Summer School Sun Art

This morning I joined forces with the fabulous Mrs. Davis and Mrs Watkins to create a bright and fun sun art project to display in the Leon Sheffield hallway.  We had around 20 upcoming 3rd through 5th graders attend the class and we all, teachers included, had a blast making our art project.

Mrs. Davis found the idea on a Teaching Blog.  Most teachers follow others teaching blogs and borrow their wonderful classroom ideas.  This is a wonderful example of how sharing what goes on in your classroom on a blog can be helpful to others.

Mrs. Watkins was the creative brain power behind the logistics (<---logistics is a big word.  Do you know what it means?) of this activity.  She is the artsy one so Mrs. Davis used a little strategy in selecting her to help with the activity.

I just volunteered my time to help with crowd control and the management of supplies.  What I didn't realize was that I would get to create my very own awesome sunshine painting!

Supplies:

1 Gallery Wrapped Canvas per person

Blue Paint

White Paint

Orange Paint

Yellow Paint

Red Paint (optional)

Paint Brushes (we used foam brushes)

Various Scrapbook Paper

Modge Podge

Bowls/Plates for paint

Step 1:  Paint the entire canvas, including the sides, blue.  The canvas is to resemble clouds.  We incorporated some white to provide a "cloudy" look and used swirls, zigzags, waves, etc...to create cool effects.

Step 2:  Once the blue paint is dry, use orange and yellow paint to create half of a sun on your canvas.  The bottom of the sun must be touching the side or the bottom of the canvas.

I chose to lay my canvas horizontally and place my sun at the bottom, but the canvas can be turned vertically and the sun can be placed on the side rather than the bottom regardless of the orientation of the canvas.

Step 3:  Cut strips of scrapbook paper to resemble sun rays.  Keep in mind that these strips do not need to be perfect.  Mrs. Watkins taught us that randomness was an important component of this activity!

Step 4:  Select a variety of strips to be the rays of your sun.  You will need approximately 8 strips.  Choose different sizes, colors, and patterns.  Once you have selected your rays you may paint the blue sky using the modge podge.  Modge podge acts as glue but it dries clear!  Lay your rays on top of the area that has been modge podged and then modge podge again.  This time you are sealing the rays in place.

Step 5:  Proudly present your work!

We had a great time!!!