Did you know markers bleed and you can make the look like a painting? You probably figured that out if you accidentally spilled water on a marker drawing-ruined right?!
We used the “bleeding” accident to paint our snowman so they look 3D! IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! I love to use supplies in experimental ways-that’s how we grow & change as artists! The art teacher blogs Deep Space Sparkle and Mary Making also explored this same concept with their elephant projects (which are great projects to do with 2-3rd graders-I’ve done this with my students & they LOVED it!). Try it!!
Supplies: 12×18 tagboard, sharpies, Crayola markers, white oil pastels, watercolor paints, 2 sizes of paper or Styrofoam plates (to trace the body)
Instructions: (2-45 minute classes)
- Use the smaller plate to draw the head of the snowman in the middle of the page.
- Use the larger plate to draw the body of the snowman, slightly overlapping (behind) the head.
- Draw in the eyes, smile & buttons with circles.
- Draw the carrot nose as cone. You can use a yellow oil pastel to outline, then paint with orange paint later.
- Draw all other details like hats, scarves, mittens, arms, & hills.
- Use a brown oil pastel for the branch arms.
- Outline everything in Sharpie.
- Use a blue Crayola marker to draw a line INSIDE the outline of the head & body.
- Use a paint brush & water to gently rub against the blue line, making it bleed into the head. Add more water if a harsh line is formed-the goal is for the color to fade into white (the color of the paper).
- Use colored markers to color the buttons, scarves & mittens with the same bleeding process.
- Let dry.
- Use white oil pastels to draw snow & swirly lines (like Van Gogh’s Starry Night).
- Finally, paint the background with watercolors & see the watercolor resist happen-Magic!
If you choose to use ANY part of this blog (pictures or written), please link back to Create Art with ME!
- Trace Body with plates
- Draw with Blue Marker
- Paint with Water to make marker “Bleed”
- Oil Pastel Carrot Nose
- Oil Pastel Snow & Swirls
- Add Lots of Details!!
- Marker Painting-Snowman
- Watercolor Resit!
Thanks so much for this. Great inspiration for some techniques to do with my daughter.