"Calabash Cat" Inspired Animals
Students used the illustrations from the book "Calabash Cat" by James Rumford as an inspiration for creative animal drawings. The author himself was inspired to create the story after finding a patterned calabash gourd cut in the shape of a cat while he was living in the country of Chad.
Learning concepts: line, shape, contrast, patterning, observing art from other cultures.
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On the first day of class we practiced drawing animals and then the students picked their favorite to use for a final project. During the next session black sharpies were used to create decorative patterns inspired by the illustrations in the book. (An extra day of pattern practice can be beneficial if the students haven't been drawing much). The older students used colored pencils to add color and enhance their patterning. On the final day of class they cut and pasted their animal to a neutral colored background. They had the option of adding pattern to the background.
The younger students learned to draw Calabash Cat and then added decorative patterning with Sharpies. They finished by adding watercolor washes to the cat and the background. |
