Peter Max Heart Art
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Are you looking for a great Valentine’s Day art project? Keep reading to find out about this awesome Peter Max Heart Art project.
I originally found this great lesson on PaintbrushRocket.blogspot.com. I have done it with multiple ages with lots of success. It is a fun one for Valentine’s Day and also to teach the double loading technique.
How To:
- Have students draw a frame around the 11×11 paper using the 2/12 inch paper strip as a guide.
- Fold the 5×6 inch paper in half the longer way (should be 6 inches long when folded).
- Have them draw 1/2 of a heart to fill the side.
- Cut out the heart and draw around the heart pattern in the center square of the paper.
- Students can choose either warm colors or cool colors to paint the frame and heart. Students paint the heart and frame using the double loading technique (two colors at once on a brush load). Do not blend the colors but rather keep dipping in different combinations to give the finished multi color look. Individual brush strokes and colors should show.
- When they are finished painting have them rinse and dry their brushes completely.
- Now they will paint the small square background (around the heart) with the opposite color group they chose for the heart and frame. So if they chose the warm colors for the heart and frame, now they will use the cool colors for the small square background, and vice versa.
- While all background colors are drying they will sketch out their heart and frame on a practice sheet (do this on the board and have them follow along with you) and decide what kind of Peter Max marks they will use to decorate their picture (demonstrate some squiggles, dashes, x’s, zig zags, wavy lines and hearts on the board).
- Once the background paint is dry, they will add their decorative lines with their paint brush using the cool colors on the warm background and the warm colors on the cool background.
- The last step is to add some india ink marks and lines (pour this into the small souffle cups for 1-2 students to share). Make sure you shake it up before you pour it. And make sure they don’t overdo the black lines.
Looking for another Valentine’s Day art project? Check out my Jim Dine Heart Art lesson!
Let me know if you have any questions in the comments and please refer people back to this site if you use this lesson! 🙂
I'm writing a book!
I am excited to announce my latest project! My daughter and I are working on a big, beautiful, creatively designed book on artist related lessons (similar to the ones on this website but with more details, step by step instructions and photos). The book will be for anyone who wants concise, detailed, well laid out lessons that are ready to teach, in a format that is fun to look at as well.
Book InfoSupplies
- Scissors
- Paint Brushes
- Acrylic Paint in blue, green, purple, yellow, pink, red, orange
- Pencils (I prefer Ticonderoga)
- Block Eraser
- 9x12 Watercolor Paper Sheets
Other Lessons:
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