Armadillo Desert

The book Armadillo Ray is the inspiration for this artwork. Armadillo Ray is going to help us learn about the element of art called texture. We will learn about scratch art by painting wild colors in the underpainting and then painting over it with the colors we want. While the paint is still wet we scratch texture into it. Armadillo ray will also teach us a technique called dry-brushing.

Fun Facts

Armadillos in Spanish means “little armored one”. They burrow in the ground to sleep for 18 hours at a time. Armadillos share their burrows with others but not at the same time because they are loners.

Do not miss the facts about the moon at the end of the read-aloud book.

“armadillo page 150” by perpetualplum is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Armadillo Desert

Vocabulary

Learn more about new words and terms used in this project

Texture

Definition:
- In art, Texture is how something feels or looks like it feels.

Scratch Art Technique

Definition:
- Scratch Art is a graphic technique used to create a value drawing by scraping off a top layer of black India Ink to reveal the white bottom layer. Sometimes the bottom layer is various different colors.

scratch art examples

Open a larger image here

Dry Brush Technique

Definition:
- The dry brush technique is when you have very little paint on your brush. Most of the time you have to wipe your brush off after loading it to get such a small amount of paint. Then when you paint, the individual bristles of the brush make scratchy marks creating a rough texture.

Examples of dry brush technique while painting

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Armadillo Desert

Supplies Needed

12 x 18 white multimedia paper (paper thick enough to paint on)

Tempera Paint 6-8 colors

Black tempera paint

Medium size paintbrush

Small size paintbrush

Container of water

Note:

In case you need a copy of the supplies, here is a place where you can get a copy. ->> Download Now

Things you will need

As a teacher, I have found that gathering your supplies and resources before starting your art project makes creating art so much more fun.

The following are some ideas for this project I hope you will find helpful.

Idea one: Gather the supplies listed on the supply list.

Idea two: In Step three of the project, you will see crazy colors being painted on things that should not be that color in the real world. This underpainting is done this way on purpose to allow us to scratch into the overpainting and reveal the crazy colors. This will help to create fun textures and most young artists think it is cool once they get to the overpainting in step four. I call this finding the magic!

Project Time

Before we start a project it is always a good plan to review the supplies and other things that may be needed. You do not want to get into the project only to learn that you do not have that one essential item. Let’s review now, Click here..