With today being the first day of fall I felt it would only

       be appropriate to post one of my favorite art lessons I did with 

       my students on watercolor painting  

                                                                                          

                                
                      Still life of Pumpkins

                                                                     Grade 3rd - 8th 

                                                                       Color theory 

       

     Objective: 

                Students will learn how to use Complementary colors for shading instead of black 

                for a still life painting.

      Supplies:

·                               A medium size pumpkin 

·                  Set of colored pencils

·                  Pencil      

                   8 1/2 x 11 computer paper

·                  Color wheel 

·                  11 X 14 Card stock paper 

·                  Prang watercolor set 

·                  One small and one medium paint brush 

·                  Cup of water 

     

        Motivation 

       - Talk about how Complementary colors  are opposite each other on the color wheel. 

           - Discuss with the students about the light source, high lights and cast shadow.

           - Teach the students to observe the pumpkin’s circular shape and how the 

             grooves of the pumpkin are curved like the shape of the pumpkin.

          

          

Pumpkin drawn with colored pencils by 3rd grader 

    

     Step 1: 

         Students will draw the pumpkin first with colored pencils on computer paper 
         to become familiar with the colors, high light, shadows and cast shadow.

         They will start by coloring with yellow, the lightest color, then color the 
         pumpkin orange being sure to the leave the high lights yellow. 

         Next they will outline the grooves and bottom of the the pumpkin with blue, 
         then the students will color the shadow areas on the pumpkin with purple.  

         
         Then they will use yellow and green to paint the stem.

         Lastly, students will color the cast shadow with blue and then purple right under the pumpkin, 
         being sure not to outline the shadow. 

  

                       

          

Pumpkin painted with watercolors by 8th grader 

  Step 2:

        On a piece of watercolor paper students will draw the pumpkin with a yellow 
         color pencil to avoid erasing.
           
        Then they will start painting with yellow, then use orange being sure to 
         leave the high lights yellow. 

         Next they will paint the grooves and bottom of the the pumpkin with blue, then the 
         students will paint the shadow on the pumpkin with purple. 

         Then they will use yellow and green to paint the stem.

         Lastly, paint the cast shadow with blue and then purple right under the pumpkin, 
         letting the colors run together. 

             
               Tips-  Here is advice on how to use watercolor successfully 
              

Uptown

  After I moved to Columbus, GA I found this city to be a charming old southern city with many old beautiful building restored with stories to be told. For instance the Eagle and Phenix Condos are restored from a historic cotton mill. The Eagle Mill produced material for the Confederate uniforms and other critical goods during the civil War. Because of slow communication a land battle was still being fought in our area after the peace treaty had been signed by Lee and Grant to end the war. The  Federal forces over-whelmed the defenders of Columbus, crossed the river and burned the Eagle Mills buildings.The present Mill was rebuilt in 1869 and renamed the Eagle & Phenix Mills to symbolize rising from the ashes. 

  
As I walked through the city I saw a view of the mill and water tower which caught my eye. I drew a  pen, ink and watercolor sketch to capture this rustic beauty. 

                                        

A Walk to the Eagle & Phenix Mill By Ruth W. Felker

                                                                                                             

   

The Journey Begins

   Welcome to my blog! Here I will share art lessons and tell stories of art and travel in far away lands. I believe art crosses over borders, languages, and cultures where children can express feelings, ideas and thoughts. God’s breathtaking creation inspires me to declare His Glory as I teach and paint.