Jen Stark Inspired Pumpkin Drawing - Lesson Plan - Halloween

Jen Stark Inspired Pumpkins

 Alright, let's blend some autumnal vibes with a bit of psychedelic flair! Here's a step-by-step lesson plan for creating a Jen Stark-inspired pumpkin drawing:

Lesson Plan: Drawing a Pumpkin with a Jen Stark Influence

**Objective**: Students will create a pumpkin drawing inspired by the vibrant, intricate style of contemporary artist Jen Stark.

**Materials**:

- Drawing paper (9x12 inches or larger)

- Pencils and erasers

- Fine-tip black markers or pens

- Colored pencils, markers, or gel pens

- Rulers and compasses (optional for precise geometric patterns)

**Introduction (10 minutes)**:

1. Briefly introduce students to Jen Stark, showing examples of her work. Emphasize her use of bright colors, layered patterns, and organic shapes.

2. Discuss how Stark's style can be applied to create a unique and eye-catching pumpkin drawing.

**Step-by-Step Instructions (45 minutes)**:

1. **Sketch the Pumpkin** (10 minutes):

   - Lightly draw the basic outline of a pumpkin. Start with a large oval shape and add curved lines to create the sections of the pumpkin.

   - Add a stem on top and any other basic features you want, like vines or leaves.

2. **Add Patterns and Designs** (15 minutes):

   - Using fine-tip black markers or pens, divide the pumpkin sections into smaller shapes and patterns. Think about Jen Stark's use of concentric lines, wavy patterns, and geometric shapes.

   - Experiment with different patterns in each section to create a varied and dynamic design.

3. **Add Color** (20 minutes):

   - Using colored pencils, markers, or gel pens, fill in the patterns with vibrant colors. Encourage students to use a wide range of colors and to blend them creatively.

   - Remind students to think about Stark's use of contrast and color harmony.

**Reflection and Sharing (10 minutes)**:

1. Allow students to share their finished drawings with the class.

2. Discuss how they incorporated Jen Stark's style into their pumpkin drawings.

3. Reflect on what they enjoyed about the process and what they found challenging.

Assessment:

- Evaluate students based on their creativity, effort, and how well they incorporated elements of Jen Stark's style into their pumpkin drawings.

Extensions:

- Create a series of drawings inspired by other seasonal items (like leaves or acorns) using the same techniques.

- Experiment with different media, such as watercolor or digital art programs, to create similar designs.

Remember, the key is to have fun and embrace the vibrant, psychedelic spirit of Jen Stark's art! 🍂🎃

🎃 🎃 🎃 🎃 🎃 🎃 🎃 🎃 🎃 🎃

If you need an art sub lesson that is ready to print and hand to a sub, these might be just what you need:

Draw a Haunted House or Doodle Monsters at Halloween

Neurographic Art for Middle and High School

Valentine Neurographic  Art Lesson - Perfect for Subs

I have been intrigued by the neurographic art I have been seeing lately. Looking around for information, I found that the Inside Out Art Teacher has created a video and instructions on how to do it. A sub should be able to handle this one!

Check this out for instructions and video:

Inside Out Art Teacher - SIMPLE MINDFUL ART PROJECT INSPIRED BY NEUROGRAPHIC ART LESSON

No Prep Ready to Go Neurographic Art Lesson

If you would like a lesson plan that is all ready to print out and use, check out this lesson by TPT Shop: Cool Classroom Stuff.  All the things you need to say are there along with visuals.

Their lesson is written with simple supplies in mind; crayons and paper. 

Art Sub Plan Idea - Drone's Eye View

Drone's Eye View - Middle School Art Plan

This is a great art sub idea for elementary, middle and high school art from Blick. It can be adapted in so many ways.

Is your sub someone that you know and would watch a short video to introduce them to the lesson? Perfect! If not, you can write out some simple plans by watching the video yourself. Here’s a pdf on Buick’s site for the lesson: Drone’s Eye View

You will need to print out satellite views from Google for the students to choose from. Subs would probably need to have students draw the simple shapes they see on the map, but then can color in with crayons. Painting with a sub is generally a bad idea unless they are experienced in such things.

Anyway, check out this lesson from Blick,  It might be a lesson you want to teach yourself!

Winter Middle School Art Sub Plans

Winter Art Project - STEAM

Here is a middle school and elementary school activity integrating art and math and ties with image samples for Christmas, Hannukah, and winter. The activity could be used elementary, middle, and high school. The designs can be as complex or simple as need be.

"Radial symmetry" is the focus of this lesson. This plan includes six templates to help students evenly draw their designs around the circle; five samples of completed designs; and a sheet of sample winter and holiday icons to help the kids add detail.

Perfect for early finishers, it works also for subs and as a center activity.  You can find this over at the TPT shop: Cool Classroom Ideas.

Students begin with a blank or minimally designed template that is lightly drawn in. They add radial symmetry. Directions are given for how to do this.

Here are previews of the lesson.

STEAM Art Worksheet for Valentine's Day

Radial Symmetry Art Worksheet - Integrating Art and Math

This Valentine STEAM lesson can be used in elementary, middle, or high school. It is a perfect art sub-plan. Older students will have fun adding much more detail, but kids of all ages will enjoy this.  Click here to see more about this at TPT Shop: Cool Classroom Stuff.

Fun Extra

Here is a fun video by OK Go using radial symmetry. If you can show a video in your class, your students might like seeing this.

 

Here is a mandala lesson with templates and examples that you can use. This is from the TPT Shop: Cool Classroom Stuff.

Teaching Art to Students Who Have Autism

After I retired from teaching art, I subbed for my old art teacher friends. It was always helpful to have instructions for how to deal with students with special needs. Here is a website that has lots of help for teaching art to students who have autism. You might include some of this information in your sub plans as needed.  Tips for Teaching Art to Students Who Have Autism

Here's another blog post I wrote on the topic:  

Balloon Play

Art Lesson for Special Needs and Autism Classes

Valentine Art Lesson - Special Needs

Valentine Art Sub Lesson for Autism and Special Needs

Today I taught a self contained class of first grade and kindergarten students who have autism.

When they first come into the classroom, we do a movement activity.  Today we danced to "Get Your Wiggles Out" that I downloaded from YouTube.

After that we went over to the work table.  Here are the supplies that I had ready.

I had prefolded and cut hearts out of 12 x 18 inch red paper.  There was a tray of torn colored tissue paper. I had folded acetate transparencies, but a cut open sandwich bag or wax paper would have worked.  We had glue sticks.

To prepare for the sub lesson, I prefolded  transparencies in half.  Then, to cut the heat shaped frames quickly, I folded each one in half then folded it in half again. That is when I cut the half heart shape that went through all four layers of the folded paper and ended up with two symmetrical heart shapes. 

The students rubbed the glue sticks one entire side of the transparency sheet.

They laid one piece of tissue paper at a time inside the folded transparency until they filled the entire sheet.

The transparency then got refolded and stapled inside the heart shaped construction paper.

After they were done, we took the "stained glass" valentines over to the window and enjoyed looking at their beauty.

Their art time is 30 minutes long and the activity took around 15.  With the remaining time we watched storybook videos and Disney song videos.

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Back to School - Free Still Life Set Ups

Free Art Lesson Plans - Still Life Set Ups

This isn't a sub lesson, but it might be helpful to you at the beginning of the school year.

When I am teaching contour line drawing to my fifth graders, I lie to use still life set-ups that include objects familiar to the students.  That age group is not that far from the age of sleeping with stuffed animals, so I find that they feel comfortable trying to draw them.

I put together a small collection of public domain photos in PowerPoint that would work nicely as still lifes for elementary drawings.  You might use them all at once in a lesson or save them to show individually as warm-up exercises.

If you would like to have a copy of the PowerPoint, you may download it for free at my TPT shop:

Art Sub Lessons:  Back to School Freebie-Still Life Set-Ups

Monogram Letter Designs - Art Sub Plan

Monogram Letter Designs as an Art Sub Plan

Here's a sub lesson that was taught in high school. I think it could be simplified for upper elementary. The blog is Amy's Artsy Adventures and this lesson is called "Monogram Letter Designs."

Grids and Blocks - High School Art Sub Idea 

This is from Nic Hahn (aka Mini Matisse).....from Maureen Crosbie on Flickr. From what I read in the comments on Flickr and the blog, some kids as young as 10 can master it and some 8th graders had trouble with it. This might be a lesson you would want to give a test run with those students before you tried leaving it with a sub.