Art Docent Program
Art Docent Program
| · | Geometric Shapes – Square, Triangle, Circle | |
| · | Organic Shapes | |
| · | Cube | |
| · | Cone | |
| · | Sphere | |
| · | Hatching | |
| · | Cross-Hatching | |
| · | Blending | |
| · | Stippling | |
| · | Contouring and Outlining | |
| · | Looping | |
| Tool | Types | Uses | Tips |
| Graphite Pencils | Pencils are rated by hardness or softness of the graphite (lead) they contain.
· ‘Hard’ graphite leads gives a light line, and the lead itself if durable, keeps its point when sharpened, and is slow to wear down. Hard leads range from 2H to 7H (hardest). · ‘Soft’ graphite leads are most often used by artists. Soft lead pencils give a very dark line, tend to break more easily and ward down quickly – particularly the points. Soft leads range from 2B to 9B (softest). | Artists often use a range of graphite pencils depending on the desired effect or technique.
· Artists use soft graphite for shading and creating dark values. · Standard 2B pencils work fine for quick sketches or linear types of work | ·
A heavy weight of paper is best for this kind of work.
· Because the points wear down quickly on soft lead, use a hand held pencil sharpener or a sandpaper block for sharpening points. |
| Charcoal | Charcoal comes in several forms: Vine charcoal and compressed charcoal being the most common.
· Compressed charcoal is the best to use with young students. | ·
Compressed charcoal gives inky blacks which can be blended to make a gradation of values on white drawing paper.
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Give each child ½ a stick and use fingertips, an eraser or small scrap of drawing paper to blend.
· Each child should have a damp paper to wipe their fingers on while they work. · Kneaded erasers are best for erasing and blending. Charcoal will be difficult to remove from erasers after use. |
| Ink | Fine points black ink pens (such as roller ball or precise point) are particularly good for adding details and texture.
· Black “sharpies” are also good tools for teaching drawing. | Ink pens and sharpies can be used over paint or watercolor to add details, textures or re-define shapes after painting.
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| Liquid ‘India’ Ink | ·
Liquid ‘India’ Ink is a good medium for exploring types of line qualities and learning to control pens/tools.
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Have children use ink win spill-proof bottles and on trays to catch spills or drips.
· Have children wear paint shirts when using liquid ink. | |
| Erasers | Erasers are an essential tool when learning to draw. | White vinyl erasers are the most effective. |
| Tool | Types | Uses | Tips |
| Colored Pencils | ·
Colored pencils are a versatile, non-messy and easily controlled art medium for the classroom.
· Quality is directly related to cost of pencil sets – the best quality is Prismacolor pencils. | Colors can be layered, blended and textured.
| · Encourage students to sharpen colored pencils with a hand-held sharpener instead of a mechanical sharpener to help the pencils last longer. |
| Felt Tip Pens | Felt Tip pens render rich and brilliant color with minimum effort or mess.
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They allow for a variety of line qualities and effects.
· Unlike pencils, they cannot be readily layers, changed or erased. · Some types (such as Vis-à-vis pens) can be used with a water wash to create watercolor-like effects. | Non-permanent types are recommended for use by children.
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| Oil Pastels | Oil pastels are a great alternative to crayons for brilliant color.
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Layer and blend to produce softened edges and brilliant fields of color and texture.
· One layer can cover another like paint. · Combines effectively with graphite. · Use over paintings or drawings to re-define shapes, forms and colors. · Use as a color resist under water based paints. · Start their oil pastel drawing with a pencil sketch, and then apply the pastel over the top. · Use fingers or a scrap of paper to rub and smear the pigment when blending. · Scratch through with a pencil or pen point when layering to reveal the color underneath or to add texture. | Use heavy weight drawing paper or construction paper as a background.
· To get a cleanly defined edge, lay a piece of newsprint down along the edge to be defined and then color over it onto the artwork. · Keeping Clean: have students keep damp paper towels at their seat to keep their fingers clean as they work. · Keep protective sheets of newsprint under student work and on top of it to protect desks, sleeves and the work itself from smears. |
| Soft (Chalk) Pastels | Soft Pastels are an opaque art medium.
· Quality is directly related to price. | Use on colored papers to achieve softly blended textural effects with a chalky, matte-like quality.
· Begin drawing with a pencil sketch. · Lay down one or two layers of blended colors and finish with a layer of textured effects. · Encourage students not to overwork the pastel by blending it too much. · Use on top of dried paint to refine work with additions of color and texture. | Follow same “Keeping Clean” guidelines as above.
· Use heavy weight drawing paper or construction paper. |