Abstract Animals
Capture animals in abstract drawings, finding the geometric shapes that make up animal faces and bodies.
1. Look at several photographs of animals. Compare and contrast their forms by visually breaking the images into simple geometric shapes. To do this, place a piece of tracing paper over a large, side view of an animal such a horse or an elephant.
2. With a Crayola® Fine-Line Marker, draw the simple geometric shapes that comprise the animal. An elephant's head and abdomen would be circles, with a long oval for a trunk, and rectangles for legs. Try several different animals.
3. Tear the edges of construction paper so it looks like a deckle edge.
4. With markers on construction paper, draw the simple geometric forms that you traced. Combine several simple forms to complete a more complex drawing.
5. Use Crayola Colored Drawing Chalk to fill in the animal and background. Keep your drawing simple and strong.
6. Exhibit the works. Ask viewers to identify which animals are portrayed.
Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of arts and crafts materials. Some craft items, particularly beads and buttons, are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid use of such small parts with children younger than 3 years. Craft items such as scissors, push pins and chenille sticks may have sharp points or edges. Avoid use of materials with sharp points by children younger than 4 years. Read all manufacturers' safety warnings before using arts and craft supplies.
- Draw several different views of the same animal. Compare views to see if the shapes you observe are similar each time.
- Use this method to draw human forms.
- Compare very different animal forms (turtle/whale, snake/giraffe). Analyze shapes used in each drawing.
Silk Road Treasures & Traders
How Time Flies!
Seasonal Camouflage
