Animals Filled With Visual Texture
by Shelley Schoby, K-2 Art Specialist
First grade art students were introduced to the artist Albrecht Durer. Mr. Durer is a realistic artist that uses both pencil and watercolor in his work. Many of his most famous works were created in a sketch book. Albrecht Durer was able to create visual texture by manipulating watercolor and pencil lines as seen in his work, The Hare. Visual texture lines create the illusion of texture.
Students practiced drawing a variety of Character Count Animals in their sketch books. Students began drawing with an eraser. Geometric, organic and freeform shapes were combined to form an animal. They used pencil to trace over eraser lines they wished to keep. Details added to pictures told a visual story about what the animals were doing. Finally, animals were filled with watercolor. Students drew visual texture lines that created the illusion of soft animals or pocky grass.
Students listed details that they included in the artwork. Then they wrote a story using these details. Before completing this lesson students read their story with a friend.
