Snowy Winter Weather

Experiment with paint techniques to create a unique snow scene.

• 1.

  What do bears do in winter? Find information about how they hibernate. Look up information about polar bears, brown bears, and black bears. <u>The Bear's Christmas</u> relates hibernation to the Christian nativity story. Read this story, or several books that have painted snow scenes. Look closely at the pictures as you read.

• 2.

  You may notice that snow scenes seem to contain a great deal of space. Two artistic methods used to create this feeling of deep space are overlapping, in which larger objects are placed in the front and smaller objects in the back, and contrast. Objects in front have more contrast (brighter whites) than objects in back.

• 3.

  To begin your Wonderful Winter Weather painting, cover a table with newspaper. Use a small piece of crumpled paper towel to dab white Crayola® Washable Paint on blue paper. Begin with the background, which will be very light (have less contrast) to show that it's far away. To make a light background, blot the paper towel on scrap paper until it's nearly dry, then paint your paper. You may wish to make an irregular mountainscape, such as one with caves where bears might hibernate, then fill it in with light dabs.

• 4.

  Make a second, brighter landscape in front by dabbing your white paint on the paper without blotting it first.

• 5.

  Add trees by using an edge of the paper towel. Make blotted trees in the distance and brighter, bolder trees in the foreground. Trees look smaller when they are far away, and larger when they're closer, too. Use your fingertips to add branches and hanging

Benefits

• Children research the winter habits of bears.
• Children read <u>The Bear's Christmas</u> by Brigitte Frey Moret or other similar books that are profusely illustrated with snow scenes.
• Children experiment with painting techniques that create a sense of depth, and use their skills to create a winter landscape painting.

Adaptations

• Create a snowy winter scene, dry, then add winter creatures or sports to the landscape with Crayola Colored Pencils.
• Experiment with other snow-painting tools such as sponges, cardboard, plastic picnic utensils, toothbrushes, and salt. How can you use these items to achieve different effects?
• Fold your blue paper in half, and only paint on one side. Add seasonal scenes for a beautiful winter holiday card. Write a message inside.