Botanicals are classified into two artistic forms - botanical art and botanical illustration. Both groups are botanically and scientifically accurate. Botanical art however offers the artist more freedom of expression and interpretation. This lesson will allow students the opportunity to explore botanical art and create a three-dimensional interpretation all their own using Tara Canvas products.

Humans of all cultures have made containers for their small treasures for centuries. This ceramic lesson’s small stamped slab boxes can be any size or shape and can contain a mystery of their own.

The history of paper sculpture had its beginnings in Japan with the introduction of origami. origami began sometime after Buddhist monks brought paper from China in the 6th century. During this time origami was used primarily in religious ceremonies because of the high cost of paper. The first known origami book was printed in Japan in 1797. Paper folding in Europe began about 1498. Students will use Sax Colored Art paper to create their own paper sculptures.

Students will select at least three of their favorite artists or three works of art that inspire them. Using Sakura and Grafix products, students create their own interpretation of the artwork. Through a thermal process, students will transform and shrink their artwork to assemble a final sampler.

Textural Techniques is a lesson designed for students to study and create a painting on canvas using various textural techniques appropriate for acrylic paint. Liquitex BASICS Acrylics are chosen for their heavy bodied, buttery consistency and brilliant pigmentation. The use of textural techniques, tools and additives will be explored and implemented to create various textured surfaces on the paintings.

In this lesson students combine Prang Markers and colored tissue paper creating a collage painting to expand their creative expression. Using this combination of materials as a mixed media lesson allows students to explore color, value, texture and movement to create a striking finished piece. The layering techniques of the washable markers, tissue and the top layers of fine detail transform the illusion of depth within the image.

A Trivet is a tile used to shield a surface (table) from a hot pot, cooking container, or dish. These trivets are created by placing bisque-fired clay shapes (called bisquettes) onto a clay tile background. The arrangement of clay shapes on the tile is similar to a quilt pattern block.

Contemporary ceramic artists including Josh Deweese, Cristina Córdova, and Naomi Clement are masters at layering color in expressive, painterly ways. Using Speedball® Underglazes and Glazes on Sax® Earthenware Clay with combinations of brushes, clay tools and sponges, student artists can look to these ceramicists for inspiration as they experiment with realistic and abstract color, matte and gloss surfaces, and the levels of transparency to opacity that can be achieved in color layers.

Sax Versatemp Premium Tempera Paint, is chosen for this collage lesson because of its vibrant pigment and full bodied consistency. Students will review and experience the Art of Collage, Color Theory and the Elements and Principals of Art and Design. Sax Versatemp Premium on watercolor paper, over a canvas panel subtrate, will be utilized to create components for a ‘Colorful Collage’ that illustrates the visual effects of color.

Is there anything more poetically beautiful than an Illuminated Manuscript? Dating back to the 13th Century and even before that, the Illuminated Manuscript was both story and art. This lesson will allow students to try their hand at lettering and creative design using a combination of metallic paints and markers.

Who can deny that autumn is the most beautiful time of the year? The leaves are on fire with color! It is very easy to take for granted all the falling leaves we see around us. This lesson will take students on a visual excursion, allowing them to create a colorful composition and, with the help of some metallic paints, will bring the students to a final destination that shimmers and shines!

Images created by employing individual visual units is historic. Greek and Roman mosaics used individual tiles to create images. Native American used seed beads, and even corn in producing the Corn Palaces. In the electronic age, the PIXEL (short for picture element) is the modern unit used. Whether ancient or modern these seemingly insignificant units are the building blocks to create a final work of art (The Big Picture).

The images in this lesson plan are inspired by massive clusters of stars in regions NGC 604 and NGC 6357. The inspiring photographs are composite images from the telescopes of NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory. X-ray telescopes enable us to see bright young stars and the gasses surrounding them. The iridescent properties and colors of Elmer’s Cosmic Glue are a key to this lesson while each tilt of the canvas brings new light and color to the finished image.

On a clear night, we can look up into the sky and see stars, planets, satellites, and constellations. NASA™ has sent interstellar spacecraft with giant telescopes to help us see the beautiful nebula beyond our planet Earth. These shimmering images in the sky encourage us to wonder about whether there are any other life forms out in space. By combining interest in the night sky and space travel, students will create images that foster their creativity in designing “My Night Sky”.

Vincent Van Gogh used sunflowers as a subject in many of his paintings. His use of color, line and shape in his paintings set him apart from most painters of his time. He created vibrant lines applying paint from the tube with his fingers and a pallet knife.