Winter Birch Trees

Medium: Watercolor

Reason for Lesson: The students will learn how to use a paint brush properly and the forgiving aspects of watercolor.

Prep Time: 10 minutes to gather supplies.

Material: Watercolor Paper, watercolors, brushes in various sizes, sponges, white construction paper, scratch paper (for practice), scissors, black permanent marker (shapes) and glue stick.

Instructions to Lead Lesson:  
Instruct the students on the proper way to use a paint brush.  Instruct them on the forgiving nature of watercolor. 

Using a pencil, draw a very light horizontal line...straight or curved they are creating a horizon that will appear behind their trees.   Dampen paper with sponge, add sunset with watercolors using cool or warm colors above the horizon line. Blend the colors with a sponge.  Add a bit more color making 'clouds of color.  Practice painting fence on scratch paper.  Paint fence using watercolor...one stroke lines.  Cut birch tree truncks from white paper. Add dots and dashes with sharpie marker.  Outline fence with sharpie.  Mix a lot of water with black watercolor to create a light silver color.  Paint fence shadows...one line strokes...practice on scratch paper.  Glue birch trees on paper.  Add shadows to bottom of trees.