India

Our India Art unit allows students to explore various aspects of Indian art and culture. In this unit, students will create artworks of decorated animals native to India, practice with the Gond folk art style, create their own Mandala and Paisley artworks, and create representational artworks of native animals. This unit will give your students a general idea of the kinds of artworks that originate from India, expanding their artistic and cultural knowledge.

In the K-2 category students will have the opportunity to create a brightly decorated traditional elephant artwork using oil pastels and watercolours, and then will create a fish and a bird painting in the traditional Indian Gond art style using acrylic painting techniques. These lessons will draw on the elements of line, repetition and pattern, and will expand student’s understanding of different compositions and their use in creating harmony, balance, and conveying meaning to the viewer. Students will learn how to sketch a representational image, by starting with basic shapes and moving towards finer detail until they are happy with the result. The lessons will discuss the use of different colour palettes and their different effects on the viewer, as well as how colour and pattern can be used to set a tone or a mood in an artwork. Students will learn how to effectively use pattern, colour, repetition and line to emulate the Gond art style in the creation of their works, while also building on their acrylic painting and drawing skills. In the decorative elephant artwork, students will build on their representational drawing skills and learn about traditional Indian symbols and patterns to complete their artwork.

Within the 3-4 year category students will create a beautiful mandala by creating their own scratch paper, and complete a detailed and stunning artwork of a decorative camel, inspired by Indian symbology and design. Lastly, students will create a sweet decorative bird sculpture with scrap materials, using layered sequins for texture, colour, and sparkle. These lessons will draw on the elements of colour, pattern, repetition, shape and form, to expand students’ knowledge of these elements and how to use them effectively in artwork. Students will have the opportunity to learn about radial symmetry and small detailed patterning, as well as learning how to create a representational sketch by beginning with basic shapes and then adding further detail. The sequin bird project will allow students to expand their 3D modelling skills, demonstrating how found objects and scrap materials can be used to create beautiful artworks. Students will have the opportunity to learn paper maché, drawing, painting, and craft skills, and will be able to experiment with a range of materials and techniques, sure to strengthen their artistic skills.

Within the 5-6yr category, students will explore Indian culture through native animals and design. Students will have the opportunity to complete an amazing peacock glue drawing, wherein they will use glue and chalk pastels to create a magnificent jewel-toned artwork on black paper. In the following project students will complete a heart drawing artwork using Paisley designs. Finally, students will complete a detailed and representational watercolour artwork of a Malabar Giant Squirrel, the largest squirrel species in the world that is native to India. In this unit, students will enhance their representational sketching skills, learning how to create detailed drawings by starting with basic shapes and moving towards higher detail. Students will also practice textural effects, composition, and colour mixing skills through watercolour, oil, and chalk pastel. The Paisley heart project will draw on students’ knowledge of design, pattern, colour, and repetition, and will provide a fantastic opportunity for students to learn about elements of Indian design to take into their personal art practice.