Stickers! Use the Edward Hopper Pencil Case craft as an introduction to Hopper as an artist or as a fun back to school celebration! All you need is a pencil box and stickers!
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How to: The Artwork
Supplies:
- Plastic pencil cases (We got ours for less than $1 each at Oriental Trading! Check them out.)
- Stickers! (We used whatever random stickers we had lying around.)
Directions:
There aren’t really any directions for this project except: let the kids stick their stickers wherever they want on their pencil cases! The cases are theirs to decorate. And the more stickers, the better – it’s so good for developing their fine motor skills.
How To: The Program
My kids art class allows 2-5 year olds to explore art and engage the senses to help them understand the world around them. Exploring famous artists and their work allows kids to see that they are capable of making beautiful, creative artwork. Plus, exploring famous artists provides a unique way to teach children about basic art techniques.
Group Activity:
Before the kids arrived, I put together these recycled paint boards. All I did was glue these random objects to colored poster boards.
I then put out the corresponding paint colors with the poster board color. I put four different shades of pink paint by the pink poster board, four orange paint shades by the orange poster board, etc. When the kids came in, they grabbed paintbrushes and painted the objects! (We used washable tempera paint, and it came off the walls just fine, but you can tape a plastic tablecloth to the wall for added protection.)
They LOVED painting the 3D board and noticed how the paint went on easier on different objects.
This is an awesome process art activity that you can put together quickly. Plus, it’s awesome for improving kids’ fine motor skills.
Group Story:
Next, I had the kids sit on the storytime cushions to listen to Edward Hopper Paints His World by Robert Burleigh. Well, we mostly just looked at the pictures. It’s a beautiful book but a bit too long for my 2 and 3 year olds.
I really wanted the kids to see the illustration of Hopper as a young boy.
According to the book, as a child, he had a pencil box with the words “Edward Hopper: Would Be Artist” on it. (Which was the whole inspiration for our art project!) I told the kids he drew with pencils, as well as painted. They looked at a few of the pictures patiently but were eager to get on to the art project.
Individual Art:
When I explained their art project to them, I made sure to encourage caregivers to let the kids put the stickers wherever they wanted on their cases. I also gave them each a pencil and eraser to put in their cases.
The caregivers loved this project because it demanded very little from them. The kids loved choosing their stickers and they spent fifteen minutes decorating their boxes! When they were finished, I had them draw with their pencils like Hopper did. It’s so good for kids to use different mediums when drawing – it gets them ready for kindergarten! It’s never too early to start practicing how to grip a pencil.
The artists were happy, the artists’ parents were happy and the artists’ librarian was happy, so it was a successful morning in art class! Woohoo!
We all need some more art inspired by important artists! Try these!
- Seurat brick painting
- Pollock’s yarn painting
- Matisse cutting practice
- Delaunay shapes and colors
- Da Vinci frescoes