Brooklyn Bridge Silhouettes

2nd graders drew Brooklyn Bridge silhouettes after looking at Walker Evan's Brooklyn Bridge photograph.  We discussed perspective and what it would look like if you were standing on the bridge looking at the towers.  Students were instructed how to draw the image and then colored their drawings with black crayon.  The last step was to add a sunset using colored pencils.  The results were stunning!

Me and My Shadow

1st graders drew self-portraits with shadows.  We began by reading Dr. Seuss' The Shape of Me.  We talked about what a silhouette was and how it looks like a shadow.  Students were given a long narrow piece of paper with a lightly photocopied person image on the top half.  The folded the paper in half so that the persons feet were touching the fold.  They then decorated their person to look like themselves using marker.  The next step was to cut them out keeping the paper folded in half.  When they opened it up they had a mirror reflection of their self-portrait which they colored black with a crayon.  They really enjoyed this project and couldn't wait to take them home!

Halloween Silhouettes

My new school was very into celebrating Halloween this year so third graders created these Halloween silhouettes.  This is a lesson I have seen on several different blogs.  We looked at images of silhouettes and discussed how they are created- objects that are lit up from behind.  Next we brainstormed different Halloween images and I did a demonstration.  We used a black crayon and 6x18 piece of orange paper.  Students began by drawing a horizon line towards the bottom of the paper and then added silhouetted details making sure to color everything in black.  I stressed the idea of just showing the shape or contour of the objects.

Tinted Winter Tree Silhouettes

In this lesson we begin by discussing what a tint is. Students choose either red or blue paint to use for their background and are given a small cup of white paint. Little by little they add their color to the white and paint in layers from bottom to top, getting darker as they go. Once the background is dry students use black paint to add silhouettes of trees showing distance by painting the tree in front larger and the tree in back smaller. Students can add any other details in silhouette- a fence, animals, person... They then use white paint to add a moon and snow falling in the sky and on tree branches. To finish off their painting they mix gray and add shadows under all their objects.

Spooky Silhouette

This is a fun one day halloweenish project. Students began by using a black crayon to draw a silhouette of trees and night creatures such as spiders, bats and owls. They then used watercolor paint to create a wax resist by painting a large yellow circle in the center of the paper as a moon and a purple and blue sky around it.

Warm/Cool Sunsets

Students review warm and cool colors. Demonstrate how to draw a sunset- start with a wavy horizon line, draw a half circle above it with radiating diagonal lines. Students paint sunset using warm colors for the sky and cool colors for the water. Students practice blending colors and gradation. Students can use black sharpie to add silhouetted details (birds, marine life, boats...).