Van Gogh’s “Wheat Fields with Cypresses” is one of my favorite paintings. There is a distinct separation between the foreground, middleground and background, making it a perfect example for a... Learn More

Half art lesson, half free-choice project, this project requires lots of time to imagine, draw and create. Based on the book Raptors, Fossils, Fins & Fangs by Ray Troll and... Learn More

Continuing with our Mexico-themed art lessons, second graders created “Market Day” fruit crates. The project took three 45-minute sessions. First session: the students created their own painted paper. Second session:... Learn More

MEXICAN ART UNIT: SOMBRERO & PONCHO My third grade classes are a creative and energetic bunch. They have a hard time sitting still. Instead of trying to reign them in,... Learn More

I received a question today that might be relevant to many of you… Dear Patty, First, thank you so much for your inspirational blog. I have a love and passion for... Learn More

Laura at Painted Paper is my go-to source for inspiration. No one can teach color theory like she can! So when I saw her Picasso-Inspired Hearts, I knew I had... Learn More

I began a unit on Mexico this week, celebrating the vibrancy of the Mexican Culture. For first grade, we made ponchos, a variation of a Painted Paper project that created... Learn More

  Last summer, I purchased the book Ship-Shapes by Stella Blackstone and illustrated by Siobhan Bell. The  fabric art provided just the inspiration I needed for a shape-based lesson for... Learn More

Regular black markers morph into beautiful watercolors with the help of a bit of water and a few techniques. An elephant is a perfect subject in which to experiment with... Learn More