We drew dinosaurs by 'deconstructing the animal into basic shapes'. Watercolor techniques came next.
First we chose the dinosaur drawing print-out of our choice (there were 4 to choose from). Next, we drew with pencil over top this print-out, deconstructing the dino into VERY basic shapes (basic circles, ovals and spheres). Breaking a picture down into basic shapes helps us with proportion and form. Then we created a grid on the print-out dinosaur paper by folding the paper crosswise and lengthwise, and we created the same grid using a pencil on our good watercolor paper. With the aid of this grid, we were able to copy the basic shapes to our watercolor paper (grid method). Using a grid helps us identify which lines and marks go where on the paper (correct placement). Next, while carefully observing our original print-out drawing, we connected our basic shapes, refining them, tweaking them, and 'draping them with skin' to create a realistic looking dino (not one made up of circles and ovals). After outlining in permanent black marker, we erased all our pencil lines (we are learning how to drawing LIGHTLY with pencil for this reason). Then we painted with watercolor using a 'wet-on-wet' technique, which allowed our colors to run and bleed into each other. We regularly blotted our colors to keep that transparent, stain-glassed look. We applied color throughout our dino in this way, also layering colors, creating more and more depth. Lastly, after our colors had dried, we applied a light wash of yellow to our whole dino (this is called glazing), which gives a more unified, brilliant and 3-D appearance. Everyone was so proud. Me too, these turned out so well. Kudos to those who took the more difficult "T-Rex challenge"!
 |
| Abby 8 |
 |
| Vita 9 |
 |
| Sif 7 |
 |
| 6-9 years |
 |
| 6-11 years |
