Peacock Drawings

These peacocks were drawn by my grade one students as part of our recent India theme. The peacock is India's national bird and these peacocks were inspired by the decorative and colourful style of Indian arts and crafts.

Students were given several photographs of peacocks as a reference and we discussed using basic shape to break down the image to make it simpler to draw. Once their drawing was completed in pencil, students used oil pastels in blues and greens to colour. We then painted on some blue edicol dye (food dye) to create a bit of a wax resist. Finally the drawings were outlined in black marker and sequins were added as a collage element.

I have taught this same lesson a few years back with grade 3 students. You can see their results here. I think the grade ones have done a charming job with theirs too.

 

Taj Mahal Drawings

I really love these drawings of India's magnificent Taj Mahal by my grade 4 and 5 students.

Students used photographs of the Taj Mahal and its reflection as a reference. They folded their page down the middle and drew the Taj Mahal sitting atop their fold line. They then transferred the image to the other side of their page (like a mirror image) by scribbling or tracing over the back of their image using a lightbox.

Visiting the Taj Mahal.

Once they had their mirror image drawing, they outlined the reflection in a coloured oil pastel of their choice, before applying a wash of one or more coloured dyes to their page. The image was completed by outlining their original drawing.

I was fortunate enough to visit the Taj Mahal a few weeks after these drawings were completed. I felt that I was able to appreciate it more thanks to my students who had been studying images of the palace for weeks. 

Ceramic Peacocks

These ceramic peacocks were created by grade 3 students using pinch pot, slab and modelling techniques. These were, again part of our recent Indian theme to tie in with our 'Hearts For India'  fundraiser.

Students began by creating a small pinch pot. They then rolled a thin slab of clay and cut it into a fan shape using clay tools. This tail section was decorated with feather patterns before being joined to the back edge of the pinch pot. A neck, head and beak were then modelled from a rolled up piece of clay and joined to the front of the pinch pot body.

The peacocks were later glazed in blues and greens and some chose to glue on beads or sequins for eyes.

These made perfect tealight candle holders and looked perfect lit up for our school open night - until too many inquisitive hands caused me to blow them all out.