As Spring arrives, temperatures warming, flowers blooming, and trees and the grass turning green, it is difficult not to notice the increase of wildlife activity in our backyards here in Kentucky. This time of year, I really enjoy watching our native birds gathering material to make their nests, eat at the bird feeders, and waiting for the birds to make their way home from their long migration trip (Humming birds, Orioles, and Purple Martins).
As we spend more time at home during this "Stay home, stay health" event, I thought it would be a great idea to make a connection with Art and the wildlife in your own back yard. John James Audubon is the perfect artist to help make these connections. Below are images, links, and tutorials that will hopefully be fun for all ages and help build an appreciation for Art and the wildlife around us.
I will be editing this page as the weeks progress. Please check back often to see the new information and activities.
As we spend more time at home during this "Stay home, stay health" event, I thought it would be a great idea to make a connection with Art and the wildlife in your own back yard. John James Audubon is the perfect artist to help make these connections. Below are images, links, and tutorials that will hopefully be fun for all ages and help build an appreciation for Art and the wildlife around us.
I will be editing this page as the weeks progress. Please check back often to see the new information and activities.
An Artist Study
John James Audubon
(1785 - 1851)
Background Information:John James Audubon was born on April 26, 1785 in what today is called Haiti. Shortly after his birth, his mother passed away and his father decided to move to France. When John was 18, he moved to United States of America.
United States was still a new developing country and most of the territories have yet to be declared as states. By the 1800s, Kentucky was declared as a state.
John James Audubon settled in Kentucky and called Louisville home. What made John so famous was his love for nature, birds, and exploration. During this time, much of this North America had yet to be explored. John decided to combine his interests and explore this new country and paint a picture of every bird (in its natural habitat) in North America. Over his life time, he painted over 1,000 birds which were published in a book, called Birds of America.
Since John James Audubon was naturalist, a talented artists, and lived in Kentucky, Kentucky named a park after him. The John James Audubon State Park is located in Henderson, KY. This is a great place to go canoeing, hiking, camping, and tour the John James Audubon Museum.
John James Audubon goal was to paint a picture of every bird in North America. After years of work, a book with all of his paintings was published.
Our goal is to create a book with your drawings of many birds we may find in our back yards and more. Birds of America
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Art Projects:My goal is to get my students to use art to connect with nature and hopefully learn a few facts about birds that live in our back yards. Students will create a book of birds that are native to our area (and a few extra), have access to other wildlife educational sites, and learn some clay terminology as we create a sculpture of a bird.
Please pace yourself and feel free to approach these projects in your own way. This is an art unit and all of the projects should be spaced out over a period of time. For example: You may draw one bird a day or pick and choose which birds you want to add to your book (nothing but KY birds, just cartoon birds, or birds from around the world). Enjoy and have fun! Let's create our own book of birds.Step 1: Print the John James Audubon cover page below. This will be the cover of our book. You may also create your own cover.
Art Hub for KidsStep 2: Use the Art Hub for Kids videos below to learn how to draw many of the birds that live in our area and a few extra. We will use these drawings to create the pages of our book.
Click on the links below to draw with Mr. Hub and his kids. Mr. Hub will draw a bird and a few branches. I would like for you to complete the drawing by adding information to the background. For example: add a bird's nest, extra branches, trees, hills, houses, clouds, etc. Create the habitat/environment for your bird (is the bird in a city, country side, farm, forrest, mountains, etc.). I'm also encouraging students to add color to the whole page. The more colorful the better. I will post some of my drawings as example. Birds found in Kentucky
Draw with David Sibley:
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Eastern Screech OwlDraw an Eastern Screech Owl with David Sibley.
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Arctic TernDraw an Arctic Tern with David Sibley by clicking the link above.
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American GoldfinchDraw an American Goldfinch with David Sibley.
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Humming BirdClick here to draw a Ruby Throated Humming Bird with David Sibley.
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American Bald EagleDraw with David Sibley and learn how to draw a Bald Eagle.
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Audubon for kids
Click here for games, coloring sheets, and see all of David Sibley's how to draw birds series.
Sculpting a Bird.
Firing and Glazing Process.
Click on the links above to watch how I sculpt a bird using clay and watch the firing and glazing process. I wanted my students to see how to create basic Forms (spheres, cylinders, and cones) to create a sculpture. This is also a great chance to review clay terminology. Click the links above to view my clay sculpture as it goes from a lump of raw clay to a bird sculpture to the firing process in a kiln to glazing and to the kiln again for a second firing process. (The Firing and Glazing Process is coming soon.)
Sculpting at Home.
What if you don't have clay or a ceramic kiln at home? You may use air-dry clay (does not require a kiln); modeling clay (which can be reworked over and over); Play Doug; or found objects.
Below is a homemade recipe for Kool-Aid Play Dough (thank you Ruth Post from the "Call to Art Un-Conference for Educators").
LittleBuddingArtist.com
Below is a homemade recipe for Kool-Aid Play Dough (thank you Ruth Post from the "Call to Art Un-Conference for Educators").
LittleBuddingArtist.com
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Additional Birds to Draw.
Birds native to North America but not found in Kentucky.
A Flamingo
(Florida)
Birds from Around the World
Kookaburra (Australia) |
Budgie Parakeet
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Cartoon Style Birds
Ostrich
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Cartoon Raven
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