This is a fun art project I like to use to get students exploring different types of materials at the beginning of the year. It’s also a low-pressure way to introduce mixed media and abstract art.
Set up the room by placing a wide variety of art materials in a centrally located place in your room. The way this works is that you start by drawing an abstract design on your paper using a variety of shapes and lines to divide up your paper. Then, you simply choose different art materials to fill in each section. Experiment with layering, creating different pressures while using the materials and making blended areas. Use a checklist with the materials listed so students can select and mark off different supplies that they use. At the end, have the students reflect on their experiments.
- Which media did they like best?
- Which was most challenging to use?
- Which supply surprised them?
- What materials would they like to use again in a future artwork?
I have print-and-go handouts here and these are editable so you can swap out art supplies if you don’t have everything on the list.
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