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Little Artist: Elements of Art
-the line pumpkin
It’s time to teach the kids about the elements of art. This lesson teaches them about lines, the most basic element of art. And to incorporate the current holiday of Halloween or the current season of fall, we’re decorating pumpkins with different line styles. The lesson is tailored to three different age groups and skill levels. Pick the one that matches your little artist!
You will need ...
- Black paper
- White paper
- Sharpie or black pen
- Pencil
- Black ball point pen
- Ruler
- Coloring pens or pencils
- Scissors
- Glue
About Lines
A line is a continuous point with a beginning and an end. It can be in any direction. The line can be either straight, curved or both. Lines can stand alone or be used to create a pattern. It is important to remind the kids that once a line loses its beginning and end, it becomes a shape. Thus, decorating your pumpkin with circles and hearts is more about using shapes, not lines.
Step One
On the white piece of paper, draw out a pumpkin outline. Then, draw the lines in the pumpkin to create the sections.
For the younger artists ...
For the younger artists, I asked that they just fill each pumpkin section with a different line. The lines can be whatever they choose, and go in any direction. The only guideline is that each section should contain a different line, do not use the same line twice, and be sure to draw more than one line in each section (so don’t just make one squiggly line in one pumpkin section).
It is recommended to use a pencil first to draw out the lines. Then, go back over the pencil lines with a sharpie or a black marker to make those lines stand out more.
Then, color, cut, and paste the pumpkin onto the black piece of paper.
For the intermediate-level artists ...
For the intermediate-level artists, I asked that they fill each pumpkin section with a different line. The lines can be whatever they choose, and go in any direction. The only guideline is that each section should contain a different line, do not use the same line twice, and be sure to draw more than one line in each section (so don’t just make one squiggly line in one pumpkin section). Ideally, their lines should make patterns in the pumpkin sections.
It is recommended to use a pencil first to draw out the lines. Then, go back over the pencil lines with a sharpie or a black marker to make those lines stand out more. Be sure to let the black lines dry well before coloring.
Then, color, cut, and paste the pumpkin onto the black piece of paper.
For the advanced-level artists ...
For the advanced artists, I asked that they fill each pumpkin section with a different line pattern. There is a big focus on op-art type lines. The only guideline is that each section should contain a different line pattern and do not use the same line pattern twice. Advise them to think about what patterns they are going to create, and visualize (or even sketch) how they will look as a whole when they are all next to each other. Try not to overwhelm the eye with too many busy patterns right next to each other.
I encouraged the artists to use rulers for this one. This helps to create a more precise pattern and definitely helps with the optical art. Also, as opposed to the other artists who drew in pencil first then traced over with marker, I advised these artists to use a ball point pen from the start. Thus, planning and sketching of their designs ahead of time is highly recommended.
Then, cut and paste onto the black paper. We kept these black and white to emphasize the patterns and not muddle them with color.