This adorable rabbit illustration, which can be found on Pinterest, was the inspiration for our Rabbit Illustration Using Line project. I've been focusing on drawing and illustration with my kids classes, and I knew this would fit in nicely with my drawing curriculum. I adapted it for both my younger class and my older classes.
We learned how to use simple line (dashes, lines, dots) to create texture, render shape and give a 3-D structure to our bunny. I had the kids fill in various shapes with line for practice. We discussed how lines closer together create a darker area, and how lines spaced further apart create a lighter area. Short and long lines create different texture, and dots help to create shadows, subtle or extreme, depending on the quantity and density of dots.
I did a guided drawing on the white board and the kids followed on their drawing paper. They also had handouts of this rabbit at their desk, and could draw from observation on their own, according to their skill and comfort level. As always, we mapped out our basic features to get the proportions right, and then added the overall shape and details. We used the blank rabbit template to help us break our bunny up into sections, into which we would later add our lines (see below). We discussed how giving these sections a slight curve would give our bunny form, making it more 3-D.
Once drawn, we added big rabbit lashes - we referenced real rabbit photos and noted how their lashes are long, and grow out nearly horizontally from the eye, and are longer on top than on bottom. We also added a reflection spot in the eye to give character and dimension.
Next, we started adding our lines, or dashes, using permanent black marker. We thought carefully of density and direction. Our little hands were hurting after this project, due the repetitive motion of 'dashing'. But it was all worth it!
As a final touch we added cheeks in chalk, which we smudged with fingers in a circular motion. We used a white gel pen to emphasize the whites in the our eyes and to draw whimsy whiskers.
Rabbits were cut out and mounted on brown drawing paper for the little kids. The bigger kids cut their rabbits into 7 sections, and reassembled these sections onto colored paper, leaving a small space to create that graphic look. Had we had more time, I would have had the little kids do this last step too, but time was short.
These were done in one 90-minute class. We are fast and furious, just like our rabbits! This project can be adapted in many ways. There are some cute ideas, including handy printable templates, here. I preferred to have my kids draw their own bunny, rather than use a template, because this was a drawing-focussed project.
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Little Class, above, ages 6-7
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| 7-10 year olds |
7-13 year olds