Drawing Day Abstract Art Lesson for Kids
Drawing Day is celebrated on May 16 and the best way to celebrate it is by expressing yourself through drawing just about anything you like. Did you know that drawing is an art closely tied to our history? Even cavemen who hadn’t yet learned to talk drew hunting scenes on cave walls.
Today, let’s look at an abstract work of art and create our own masterpiece!
Students will learn about the four ingredients of drawing: straight lines, curved lines, angled lines and closed lines. They will discover the differences between whisper, normal and loud lines. Students will identify and draw incorporating the four ingredients of drawing. Through the power of observation, they will be challenged to start with a fresh new perspective on drawing!
Recommended Drawing Materials:
You will need a few sheets of white paper (it can be construction paper or computer printer paper, whatever you may have on hand). Feel free to work on this project in your sketchbook, if you have a journal or sketchbook to create in.
There are 4 ingredients used to create drawings- we are going to learn about each of them and practice creating them.
1.Take a piece of white paper (It can be held portrait or landscape) and divide the paper into 4 sections. Anything goes, as this is our practice work.
Label each of the sections:
1. Straight Lines
2. Curved Lines
3. Angled Lines
4. Closed Lines or Ellipses
Practice drawing in each section a variety of lines or shapes
See below:
2. In addition to the style of line you create there are a variety of ways to create these lines. It is easiest to try this out with a pencil.
1.Whisper Lines
2.Normal Lines
3.Loud Lines
These lines have to do with the weight of the line you create on the paper based on the amount of pressure you use when drawing.
Practice drawing the 4 ingredients of lines using whisper, normal and loud line work.
See below:
Ok, now that we are warmed up.
3. Let’s look at a drawing and see if we can identify each of the lines we just learned about.
Did you find a straight line? Curved line? Angled line? Closed Line?
Okay, now that we learned about these line types, let’s create an abstract work of art!
An abstract work of art can include lines and shapes and may not represent anything. Abstract art is the opposite of realistic art. The drawing above is realistic.
Here is an example of abstract art by Kandinsky:
4. Abstract Art Piece: Grab a new sheet of white paper. Create a design using pencil that has at least two of each of the 4 types of lines we discussed above (straight, curved, angled and closed lines). These lines can overlap and be placed anywhere on the paper that you decide, you are the artist!
Outline your pencil work with a permanent black marker and using colored pencils, markers or crayons color in your shapes or around your lines. Here is a look at a finished work of art:
We hoped you were inspired to create a wonderful work of art! Keep Creating!
Amy Friedman
Faber-Castell Education Ambassador