Chalk Pastel Drawings Inspired by the Caves of Chauvet and Lascaux

In this unit students study the pre-historic art found in caves in France, and learn how to shade and create value changes with chalk. Drawings are made on a torn paper bag that students first paint with a watercolor wash.

Still-Life Paintings Inspired by Vincent vanGogh

This project focuses on observational drawing and how colors and mark-making can express a mood. Students first create a series of observational sketches with pencil and watercolor (wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry) from still-life flower arrangements in the room. They then choose one arrangement for a final watercolor painting, and add expressive oil pastel marks to their dry work.