Introduction:
Crayons and watercolors are often a young child's first art materials.
Wax resist is a simple technique which can result in vibrant color and is an effective
way to introduce young children to water media. Today we will use the theme of
animals to introduce colors and patterns and to teach proper brush technique.
Materials:
Directions:
1. Begin by introducing/reintroducing basic shapes, colors, and patterns. Then
explain how all complex shapes are made of basic shapes. Use this premise to have
the students to draw an animal, maybe their favorite animal or an imaginary animal,
with crayons on their paper. Spare no expense on the color and patterns! Thick
crayon application gives the best results.
2. When the animals are completed, have the students put a watercolor wash over
their drawing. Where there is crayon the watercolor will be resisted.
3. Have the students give a title to their finished artwork. Maybe the name of
the animal or how that animal makes them feel.
Art Terms:
Resist – a substance that is used to block out or mask temporarily a surface
area in order to prevent an action, like etching or coloring, on that surface.
Color – a sensation aroused in the viewers mind caused by different wavelengths
of light hitting the eye. Primary colors are red, blue, and yellow. Secondary
colors are created by mixing pairs of primary colors.
Pattern – a decorative design, usually of a repeated figure or motif.
Shape – When a line meets itself, a shape is created.
Wash – an application of dilute watercolor to paper.
Resources:
The Harper Collins Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques. Ralph Mayer. Harper
Collins Publishers, NY 1991.
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