I think is one of my all time favorite art lessons. I wanted to teach the group self portraits, but had a huge range of ages all in one class, and I didn't want a lot of comparing of who is better. I thought I had seen in a book somewhere that near the end of his life, Matisse used an extended paint brush to continue painting while he was in his bed, too sick to stand. I decided using the stick would take some getting used to so everyone would be kind of starting from the beginning and learning to draw all over again. It worked, it was just awkward enough, but not so hard it became frustrating. Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun with it.
We used:
Newsprint
charcoal
sticks
electrical tape or string
masking tape
Before everyone came over I taped pieces of charcoal to a stick. I used electrical tape because it's a little more flexible and I could wrap it around the charcoal and stick a few times. Floral tape might work well too. Masking tape might work, but since it tends to loose it's stick easier and charcoal is dusty, I don't know if it would last as long. You could also use string and tie the charcoal to the stick.
I taped the newsprint to the garage door and to the driveway- I did it outside because: 1-I had so many students I don't think we would have all fit in my house for this one, and 2-charcoal can be messy and doesn't wash out well (notice in the pictures some kids wore paint shirts).
I explained how to draw a face: first, draw an oval; second, draw a line lightly across the middle; third the eyes are in the middle of your head so draw them on the line; fourth, add the rest of your features that make you
you.
