Hello and welcome to Lesson 1!

Thank you so much for signing up... kids and "kids-at-heart" too!

Before we get started, I want to encourage parents of younger children ESPECIALLY (but really, all of us), to remember to try and make this lesson a positive experience, even if that means not following the steps precisely! ;)

Truly, it's more important for all of us to enjoy the process, whatever the outcome. So please don't worry if the end product is not what you expected... let your children make the assignments their own... their ideas are golden.

I have no expectations that the images posted are "right," and hope you can let those go for you and your children, too. 

Hurray! Let's get started!

Carla

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LESSON 1 SUPPLIES

Today you will need:

-- a sketchbook or loose drawing paper

-- black or blue marker

-- colored pencils

-- crayons

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Today's video:

Kids Art Week 2017 - Blob Hunting

Click here to download video to your computer; this may take a few minutes. Standard | HD

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ASSIGNMENT: 

Today you will make imaginary animals from "blob" shapes found outside.

1. Go outside (weather permitting) and find at least three "blob" shapes. These are roundish, irregular shapes that you can find in oil stains, water marks, sidewalk cracks, leaf shapes, marks on trees, etc. It doesn't need to look like an animal... just find a roundish shape and draw it. (Note: Blob shapes can also be found inside... marble, woodgrain, dust bunnies, coffee stains on counters, etc.)

2. Now pick one of your three "blobs" and turn your notebook around and around. Did an animal pop out for you? Sometimes you might only see a head or a wing shape... that's okay. Start there.

3. Next, add some big shapes to finish your animal... Ears, legs, wings, tails... 

4. Next, think of what kind of fur or scales or feathers your animal has, and draw those. (Remember, these animals are from your imagination, so you can even combine feathers and scales on one animal if you want!)

5. Next, imagine that your animal has stubbed his toe or has some strange hairs growing out of her face. Draw those! Mess her up a little bit!

6. Next, add some shading. Imagine that your sun is up in the right or left corner, and then add darker areas in places where the sun can't get to, such as under his tummy or chin.

7. You're almost done! Now get out your colored pencils and crayons and add color to your animal. 

8. Finally, please post online so we can all see! You can also email me your creations if you prefer: carla[at]carlasonheim.com.

Have fun and we'll see you tomorrow!

Carla

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Here is how my blob animal turned out:

And here are some samples of "blob" shapes from peeling paint, broken sidewalks, tree bark, brick, even chalk!

And tinfoil can be a blob shape, too!

And here is a blob animal (a bird) made from a leaf blob shape:

I can't wait to see your blobimals!