pet oil pastels

As we came to the end of the week of the Pets-n-Art summer camp, I decided to do something a little different. All week long the kids had been using some print outs from the computer of their pet photographs for reference.

Why not use them again to create oil pastels?

And when I say use them, I mean literally use them.

Violet.  10 year old

Starting with the black and white print outs of their pets, each child began to add the oil pastel on top.

Aussie. 7 year old

Aussie. 5 year old

Some kids decided to use "crazy colors" on their pets and in the above picture, I took a moment to explain complimentary colors as an option for their work. Unlike my own kids, this child listened to me in the end and gave it a try. Although as I have said before, I always stress to the kids that my suggestions are just that, suggestions, and they are free to decide whether or not they use them.

Colby. 5 year old

As they started their works, I asked them to pay attention to the different directions the lines on the fur of their pets moved and try to make their drawing strokes follow the same direction. 

Sandy. 9 year old

And as usual, I stressed for them to add more than one layer of color to blend and make their own unique color palette on the paper.

Parapete. 4.5 yerra old

Parapete. 8 year old

Parapete. 7 year old

I had printed off some pictures of the studio bird, Parapete the Parakeet, also because he had been such a big hit with the kids all week. A couple of kids were quite excited to use the pictures to create their artwork. I love how each child made the same picture their own.

Duffy. 9 year old

They seemed to really enjoy working on this project. And I think they found it interesting to see that although they were working directly on a photo of their pet, as they began to add their marks the work became an original piece instead of just "copying".

Q-Bert. 7 year old

I even found a picture of Q-Bert on google to print out. How could I not? Every single project for this child had centered on the character, it seemed like a crime if this project didn't too.

Fiddy. 9 year old

Although I had printed out a couple of extra pictures of his family dog for him in case he wanted to use it for this project like his older brother. Not surprising, he declined. But how cute is Fiddy as a puppy sitting under the table?! 

Pushka. 5 year old

I was quite happy in the end with this project. Not because I was happy with the final results, which I was, but because it was a great lesson for the kids to see the importance of line direction in their works of art. Something I am always stressing whenever they are painting or drawing but a concept that is not always easy to grasp.

Krystal. 7 year old

However with this project, by george they got it.

sand paper prints

During the Pets-n-Art camps, I did two printmaking projects.

The first one was with sandpaper. I did this project last summer in a camp and the kids had so much fun with the unusual opportunity to draw on sandpaper, I decided to give it a try again.

9 year old. "Duffy"

This project is pretty simple, but I would recommend either having an old iron you don't use for clothes anymore or make sure you have a piece of paper between the sandpaper and the iron to protect it.

7 year old. "Aussie"

The kids start by first creating a drawing on the sandpaper with oil pastel. 

8 year old. "Kali"

In the studio, I take the oil pastel boxes that are past their prime and put them into three dollar store containers, meant to hold utensils, and sort the pastels by warm, cool, and neutral colors. These are the pastels I use for this project because sandpaper chews down your oil pastels very quickly!

10 year old. "Violet"

I urge the kids to create at least of couple of layers of pastel on the sandpaper, to be truthful, three layers is best for really good results. You will see here the variety of prints has a lot to do with how well they covered the sandpaper with the pastel.

4.5 year old. "Ginger"

Once they had completed their pictures on the sandpaper, they brought their artwork over to where I was with a hot iron. I had cut out some very heavy cardboard (the backs of the art paper packs that I always save) for us to create the monoprints onto.

9 year old. "Rosie"

When all the prints were finished, I added some twine at the top in order for each child to be able to hang them at home.

5 year old. "Aussie"

I love the way the sandpaper looks after the iron has melted the oil pastel into it too and so I mounted them too on a piece of Bristol paper for display.

5 year old. "Colby"

I always stress to the kids when we do printmaking projects that you never really know what you are going to get on the paper and to keep an open mind. For those who are less that impressed with their print, the final sandpaper picture seemed to make up for it. 

7 year old. "Dream horse pet"

I think the kids enjoyed using an unusual material to create art with this project. The idea that an iron, some recycled cardboard, and a piece of sandpaper could create something pretty was enticing.

7 year old. "Q-Bert"

I thought they came out quite cute and hope the kids enjoy looking at these artworks at home.

7 year old. "Krystal"

Who knows, maybe some of them will get quite creative and add a "DO NOT DISTURB" or "DO NOT ENTER" sign on the back and hang them on the outside of their bedroom doors. Their very own guard pets for their bedrooms.

7 year old. "Pushka"

Regardless of how they ultimately utilize this little project, I had a great time introducing it to them.

9 year old. "Ghost dog"

And think the results are quite cute.

Hello, my name is George.

A few months ago one of my students came to the studio with very exciting news.

They were getting a dog.

And not just any dog, but a dog with a lovely story.

A dog named George.

A very lucky little beagle who might not ever win grand champion of the Westminster Kennel Club, but is certainly worthy in the eyes of the three little girls, one of them my student, who adopted and love him.

George was very loved by another family first, a family who had to move to Australia and leave him behind.  A family who made sure to find another perfect family ready to give George all the love he deserved.

But maybe a little less treats.

You see, the other part of the story I have heard a lot about is the fact that George needs MANY walks because he was well, to put it politely, ample in size.

But to George's credit, he is now sporting a new slender figure since joining his new family.

But that doesn't mean George doesn't miss his treats.

So much so that when this student, who created the pastel dog portrait of an Irish Setter a couple of weeks ago decided she really wanted to do another one of her dog George, the way she got him to pose for a photograph was by offering him a treat.

Poor, pitiful George, or at least that is what he would like you to think in this picture, in hopes of getting his mouth on that treat right out of reach, life can be so unfair for a dog on a diet.

Life is unfair to an art teacher on a diet too!  I feel George's pain.

And here is George's, "Please human person, give me a treat" portrait created in chalk pastel by a 10 year old artist whose heart he has stolen...probably along with a treat or two, but who's keeping track.

"George"  chalk pastel by 10 year old

The artist was so happy as the drawing progressed.  "There's George!", she would squeal as the picture began to take shape. She has decided her favorite thing to create is portraits of her pets and so I'm quite sure after spring break, she will be exploring lots of different ways to immortalize the pets she loves so much in art.

Until then, I have no doubt that this artwork will become a family keepsake as the years go by.

A very special dog created by a very special girl.

And speaking of Spring Break, there are still a few spaces left in the camps being offered.  You can send a note to reserve a spot at Kudzustudio.com.