Drawing - Small Pots with Flowers

After looking closely at the individual shapes of small pots and flowers, the children draw them using markers. For ages 3 to 6. Plan 1 session.

KEY IDEAS

• Drawing from observation
• Looking at shapes
• Drawing items large enough to fill the paper

LANGUAGE
observation, shape, lip, foot

YOU WILL NEED

• White drawing paper approximately 6 x 8 inches
• Black non-toxic permanent markers (Faber-Castell markers are odorless.)
• Watercolor markers
• Fresh or artificial flowers
• Small vases, pitchers, or ceramic pots (See note below)

Note: Young children are more comfortable working with small-sized pots rather than full-sized vases. The pots pictured below are between three and five inches high. Plan to have enough so that each child has a clear view of at least one pot with flowers as he or she draws. 

PROJECT
Preparation

• Put flowers in the small pots and place them in the work area.
• Set out the drawing paper and black markers.
• Have available, but set aside, the watercolor markers.

How to Begin

• Tell the children that, in this session, they will be looking carefully at the shapes of small pots with flowers and then drawing them.
• While holding up a pot, point out its shape, or outline, by tracing a line around the edges. Talk about the lip (opening of the pot) and any specific characteristics, such as the foot (base of the pot) and handles.
• Show the children that although flowers may look complicated, they often consist of the same shape repeated over and over again. Hold up a flower and point out the shape of a single petal and its repetition.
• Explain that the drawings of the pots with flowers should be large enough to fill the papers.
• Remind the children that they will be drawing from observation, or what they see, so it is important that they continually refer to the pots and flowers as they work.
• Give the children black markers to make their drawings. When finished, set out the watercolors makers to color in the drawings.

NOTES

• Second-hand shops and flea markets are good resources for small, inexpensive ceramic pots, pitchers, or vases.
• Choose flowers with simple shapes. If fresh flowers are not available, artificial flowers also work well. Silk flowers are close to real ones and can be used year after year.
• Since this is a lesson on drawing from observation, it is important that each child has an easy and clear view of the pot that he/she is drawing.
• To encourage the children to include details in their drawings, put the watercolor markers aside until the drawings are completed.

LET’S TALK ABOUT OUR WORK

• Do the drawings fill the papers?
• Discuss the information which helps us to identify which pot was used in each drawing.
• Point out the different ways each child interpreted the same pot?

What the children might say...

• Do I have to draw one of these pots or can I create my own pot?
• How many flowers should I draw in my pot?
• There are a lot of flowers painted on my pot. Do I have to draw them all?

What you might say...

• Sometimes we draw using our imagination. Today we are practicing drawing what we observe or see, so it is important to look carefully at the pot you are drawing as you work.
• Draw as many flowers as you think will look nice in your pot.
• You can choose which designs to include on your pots.

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