Stylized Barn Owls in Mixed Media

I could design an owl project every other month and never tire of it. I love owls, and their potential for embellishment, color, line, texture and mixed-media application, is so great. Sooooooo, I decided to throw together an owl project for my little class (6-7 year olds). Honestly, I was looking for a good project in which I could use my new and exciting metallic markers. I knew my little class would freak with excitement at being able to use these fabulously fun markers. Additionally, the timing for this project was optimized by the fact that it was Karneval in our region of Germany, which meant that there were bright sparkly colors everywhere and all around for a few weeks. So this is how the stylized barn owl was born!

Teacher Sample

Selection of visuals for inspiration

Process:
Students were shown many photographs and illustrations of barn owls. We discussed their shape and features. Student practiced a few owls in pencil on scrap paper. Then they were given their good drawing paper (dark blue construction paper). I did a guided drawing on the white board with students following along step by step.
Students were given options for how to make the wings and feet. We first outlined our eyes and eye area in white Posca pens, and added a light spot in the eye. Then we used a white colored pencil to color the center part of the barn owl's face, using lines which go from the center outward. This gives our owls that fuzzy, open, moon-face look which barn owls are known for. We then continued to color our owls using colored pencils, in any colors we wanted.

Students were asked to color in 'sections' at a time, and with attention to the direction of their lines, to create the look of sections of feathers, but the guidelines were pretty loose here. We looked at my owl teacher sample as well as other illustrations which had a stylized quality with colorful patterns and designs. We discussed how and where on our owl we might want to add pattern and designs using metallic markers. We were encouraged not fill every ounce of space, but to leave some areas less busy (for visual rest). Students were given free range on how and where to add pattern, though they were encouraged to be neat and orderly with their patterns, and not to overdue it. They were also asked to use white Posca pens to emphasize the edges and important features of their owls, such as eyes, wings, or the division of sections of patterns.

Day 1. More details and background next class!

Once complete, students drew a slanted uneven line along the bottom third of their paper and cut this out (carefully, so as to not cut off the owl's feet), and pasted their owl on a neutral patterned deco paper of their choosing. Lastly, we created the moon using white chalk pastel. We practiced on scrap paper first, working from the center outwards in a circular motion, then smudging in a circular motion with our fingers, and repeating this once or twice, for a whiter moon, if necessary.

We signed our names in black pen, and that's that! Beautiful stylized barn owls by adorable 6-7 year olds!