The first day in art class this year, we painted paper, like the artist and author Eric Carle, to use for lessons like this!
The first day in art, I talk BRIEFLY about the rules and procedures. Spending the entire class on rules and procedures is torture for the both of us! After we go over the basic rules, and what procedures we're going to use that day we PAINT PAPER!
I have 7 tables in my art room, and each table receives their own color of paint to paint their 12x18 paper. I put yellow construction paper under their paintings, and that was the start of our colorful place mats. They used large brushed to spread and mix the colors on their 90 lb Sax multimedia paper. After they painted their paper, they were allowed to go get tools to create designs and texture on their painted papers. We have plastic combs and different sponges, and sponge brushes to do this. Some took the entire class to finish one piece, others made at least two! I reminded them that this is community painted paper, and they will not be getting back their painted paper, but someone will be using it to create a future project. Never had anyone complain. They don't care, they just LOVE to paint!
3rd grade used their painted paper to create these fantastic parrots! I demonstrated how to draw the body parts on the back of their pieces of painted paper, and then they drew them out themselves. They drew out all the body parts on the back of the painted papers, so in case they make a mistake it won't show up on the front! Then they cut them out, and assembled them on the blue construction paper. I love the vibrant colors they chose! Great job third grade!!
