How adorable are these?!?

This lesson took (2) art classes to finish (and I had JUST enough time to squeeze in one more lesson before the end of the year)! It’s a simple one —but packs in a bunch! It incorporates the Elements of Art- Line, Shape, Color, Value and Texture! We also used overlapping, contrast and pattern in our work!  Students could choose between creating a bunny, bear cub or fox.

Read below the photos of student’s artwork to see how they were created and how to get FREE bunny and bear templates!

The fox template was clearly the most adored by my 2nd graders!

DAY 1 – Creating the field of flowers background!

Students drew flowers all over their 9×12″ 80# drawing paper using markers and crayons. They were encouraged to draw the flower heads LARGE and draw LOTS!! Especially along the top and sides, since later on the animal would be placed over their painting in the center.

I demonstrated a bunch of different ways to create the flowers first, but students could draw them any way they wanted! I also encouraged them to use bright colors.

Once their paper was filled, they drew green stems from each flower head going all the way to the bottom, using a green crayon as well as a green marker for each one. 

Once all the flowers and stems were drawn, using just water on a paintbrush, they went over each flower with water. This turns the marker into almost a watercolor consistency. I showed them how to just do one flower at a time then rinse their brush before moving onto the next so the colors wouldn’t get muddy.

Then students went over all their stems with water. The crayon part of the stems would remain a solid line since crayons resist water. We talked about the Element of Art “Value” and how the colors of the flowers would get softer and lighter in value once water was applied.

DAY 2 – Adding the animal!

Students chose a bunny, bear OR fox template to start drawing lines with sharpie to add TEXTURE!

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I downloaded and photocopied the free bunny template from a website called Teachstarter found HERE . I created the bear one myself and made copies for kids, which you can get for free on my Teachers Pay Teachers page HERE. The fox template was created by an art teacher (Mrs. Bohn from McLeansville Elementary Art, via Instagram) who shared her fox drawing template with me!

I demonstrated how to draw straight and diagonal lines close together in between each section using sharpie. Students could leave the eye area as it was, or go over the bunny lashes and create longer lines. We discussed how the lines created fur- like TEXTURE. We also discussed how the black & white vs. the colorful flower background would create CONTRAST.

Once all the lines were drawn, students carefully cut out their animals and glued onto their flower background with a glue stick!

I just LOVE how simple yet beautiful this lesson is! Plus, kids continue to understand how they are applying the elements of art while creating!

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Thank you for stopping by! To view other grade level artwork, click on the drop down menu on the main page, and select a grade to view more student art!

I will be posting again next week on 5th Grade “Grid Drawings” inspired by artist Chuck Close, and 4th Grade “Enlarged Flower drawings” inspired by artist Georgia O’Keeffe!

Be sure to check back soon!