Gold Watercolor Egyptians

Submitted by: Denise Pannell, Fairview Elementary in Sherwood, OH
UNIT: Drawing - Art of Egypt
Grade Level: Elementary (Denise did this with 2nd grade)

Title: Draw Like an Egyptian

 

Materials:

12" X 18" (30.5 x 46 cm) cream or white Tag board, Drawing Pencils, black Permanent Markers, gold, ochre, and white Acrylic Paint, sponges (moistened), pie pans or Styrofoam Trays for paint, Watercolor Paint, Brushes, examples of Egyptians (photos and handouts), story for back of finished painting.

 

Objectives: The student will:

• Be introduced to Egyptian life and art

• Look at examples of Egyptian figures and translate them to their own art work

• Use objects other than a brush to paint (sponges)

• Make critical choices pertaining to color for their paintings

• Gain practice in using watercolors

• Learn about figure proportion

See Denise's Sample - Full Figure

 

Encounter:

1. Introduce students to Egyptian life, including pyramids, tombs, carvings, hieroglyphics, and mummies.

2. Show example of an Egyptian figure and point out the way the feet and head face one direction and the shoulder and eye are facing another.

3. Have students stand and attempt to stand in this way so they know just how difficult this would really be. Egyptians thought this pose made the figure look more important.

4. Hand out examples of Egyptian figure drawings. Students will use these as inspiration for their drawings, making changes as they go. Add hieroglyphics around the figure.

5. Trace the drawing in black permanent marker.

6. The next step is to "age" the drawing so it appears ancient. Using a sponge, the students dip in to the gold and ochre paint and dab onto their drawings, being careful not to completely cover up their black lines. White is sponged to areas that are too dark.

7. Using watercolors, paint in areas, very subtly.

8. Story is glued to back when finished. Can be mounted or framed.

Simple Steps to Post on Board:

1. Draw with pencil.

2. Trace with marker.

3. Sponge very lightly with gold and ochre.

4. Sponge white to cover dark areas.

5. Watercolor using LOTS of water.

Resources

Link: Live cam of Egyptian pyramids (NOTE: The cam was taken off-line when the government collapsed in 2010. They have an archive of old pyramid images. The image on the bottom of this page is one I took from that cam.)

 

See other Egyptian IAD lessons:

• Egyptian lesson on Canopic Jars

• Egyptian Time Warp CD covers

• Egyptian Profiles Painting

• Egyptian Mummy Case

• There are several others. Do a search at the top or bottom of this page for more.

Egyptian Artifacts

• Egyptian Canopic Jars
• Egyptian Statues
• King Tut Coffin W/ Mummy
• Egyptian God Anubis Statue
• Egyptian papyrus

Books

The Art of Ancient Egypt - This free online book is excellent and will give you many resources on Egypt and its art and culture.

The Ancient Egyptian Culture Revealed - This book reveals several aspects of the Ancient Egyptian culture, such as the very remote antiquities of Egypt; the Egyptian characteristics and religious beliefs and practices; their social/political system; their cosmic temples; the richness of their language; musical heritage and comprehensive sciences.

The Art of Ancient Egypt - Spanning three thousand years, this beautifully illustrated history offers a thorough and delightfully readable introduction to Egyptian artwork.