….with their eyes closed my students started to draw lines randomly across their paper
I didn’t want students to have a preconceived idea of what they wanted to draw so I asked them to close their eyes, and start drawing one continuous line all over their paper. When they opened their eyes they were allowed to add some more line if there was a lot of untouched space or if some of the shapes that they created were very large.
They rotated their paper to see which way they wanted to orientate their design and then they chose a variety of pencil crayon colours. I encouraged them to start with one colour and fill in spaces in different areas of the paper. Then they moved on to the next colour and then the next. When they had used all their colours they re-examined their work and decided where more colour was needed and determined if it was balanced.
After all the colour had been added I suggested to some that they go over some of the same areas again so that the shapes were fully covered. Once that was done they were allowed to take a black fine point Sharpie and start adding some line detail to their shapes. Some students found animal shapes and added eyes, noses and scales, while others made random lines and dashes.
I think they did an amazing job. These samples were done by my grade 1 and grade 2 classes.
Mama Cormier 
My husband does something similar with our children. All so unique as are the children. 🙂
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I’ve done this with three different grade levels and it’s so interesting to see how children progress year after year.
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So amazing! I might want to try this with my 52 year old SELF! 🙂 What we can learn from children!!! Thanks for sharing Carol!
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I’ve done one of these myself and it’s a lot of fun. I’m going to try one with acrylic paint that I’ll share with you.
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Amazing!!! Do you teach online class? 🙂
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No I don’t but I get a lot of my ideas from on-line classes and sometimes I change them up slightly to accommodate my students’ abilities.
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I wish I were in your class. Really.
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Thanks Helen!
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Wow. These are actually very awesome. What a great way to go outside the boundaries. There is a lot to be said with in an abstract piece. Each and every single person who view it, sees a little something different the person before. That is why I love abstract art so much, it’s not just a bowl of fruit, or a cottage or flowery meadow, abstract is so much more! These are lovely and you have some very talented students! 🙂
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Thanks Megan. I do hope that some of the parents frame these. They would be even more stunning matted and framed.
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I agree very much on that! I would definitely frame my kids’ artwork like this! 🙂
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This is mega cool. I’d love to have a few up on my wall – no way one is gloomy when surrounded by that!
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Even upside down they look great. I didn’t realize that some of them had flipped before I posted them.
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I think if I had a teacher like you in grade 1/ grade 2, I would have developed a sense of artistic creativity. Your students are lucky!
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Thank you Joanne. Today I critiqued work that the grade ones did and as soon as I praised one little boy’s work all his classmates asked him to show them how he made his design. This happened after I left the room and their homeroom teacher told me what transpired. I always try to find something positive about everyone’s work. It makes a big difference and makes art a little less intimidating and gives some children much needed praise and encouragement.
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See? that’s exactly what I mean!
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