Fancy Birds

Audubon Bird Project

Audubon Day- Introduction to famous American based artist, explorer and naturalist John James Audubon. How did he live and work? Observation and Imagination.

Bird sketches-studying class resources, handouts, and print reproductions create a bird sketchbook, pencil & sketch paper. Looking closely, details, contour lines, anatomy, using art/science vocabulary.
Science/Art connection  

Audubon inspired bird prints-Student select bird drawing from their portfolio to create as a limited run series of print. Transfer image to soft plate using a wooden stylist. Model printing process. Small groups pull prints, sign artist proof, refine and make individual paper and ink color choices. Reflect on images.
Engineering/Art connection observe imagine process product

Continuous Line Drawing

Owls- what is an owl shape, what are owl body parts? Continuous line drawing, following a series of steps, learning to let the pencil/pen guide your design, pen stays on the paper. Connects to skills used in cursive writing.

Problem solving how to create small details? Color, cut and create and environment
A perfect go to project that students can color and detail throughout the school year.

Science/Nature/Art connection observation and imagination

Audubon Bird Project

Bird Print Portraits

4 part project, life study drawings to finished prints.
Part I: drawing from life introduce Audubon (brief history connects to 5th grade standards). Using bird prints and coloring book drawings, students create a series of bird portrait sketches
Part II: artists refine their sketches and introduce the printing process
Part III: one drawing is selected and transferred to the printing plate-model process and allow for practice with materials
Part IV: Printing Day-set up large tables and work in small groups.

Rain Forrest Birds

6th Grade collage parrot or toucan, they used a choice of pattern/bird to create the base then added their own wings, feathers and beak details. Great way to use up the end of the year scraps and bits plus they looked great too!

Using patterns of toucans and parrots, students traced and cut out their own tropical bird. This cardboard base was the foundation for a collage project using a variety of scrap papers such as wall paper, painted paper, foil papers, specialty prints and construction paper. This projects connects directly to 6th grade world  culture standards and builds on their 5th grade Audubon bird project.
Each student is encouraged to select colors and designs that appeal to them- they can pursue a more realistic color palette (photos of the birds are on display) or chose a more personally imaginative approach.Using patterns of toucans and parrots, students traced and cut out their own tropical bird. 

This cardboard base was the foundation for a collage project using a variety of scrap papers such as wall paper, painted paper, foil papers, specialty prints and construction paper. This projects connects directly to 6th grade world  culture standards and builds on their 5th grade Audubon bird project. Each student is encouraged to select colors and designs that appeal to them- they can pursue a more realistic color palette (photos of the birds are on display) or chose a more personally .imaginative approach

Bird Prints

This is such a fun 4 part project that connects to 5th grade social studies while reinforcing skills and introducing students to print making as an art form.

I use a lot of handouts to support this project and allow a lot of time for students to develop a collect of bird drawings for their portfolio. They are encouraged to make notes and compare the line drawing resources with the color prints provided.

This project also integrates the travels and art work of American Artist James Audubon.

http://web4.audubon.org/bird/BoA/BOA_index.html

Great Birds of North America

Supported by observation and discussion students created several pencil sketches of North American birds. They were provided with table top hands outs and other visual supports to create these drawings and collect them in a sketchbook/portfolio.

This project supports skill building and  connects Early American History themes such as Mr. Audubon (explorer/artist)  and his work regarding the birds and wild life of early North America. These drawing were then transferred to soft printing plates using a wooden pencil. Plates were printed with water base wood block ink. Students learned to sign and number their prints and artist's proofs.