Early Childhood

How can we expand students’ creative thinking with images of historic and contemporary artworks?

Students will create a sun image inspired by the exploration of artists’ interpretations past and present.

12 x 12" (30 x 30 cm) or 18 x 18" (46 x 46 cm) white paper, pencils, tempera (red, yellow, orange), brushes, water cups, paper towels, images of historic and contemporary sun artworks

1. Show students examples of historic and contemporary artworks that feature the sun. Ask them what they notice. What do the artworks have in common? How are they different?
2. Students draw in pencil a large circle on a sheet of square paper. They add rays and additional features to create their sun.
3. Students use large brushes and tempera paints to color their images.
4. When the paint is dry, students cut out the suns and display them on windows, on walls, or in a hanging display.

Did students create an image of the sun using a variety of features? Ask students to share their images with each other and point out what they see.

Craig Hinshaw is an art teacher and writer, and maintains a clay studio in Davison, Michigan.