Summery Tube Sculptures

This week I taught a series of art lessons to a small group of Lower Elementary students. Our focus was on cardboard tube sculptures, and we also made colorful sun catchers and collages to welcome summer. The directions for making cardboard tube sculptures are below, and you can see how to make sun catchers in my May 15, 2011 post.

CARDBOARD TUBE SCULPTURES

Materials:

Recycled cardboard tubes from paper towels or toilet tissue

Recycled corrugated cardboard for base

Scissors

White glue

Masking tape

Acrylic gesso & an old paintbrush

Acrylic paints

Paint brushes

Water container

Assorted decorative craft items (felt, buttons, googly eyes, etc.)

Procedure:

1. Think of an invented creature, an animal, a person or a thing you'd like to make using tubes. Decide what is the biggest or main part of what you're making, and begin construction with that part. Decide if your sculpture will need a cardboard base in order to stand on its own. If your sculpture has 4 legs, it will probably stand by itself, and won't need a base.

2. Cut 1/2" long slits about 1/2" apart all around the bottom circumference of a cardboard tube. Bend the slits out to make tabs for gluing. Slits may also be cut in the ends of tubes to fit one inside the other.

3. Apply a dot of glue to each tab and press into place either on the outside of another tube or onto the base. Apply strips of masking tape over all glued tabs; long strips of tape should extend from tubes onto other tubes or onto the base. (All tape needs to stay in place and will not be removed.)

4. The next day, when the glue has set, paint a thin, even coat of white gesso over your entire sculpture, including the base, and allow to dry overnight.

5. On the following day, paint your sculpture with realistic or fantasy colors, and allow to dry again.

6. Glue on any decorative collage or craft items, such as fabric, buttons, feathers or googly eyes to make your sculpture special.

Adam made a fiery, smiley sun.

Abbey made a fantasy flower with a hovering butterfly.

Elli made a sculpture of herself playing soccer.

SUN CATCHERS

by Adam

by Abbey

by Elli

Here Comes the Sun Catcher

Here's a simple and inexpensive way to make a beautiful sun catcher. Hang it in your window in celebration of Spring and Summer, and the colors will come to life when the sunlight streams in.

SUN CATCHER

Materials:

Thick black permanent marker pen (Sharpie "Fine Point")

Thick permanent marker pens (Sharpies "Fine Point"), assorted colors

Recycled clear hard plastic cover from a food container (yogurt)

Sharp tool (awl or sharp scissors)

Unbent paper clip, pipe cleaner or scrap of yarn or wire

Procedure:

1. Wash and dry a clear hard plastic food container cover.

2. On the outside surface of the cover, use the black pen to draw a design using many lines.

3. On the opposite side (the inside surface) of the cover, fill in the areas between the lines with a variety of colors. Use as many colors and designs as you wish.

4. Using an awl or the blade of scissors (kids should get adult help to do this safely), punch a small hole at the top of the cover.

5. Thread the paper clip, pipe cleaner or yarn through the hole & tie it off. Hang your sun catcher in a sunny window.

You can see more colorful sun catchers in my June 24, 2011 post.

A five year old made this lively sun catcher!

Art Party

I was invited to present an art lesson at the home of former school students. Since everyone was getting a little tired of all the snow we've been having, we began by creating summery beach scenes, using oil pastel & watercolor resist techniques. The fact that there was a variety of ages in the participants made for more variety in the paintings.

Watercolor resist is one of my favorite techniques to introduce to both children and adults. When wax crayon or oil pastel lines are applied heavily to paper, watercolor washes painted on top of the drawing allow those lines to pop through the paint. It's a dramatic and magical process which fascinates young and older artists alike!