The Dot - Peter H. Reynolds

I feel like I have talked about The Dot before maybe? I love having picture books in my 'Bag of Tricks' with fun, easy art projects or activities to go with them. This one is awesome...

The Dot is a cute story about a little girl who discovers art  through a simple series of dot paintings.  The students were able to paint their own dot, or not-a-dot, with watercolors.  This was a nice simple opportunity for students to use paints and learn the expectations for using watercolors. 

I have also seen doing dot art projects after this where students make a design and use dots to "colour" it in.

These are easy art projects you can use felt markers, crayons, or paint and white paper. Get the story book for your bag of tricks or see if the library has a copy when you are in a bind and need an activity. This is ideal for primary, though I don't see why you couldn't also do with older students too.

Sumi-e Ink Painting Projects

Wisegeek.com explains:

ink painting, it is an art form that strives to distill the essence of an object or scene in the fewest possible strokes. A few carefully placed broad strokes that fade off abruptly, a few thin lines and a dot, and a bird is clearly called into being on the paper. Sumi-e is sometimes confused with calligraphy, because the tools used are the same. Calligraphy is the graceful, artistic representation of written characters, using ink and brush, while sumi-e is painting a scene or object.

Source: beckermiddleart.blogspot.com via Maureen on Pinterest

Cherry Blossom Paintings

I love the pink cherry blossoms blooming in the Spring. I have seen some awesome primary classes do tissue paper blossoms on painted tree trunks and branches, I have also seen finger painting blossoms and pink puff balls, but this idea caught my eye - how simple and (somewhat less messy than some other painting blossom ideas.... so cool!

Fun, Easy Andry Warhol Hand print Art

Source: anartteachersfairyteal.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest