Christmas Nutcrackers in Oil Pastel

jackson- 2nd grade

WOODEN TOY SOLDIER NUTCRACKERS
This is such a great and easy project,  given a step by step instructions for the basic shape of the nutcracker, the kids have such a fun time customizing their nutcrackers after that.
The history is such an interesting part, and I also speak a bit about the Nutcracker Ballet- LOVE IT!
Here's some more great 2nd grade creations,  this is great for any grade!  The key is to really cover your black paper completely with the oil pastel.

by London 2nd grade

by Aston 2nd grade

The nutcrackers that we are used to seeing at Christmas time, we call the wooden toy soldier nutcrackers even though they come in many different characters besides the traditional soldier. These nutcrackers were seen in many homes in the Erzgebirge (the mountainous region in the eastern part of Germany which borders the Czech Republic) even before 1800. This was a mining region, and during the long winter months, the men spent their time making wooden products for the family. It was tradition that a nutcracker in the window kept the family safe from evil spirits and danger. The first nutcrackers were made in the design of kings and soldiers. They were made by common folk, who liked to have the kings and soldiers working for them, cracking their nuts.
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Paul Cezanne's Chalk Pumpkins

Cézanne, Paul |sāˈzän|

(1839–1906), French painter. He is closely identified with post-Impressionism, and his later work had an important influence on cubism. Notable works: Still Life with Cupid (1895) and Bathers (sequence of paintings, 1890–1905).

During Paul's life, hardly anyone noticed or cared about his paintings.  Only a few people, including 

Claude Monet, Renoir, Pissarro , Picasso, Matisse, Van Gogh and Gauguin realized what an important artist Paul was.  Many of these soon-to-be-famous artists felt that Paul Cezanne may have been the greatest of them all.

Here is the link to the Paul Cezanne  slideshow.

There are so many talks you can do with Cezanne, what a great artist.  We wanted to do something for fall, and he was a natural tie- in since he did so many still life's.  

Materials:
black art paper
colored artists chalk
black oil pastel
pencils

After you give the slide talk, the kids will draw a pumpkin in sections on their paper.  You want them to do the pumpkin big enough so it will be easy to color and shade.
I bring a pumpkin in so they can see that it is not perfectly round, or perfectly shaped in any way.  Show them how to draw each segment starting with the middle segment individually.  After their pumpkin is drawn, then they will go over the lines with the black oil pastel.  This will keep the chalk from drifting.
Each segment will be colored in separately with dark orange at the bottom, medium orange, then yellow at the top.  I tell them it should look like candy corn, they will then blend it together lightly with their fingers. Add the green stem in chalk, and then draw a black line through the middle of the background.  Have them choose two bold bright colors to fill in the background.

Paul Klee

A Swiss-born painter and graphic artist whose personal, often gently humorous works are replete with allusions to dreams, music, and poetry, Paul Klee, b. Dec. 18, 1879, d. June 29, 1940.

Link to Paul Klee slideshow

For this project you will need watercolor paper.

Liquid watercolor. Deep blue and green. I use magic watercolor in the bottle without diluting it, the pigment is nice and strong for this project.

Oil pastels

Saran wrap

Paintbrushes and water

Talk to them about wax resist.

Oil and water don't mix so it's a great art technique.

Explain that they will draw a main fish and some background life with the oil pastels. Press down hard, they can use white too, light colors will show up nicely. They can squiggle sea plants etc. Paul Klee was colorful and fanciful. Encourage them, there are no mistakes, no need for perfection. It is all different and beautiful. They will be leaving all of their paper blank that they have not drawn the sea life.

Explain how now they will apply the watercolor, and since oil and water don't mix, (or wax and water) that even if when they brush the watercolor over their drawings, it will not adhere to the pastels.

Have them cover the whole sheet completely using the blue and green watercolor (not mixing them, just applying them separately)

While they are still wet, quickly cover it in a layer of Saran wrap.

Squish it into wrinkles. Put on a shelf to dry until the next day. They are done. Don't forget their names on the back!

When the plastic wrap is taken off the next day, it will give the appearance of under water scene. Take photos and email them to sharonroe1@me.com and I will put them on Artsonia