Captivating Pumpkin Art: Unleash Your Students' Creativity with Beatriz Milhazes-inspired Elementary Art Lessons

 Students will learn about the Brazilian artist Beatriz Milhazes, her use of bright colors, geometric patterns, and floral motifs, and apply these elements to create their own pumpkin drawings.

Materials:

• White drawing paper (8.5" x 11" or larger)

• Pencils and erasers

• Black markers or crayons

• Brightly colored markers, crayons, or watercolor paints

• Circular stencils or various-sized lids for tracing circles (optional)

• Reference images of Beatriz Milhazes' work (optional)

  
  

  1. Introduce Beatriz Milhazes:

     • Show examples of her vibrant, geometric, and floral works.

     • Discuss her style, focusing on her bold use of colors and patterns.

  2. Show Examples:

     • Display a few pieces by Milhazes and highlight the key elements: bright colors, overlapping shapes, floral patterns, and a sense of rhythm and movement.

  Activity Steps (30-35 mins):

  1. Draw the Pumpkin Shape:

     • Start by drawing a large, simple pumpkin shape in the center of the paper using a pencil.

     • Encourage the students to make their pumpkin big to fill most of the paper.

       
       

       1. Divide with Geometric Patterns:

          • Using circular stencils or lids, draw different-sized circles within the pumpkin shape to create sections.

          • Add other geometric shapes like triangles, squares, and wavy lines in some sections.

       2. Outline with Black:

          • Trace over all the pencil lines with black markers or crayons to create bold outlines.

       3. Decorate with Patterns:

          • Inside each geometric section, draw floral motifs, stripes, or any decorative patterns inspired by Milhazes’ work.Encourage students to use their creativity to fill each section with different designs.

            1. Color the Sections:

               • Use bright, contrasting colors to fill in the geometric sections and patterns.

               • Make sure to use a variety of colors to make the pumpkin vibrant and dynamic.

            2. Add a Background:

               • Draw and color simple geometric or floral patterns in the background to complement the pumpkin.

               • This will enhance the overall look and feel of the artwork, making it cohesive and lively.

            Conclusion (5 mins):

            • Display the completed Milhazes-inspired pumpkins around the room.

            • Have a quick discussion about how students felt using bright colors and patterns.

            • Encourage students to share what they enjoyed the most about combining Milhazes’ style with their pumpkin drawings.

            Reflection:

            • Ask students what they found easy or challenging about this activity.

            • Talk about how art from different cultures can inspire new and exciting creations.

Free Art Worksheet for Back to School

 

Free Art Worksheet - Circles Games

This circle drawing worksheet is a fun activity that you could use in a black to school lesson. After you have spent so much time explaining who you are and what art class will be like this year, there may not be a lot of time left for a full blown lesson. Worksheets like this can be a great filler sort of activity for that day. It gives them the opportunity to be creative, but not take too much time.

This is also a worksheet that you could add to your sub binder!

Teachers, subs and parents may use this as an art game; a challenge; an early finishers activity; or an art lesson. Students create as many designs as they can think of using the circles provided. They may create imaginary objects; doodle designs; or as a way to list the things they can think of that are circular in shape.

More Art Worksheets

If you would like to see blog posts about other art worksheets, click below.

Early Finishers Worksheets

Circle Drawing Game - Art Worksheets and Printables

Create a Character Worksheet

Free Art Worksheets

Art Sub Plans on Patterned Landscapes

Patterned Landscapes as an Art Sub Lesson

Here's a simple lesson that was done in middle school, but could so easily be done in elementary art too.  

Mrs. Hare at Becker Middle School gave her students handouts with sample patterns. They filled their drawing paper with lines for foreground, middle ground, and background. Then they filled in the areas with pattern. 

The supplies used were simple: paper and Sharpie.

The students had previously studied landscape, so they were acquainted with the basic principles of drawing one. 

As a sub lesson, you could provide the teacher with the preprinted pattern sheets; a sheet showing the steps to draw the picture; and a finished sample drawing. 

If the students are relatively independent, they could follow the instructions on their own. Most any sub could also demonstrate how to draw the lines across the paper and label them as foreground, middle ground, and background. Then, the sub could show the finished sample and get the students started.

Another Blog Post About Patterned Landscapes

A couple of years ago I wrote a blog post about a similar lesson. This one includes a few visuals that you are welcome to use.  Check it out here:  Art Sub Lesson - Landscape with Pattern

Fully Formed Art Sub Lessons

If you would like to see art sub plans that are easy to use; fully scripted; and that your kids and subs will love, check out my TPT Shop: Art Sub Lessons.

Free Art Worksheets for Elementary and Middle School

 Free Art Worksheets

Who doesn't like free stuff? Especially when you are in a pinch. A lot of the time when you need a sub, that is exactly what you are in. A pinch for time.

I found some free doodle sheets that you can download immediately. The blog, "Artful Kids" has a set of 6, ready for you to grab right now. Here's one. 

They'd be great to keep in your sub tub or your files for early finishers.

If you'd like an art sub lesson that you can also download immediately and email right to your school office, here's a new one I made.  "Doodle Monsters in Spring."

For $4 you get all of the directions; the script; photos; examples; rubric; and ways to end the lesson right there. Subs love these lessons and kids do too. Go here to check out this lesson and others at my TeachersPayTeachers shop:  Art Sub Lessons.

If you are interested in more free art worksheets, check out this blog post:  Circle Worksheets