That Old Black Magic - Brief Article

Arts & Activities, Nov, 2000 by Bonnie Baber

Sometimes the old tried-but-true can be just the prescription for an exciting and educational art experience. Crayon resist has been in the art teachers' repertoire for many years in a variety of forms. To see a crayon drawing magically transformed into a wonderland of eye-catching color and line is always intriguing.

This crayon-resist project emphasizes line and color. The fall season and rural community in which we live became our subject. The mood was set by thinking about an evening walk through the countryside with the winds whipping up mini-twisters. Burning wood and leaves scent the air, while the crystalline stars twinkle over the rooftops. The images of an autumnal night are captured in the intense color of wax crayon popping through the curtain of night created by black paint.

Masterworks such as Charles Burchfield's haunted fall scenes help expand upon the theme. A brief discussion of the masterworks centers around time of day, year and what might be happening.

Sortie questions to pose are: How does it make you feel when you look at the painting? Would you like to be inside the picture? Can you find examples of these lines: straight, curved or angled? What geometric shapes can you find in the picture? What might be some of the things you would include in your picture of a beautiful or scary fall night?

After an excited discussion, drawing paper and crayons are distributed by the "table leader"--the person in charge of handing out and collecting the materials, along with cleaning the table at the end of class. They rotate clockwise each session so everyone equally gets the coveted responsibility.

With lower-elementary classes, it's extremely important to teach the basics of drawing to have a foundation on which to build. As with learning any skill, such as catching a baseball or mastering a dance step, drawing is taught in a highly structured manner with repeated practice.

For the resist, we do a step-by-step crayon drawing beginning with a scarecrow or other subject, such as a haunted house or leaves falling from the trees. The world of insects is another universal subject that both fascinates and interests children.

The class is asked to think about what a scarecrow wears and its purpose. I model a line drawing of the head, with hat, hair of straw and face, by breaking down objects into very simple geometric shapes. A demonstration is given on how to fill in areas with color, without solid coloring. You can dot, zig-zag, stripe, use wavy lines and other texture-producing techniques to add rhythm and interest. The students are encouraged to think of different and unusual textures, which are periodically shared with the class.

Pressing hard with the crayon is very important. There needs to be enough wax on the paper to fight back the paint. When students finish each section, they are to stop and either try a variety of ways to make textures or draw on a scrap of paper until the next step. This method ensures that the students think about each section of their drawings, and have the time to include all the details without rushing.

We move on to the cornfield and possible ways the leaves, corn and tassels might be rendered. Contrasting shades or colors can add a richness to the leaves on the stalks. Fluorescent crayons highlight specific areas, as well as enhance goblins and ghost-like images. Hills in the background, textured bark on the trees, fences, a flower garden and many other details can be added.

We talk about the horizon lines. Examples of the line where "the earth meets the sky" are shown, and the students look out the window for a real-life horizon line. In the background there can be hills, mountains, flat land or water bodies that can be represented by a horizon line extending from one edge of the paper to the other. This horizon line will disappear behind the object in front of it, such as a scarecrow, which is not transparent. The horizon line also anchors the picture so the objects don't look as if they are floating in space.

It may be necessary to go over the crayon line several times to get a solid wax line. A reminder is needed to hold crayons at the bottom so they won't break in the middle. We briefly discuss what colors show up best with a dark background and why. White, yellow, orange, light green, etc. really help the picture stand out. White is the fun one. I call it the mystery color since it barely shows up on the paper. Students draw a mystery object that will appear magically when the black paint goes over it.

A demonstration is given on how to paint using black watercolor or slightly thinned tempera paint. Begin with a brush fully loaded with paint and start at the top, making a straight brush line across the paper. This is repeated all the way down the paper for the smoothest and most even paint application without leaving unpainted white sections. Once the students begin the painting, they get lost in the task. It's so exciting to see the gorgeous colors of wax crayon "pop out" and "resist" or "push back" the black paint.