The Importance of a Sketchbook
One of Madeline's sketcbbooks
Early childhood is a wonderful time to introduce the concept of a sketchbook. Sketchbooks offer many opportunities for children to fine tune drawing and motor skills as well as work through and illustrate ideas.
You can set aside time everyday for sketchbook drawing. Some children will fill their books quickly with sketches and others will take their time going back to the same drawing again and again. It's important that children don't feel rushed and are allowed to work at their own pace.
Good quality sketchbooks will tolerate the use of mixed media including but not limited to, pencil, crayon, pastel, charcoal, conte crayon and watercolors.
Sketchbooks are portable and can be taken along on nature walks, field trips to art museums, etc. They also provide a written record of children's progress and make a wonderful keepsake as well.
You can set aside time everyday for sketchbook drawing. Some children will fill their books quickly with sketches and others will take their time going back to the same drawing again and again. It's important that children don't feel rushed and are allowed to work at their own pace.
Good quality sketchbooks will tolerate the use of mixed media including but not limited to, pencil, crayon, pastel, charcoal, conte crayon and watercolors.
Sketchbooks are portable and can be taken along on nature walks, field trips to art museums, etc. They also provide a written record of children's progress and make a wonderful keepsake as well.
Graphite Pencil and Colored Pencil
Madeline's house, age 6
Graphite pencils are inexpensive and readily available drawing tools. They range from hard lead (H-7H), which results in very detailed lightly toned drawings. Softer lead (B-7B) results in darker expressive lines. Let children experiment with different pencils and have them decide what they like best. As children learn which tools work best for a desired outcome, they'll begin to inherently choose the proper pencil for the job.
Colored pencils are also widely available and children learn how to blend and layer colors. What happens when you put a layer of blue over red? What about blue over green? As with watercolors, children have the opportunity to learn a bit of color theory as they experiment with colored pencils.
Colored pencils are also widely available and children learn how to blend and layer colors. What happens when you put a layer of blue over red? What about blue over green? As with watercolors, children have the opportunity to learn a bit of color theory as they experiment with colored pencils.
Window Crayons
Source: http://www.novanatural.com/toys/timeless/window-crayons
Window crayons are amazing tools and allow for creativity and make a wonderful instant display piece. If you have a rather large window, this makes a great spot for a class mural. Another wonderful aspect of window crayons is that they are easily washed off.
Crayons/Markers
A drawing Madeline did of her mom, brother and self.
Crayons come in a myriad of sized and shapes and are available most anywhere. Crayons are wonderful for sketchbooks, easel drawing and colored paper. Crayon/watercolor resist is a fun way to experiment with crayon.
Washable markers are great for coloring, net great results in sketchbooks and easily come off of clothes and hands. Markers come in a vivid array of colors and lend themselves well to bright artworks and murals. You can also turn your marker drawing into a watercolor by dipping a small paintbrush in water and using it to blend the colors together.
Washable markers are great for coloring, net great results in sketchbooks and easily come off of clothes and hands. Markers come in a vivid array of colors and lend themselves well to bright artworks and murals. You can also turn your marker drawing into a watercolor by dipping a small paintbrush in water and using it to blend the colors together.
Sidewalk Chalk
Grant and his friends exploring sidewalk chalk on school grounds.
Sidewalk chalk is another great way to get kids outside making large drawings. You can also dip the end of the chalk in water to deepen the intensity. Another great way to use sidewalk chalk other than the traditional way of drawing with the chalk like a pencil, is to crush it up in ziplock bags and mix it with water. Then, you can paint with it using old paint brushes. Explore the difference in results between drawn chalk and painted chalk. Click here for a recipe to make your own sidewalk chalk.
