Under the Sea Jellyfish Watercolor

Credit: The Art Smart Teacher, Elementary Art Fun, How to Draw Animals

Supplies:
Watercolor Paper
Pencils
White Oil Pastel
Liquid Watercolor - Warm Colors (Red, Pink, Yellow, Orange)
Liquid Watercolor - Cool Colors (Turquoise, Blue, Purple, Green)
Paint Brushes
Salt Shakers with Salt

Instructions:
Watch this video on jellyfish, paying particular attention to their heads and tentacles:

Pass out the papers, having the students write their names on the back in pencil. We will first complete a guided draw of the jellyfish (have the students lightly draw with their pencils). They can draw one large one or no more than three smaller ones here and there on their papers. We will then paint them using warm and cool colors.

1. Draw the main body of the jellyfish (it looks like a turtle's shell):

2. Draw the first two tentacles:

3. Draw the third tentacle:

4. Add some detail to the head:

5. Add more tentacles:

6. Complete the jellyfish by finishing the last tentacle:

7. Once you are done with your jellyfish drawing, trace over the pencil lines with your white oil pastel - remember to trace heavily (press as hard as you can). Add more details to the jellyfish's head (dots, lines, designs) and legs - see below for a sample. Note: Keep the tentacles at the bottom very simple - this will make it easier to paint later. But definitely add details to your jellyfish's head!

8. Once you are done tracing with your white oil pastel, we will begin painting. Using your brush, paint the jellyfish with water first and THEN add the paint using the WARM colors. Do not overwork the colors too much - just move them around and let the water do most of the work. Docents: A couple of drops of the different colors should do it - do not over-saturate. Artists: Try not to go outside the lines of your jellyfish.

 

9. Once the body of the jellyfish has been painted, carefully add water around the outside background of the jellyfish (the "water"). Again, add a couple of drops of the different colors but DON'T blend the colors too much - we want to see every color (not a muddy mess)! Take a look at the sample above.

10. Working quickly, add salt to the background and let dry (this might need to be done one table at a time due to the number of shakers). The watercolor paper soaks up water quickly so have the artists paint and shake as they go!

11. Once complete dry, carefully remove the salt.

12. If time allows, you can watch this additional video on these amazing creatures!