Marcia

Marcia

Marcia is an elementary art teacher and loves painting, drawing, sculpture, art journaling and clay. Her blog, Art is Basic, features many exciting art projects for kids.

Ink Blowing with Straws

A child using watercolor paints on paper, creating abstract patterns with orange, pink, and purple colors by incorporating ink blowing techniques.

 Another fun activity we did at art summer camp was blowing ink with straws.  First, squirt out a bit of liquid watercolor (we did not dilute it at all).  Then, take a straw and hold it right above the ink…

Book Review 2

Open sketchbook with colorful, abstract drawings of whimsical creatures and patterns, held by a hand at the bottom—a visual delight.

Linda Barry combines funny comics, drawings, and text in a book for adults about how to get your drawing juices flowing.  There’s how tos are more for an adult who just wants to get started drawing.  Her own comics and…

Art Teacher SHOWCASE!!

Abstract black geometric characters on a narrow, rectangular canvas are showcased with a signature at the bottom.

 For the next installment of Art Teacher Showcase, I am highlighting Ilse Verhoeven.  I have been reading her blog for about a year now.  What is your blog? 1) Tell us about yourself and your teaching.2) I’m a Belgian…

Book Review 1

A hand holds a book open to a factory scene with workers and conveyor belts sketched in blue.

I love using children’s books in my lessons about art.  Even the older kids like being read to.  It’s a way to spark their interest in art, encourage a love of reading and make their learning connections much richer.  And,…

Magazine Covers

Hand-drawn magazine cover titled "Amazing Apps and Music" with sections on apps and music, featuring Apple, Music, and Doodle Jump icons.

 You may remember my last post about the magazine covers.  Here are some that the students created.  This was an end-of-the-year project and we didn’t have as much time to devote to the project as I would have liked.  I…

Third Grade Silhouettes

Silhouette of a rabbit against a white background with black shapes at the top and bottom edges, ideal for third grade art projects.

We looked at the silhouette portraits of the early Americans as well as the paper cuttings of Hans Christian Anderson.  The students drew with white colored pencil on their black paper, and then cut out their designs.  Then, they flipped…