Grade 1/2 Charcoal Landscapes

By Ella (Grade 2)

Lesson Materials (per student):

1 stick compressed charcoal

1 sheet A3 white art paper

1 sheet newspaper (to lay your paper on)

Landscape photos (showing landscapes with a large range of textures)

Lesson Steps:

1.  Look at the photo you have chosen.

2.  Carefully draw the outline of all the large shapes and horizon line.

3.  Look at where the shadows are in the image and use colouring and smudging to recreate these shadows in your drawing.

4.  Add in fine details such as leaves and grasses, using a range of different mark-making techniques (thin lines, thick lines, flicks, arcs, etc)

Student Artworks:

By Austin (Grade 2)

By Jeff (Grade 2)

By Eve (Grade 2)

Grade 1/2 Charcoal Flowers

By Xander (Grade 2)

Lesson Background:
As a part of our charcoal drawing unit, the children drew these still-life pictures, looking very closely at the textures, shapes, lines and shadows in the real life display I set up. 

1/2B studying and drawing the still life display

The vases I set up, trying to have a mixture of plants
with different textures for the children to draw

Lesson Materials (per student):
1 piece of white A3 art paper
1 stick of  compressed charcoal
1 piece of  newspaper

vase/s of highly textured different flowers (for the class to share)

Lesson Steps: (written by 1/2B class members as a joint construction)

1. Turn your paper into portrait position.
2.  Draw a line to show where the table is (about 1/3 of the page from the bottom).
3.  Draw an outline of the vase.
4. Start drawing the outline of the flowers and stems.
5. Add some shading and details to the flowers, stems and vase.  Make sure you use a range of white, light grey, dark grey and black shades.  Try to use different types of marks to show texture (thick/thin lines, arches, flicks, etc.)

Student Artworks:

By Angela (Grade 1)

By Jeff (Grade 2)

By Kayla (Grade 2)

By Millie (Grade 2)

By Nive (Grade 2)

By Paige (Grade 2)

By Eve (Grade 2)

By Ella (Grade 2)

Grade 1/2 Charcoal Toy Drawings

By Angela X (Grade 1)

Lesson Background:

We are doing an art unit focusing on charcoal drawing techniques at the moment.  We are encouraging the children to show light and shade, and use many different types of lines and markings to show texture.  For this lesson, the children had to show these skills by drawing a toy they had brought in from home, or found in the classroom.  I was really impressed with their efforts!

Lesson Materials (per student):

1 piece of white A3 art paper
1 piece of newspaper to keep your table clean
1 piece of compressed charcoal
a toy to draw


Lesson steps: (Written by Angie and Millie, Grade 2)


1.  Get your toy and place it on your desk in front of you.
2.  Start by drawing a simple outline with your charcoal.
4.  Add the finer details.
5.  Include light and shadow by smudging or pressing more firmly or softly with the charcoal.
6.  Add texture by using different types of lines: thin, thick, straight, curved, flicked, etc.
 
Student Art Works :

By Austin (Grade 2)

By Agnes (Grade 2)

By Millie (Grade 2)

By Nive (Grade 2)

By Xander (Grade 2)

My sample drawing to demonstrate ways of showing texture