This winter, our Little Ashcan students are diving into a fascinating project that celebrates the Chinese Zodiac, a unique system based on the lunar calendar, with each year being associated with one of twelve animals. This year, we’re focusing on the Snake, which symbolizes wisdom, growth, and perception—perfect traits for encouraging curiosity and exploration in the classroom!
The Art Project: A Watercolor Celebration 🖌️🎨
To bring the Year of the Snake to life, students will be using watercolor to create detailed and immersive snake portraits. This project will teach students a variety of important artistic skills, including how to capture the subtle beauty of scales, how to layer colors to create depth, and how to add intricate patterns that give life to their subject.
Learning the Techniques of Watercolor
Watercolor is a wonderful medium for this project because it allows for both delicate layering and bold strokes, making it perfect for capturing the unique textures of a snake’s skin. The students will be working closely with their teachers to perfect the techniques of watercolor painting, including:
Wet-on-wet: For soft, blended areas in the snake’s body.
Layering: Building up layers of color to create depth and realism.
Detailing: Using fine brushes to capture the intricate patterns and scales on the snake’s skin.
Color Theory: Understanding how different colors work together to create contrast, highlight details, and evoke mood.
By the end of the project, students will have developed their skills in watercolor painting while also learning how to focus on the finer details of their subject—whether it’s the way light reflects off a snake’s scales or the mesmerizing pattern of its skin.
Stay tuned for more updates on this project and others from the Little Ashcan Studio class. To learn more about our programs or sign up for our next class, contact us at:
📞 718-819-0004
📧 infolittleneck@ashcanart.com