1. Birch Trees 1st Grade November Art Project
Presentation modified and prepared by Alice Finch 2012
1st Grade November Art Project
West Mercer Elementary Art Enrichment Program

2. Forest by Gustav Klimt
“When I see birches bend to left and right Across the lines of straighter darker trees, I like to think some boy’s been swinging them.” Birches Poem by Robert Frost
What does the poet mean when?
Darker straighter trees- white bark is in contrast with most other tree barks
Boy has been swing them- bent and crooked

3. Watercolor background Salt texture
Today’s Project
Birch tree bark
Masking
Watercolor background
Salt texture
This project works best if you explain and do the steps in stages (don’t try to explain the entire project and then have them do it all at once).

4. Birch Tree Bark
Begin by discussing birch trees and their appearance: show pictures (samples w/ lesson) and Klimt print.
Also, if weather and teacher permit, take them for a walking tour outside: there is a stand of birch trees at Homestead Field (very close to the bathrooms, just south of the tennis courts).
Note how the trees are bumpy, knobby, uneven, leaning (encourage them to help describe the trees).
Can also contrast the shape with Douglas Fir, which are very different—they tend to be very straight and even.
Three points: 1) white trunks; 2) brown bark showing through the white (where the white bark peels off); and 3) not perfectly straight (leaning, crooked, etc.).

5. Step 1- How to make a mask
In art, masking protects an area from change.
They will use the tape to create the tree trunks, and will paint over and around the tape.
When the tape is peeled off, it will leave the white trunks where the paint couldn’t reach.
Here we are using torn masking tape to replicate the rough bark of birch trees

6. Step 2- Trees in Perspective
Give each student a 9x12 sheet of watercolor paper.
Students can tear their own strips of painter’s tape, but it saves time and frustration if the parent volunteers have some tape pre-torn for them.
Tape can be distributed a few pieces at a time so that they don’t get stuck together
The uneven edges are then combined on the paper to make the trunks- uneven edges on the outside
If the tape tears unevenly, it’s okay! That’s what makes the trees look realistic.
For the first row of trees, all of the pieces of tape should hang over the bottom of the paper.
Next, explain distance and perspective—how objects appear smaller the farther away they are, while things that are big will appear closer.
On this project, the longer pieces of tape will look closer while the shorter pieces will appear farther away.
To get this effect, have the students end the bottom pieces at varying heights (and they can tear off the bottom to get this effect, if necessary).
Varying the height of the trunks will give the picture the illusion of depth.
Press all the “trees” down firmly.
Check that both sides of the tape are torn as that is what makes the irregular shape.
Close trees = bigger
Farther away trees = smaller 

7. Step 3- Painting the Land
When the students have applied the tape pieces correctly, it’s time to paint.
First remind them not to use too much water or the tape will be hard to remove.
Use the larger of the 2 paintbrushes for the land and sky
Have the students think about a time of day for their picture: dawn, twilight, sunset, sunrise, daytime, night etc.
Students should paint the bottom half of the picture first, making sure to cover all the bottoms of the trees so none of the tree trunks appears to be “floating.”
Color choice is up to them: some might like greens (they can mix different greens, if desired); others might use yellows or browns.

8. Step 3- Painting the Sky
After the bottom half is painted, they should move to the top half and paint colors depending upon the time of day they have selected (oranges and reds for sunset, for example).

9. Step 4- Salt the sky
At this point, some students may want to LIGHTLY sprinkle a small amount of salt on their paper (this creates a lacy, starry effect). It’s recommended that a few adults walk around with small cups of salt and allow the students to “pinch out” a small amount.

10. Step 5- Peeling up the mask
Carefully peel away the tape to reveal the white trees.

11. Step 6- Painting the shadows & highlights
Use the smaller of the paintbrushes for this
Have the students use light (thinned) black OR brown paint
Repeat on all trees, making sure to keep the shadow on the SAME side of the tree.
To complete the trees, the students should take the black (or brown /black watercolor) paint and make several horizontal dashes and dots on each tree. Each tree needs just a few.

12. Step 7- Sponge in shrubs
When painting with a sponge, you need to dab, not smear
use the sponges (slightly damp) dipped in the green or black paint to create bushes.
This is a good time to revisit the idea of balance- if you put a bush on one side, consider one on the other to create a balance of color