Garden Above and Below

Hi fifth graders and artists of all ages....I thought it might help bring along that warmer spring weather if we went with some spring-themed art, so here you go!  This will be a "two week" art project, because if we were in school it would definitely take more than one art class to finish this detailed beauty.  So take your time, and hone in on those little veggies.

First, lets take a look at some real root vegetables, to examine shape and texture.  

Carrots and beets...both end in a very skinny point, and have large leafy tops...

Notice the lines that curve around the vegetables, which help to show their textures.

Here's a photo of freshly picked garlic...Notice that they have a looooong stem going from the bulb to the long, thin, green leaves at the top.

Also, take a look at the roots that are below the vegetable itself.  See how they branch out, just like the branches of a tree?

Sweet potatoes can sprout off more than one potato per plant, like this.  They have tear drop shaped leaves attached at the tops.

Ok, now I think we're ready to start drawing.  Begin with your horizon line.  I made mine kind of lumpy, like dirt.

Now, using what we observed in the photos above, you can start drawing your veggies.  I chose four to draw, but if you want to do three, that would also be a fine choice.  Any more might be tricky to fit on your paper.  

See how I made sure to space out the vegetables?  It takes a lot of practice to be able understand what will fit on a page, so go slow.  Pace yourself, and try to imagine your paper is separated into three or four sections (depending on how many veggies you're trying to fit). 

When you're ready, start coloring... if you have watercolor paint at home, you could also try coloring your vegetables, and painting the dirt and sky.

I hope you had fun and learned a little science, as well. :)