klee’s use of geometric forms, symbols and figures applied to dreamlike coloured backgrounds.

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Tagged as "Paul Klee", animal and human shapes, arts and crafts for children, Blau Nacht, chalk pastel drawing project, chalk pastels, drawing, geometric patterns, Heroic Roses, Insula Dulcamara, Park Bei Lu, Paul Klee drawing project, symbols, Zitronen

September 24, 2010 · 11:38 am

Self Portraits With A Twist

Image: http://justin.elven.ca

The illustrator and cartoonist Michael Mathias Prechtl made this poster for the G. Schirmer music store in New York, back in 1974. When I recently saw it in an old graphic design book, I realized it was time to spice up the traditional self portrait. If Beethoven could have his head exploding with women and music, children could also have things they enjoy tumbling out of their head. Imagine the possibilities.

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Tagged as Albrecht Durer, Beethoven, children, drawing, Frida Kahlo, G. Schirmer, graphic design, Jan Van Eyck, Marie Bashkirkseff, Michael Mathias Prechtl, Pablo Picasso, poster, Rembrandt, self portrait

August 29, 2010 · 4:39 pm

Mandalas

Mandalas, Sanskrit for circle, are concentric diagrams having spiritual significance in both the Buddhist and Hindu religions. They can be seen in the sacred art of both these traditions, and are used in meditation as a spiritual teaching tool and a way of focussing one’s attention. For children and adults alike, it’s a wonderful relaxing exercise in concentration, and it all begins with a dot.

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Tagged as Buddhist art, circle, concentric diagram, drawing, Hindu art, mandala, meditation

August 4, 2010 · 9:18 am

3D Family Portrait

If you find your family a little bland and typical, why not add a good dose of quirkiness and create a fictional world with your family members in the starring roles! If there are days when you think your brother comes from another planet, your sister from the Addam’s Family, or your parents have stopped making sense, you’ve probably got lots of material to work with already.

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Tagged as arts and crafts, brothers, drawing, family portrait, markers, parents, sisters

June 12, 2010 · 5:43 pm

What’s In A Name?

Have a look around you and notice the way things are written. Look through a magazine or newspaper, the covers of books, CD’s, or the many products in your kitchen. See how the letters on the newspaper’s front page look quite serious, but those on a children’s cereal box convey fun and are usually accompanied by a little character who beckons you to bring it home. Nothing is random about the design of the words on these products. Their shape, colour, size, spacing have been deliberately thought out to convey information and emotion. This is the world of typography in the field of graphic design. Why not try your hand at designing your name to convey a bit of information about you, like your favorite colours, music, whether you’re more playful or serious…you get the picture.

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Tagged as candy letters, colour, drawing, font, graffiti letters, graphic design, names, paper, Thomas The Tank Engine, Twilight, typography

February 24, 2010 · 7:24 pm

Delicious Nonsense: Queen of Hearts Card Project

What could be more delicious than Tim Burton interpreting the magical children’s story Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland? A strange story will now become even stranger I’m sure. This inspired me to come up with a project involving the Queen of Hearts, who so torments poor Alice.