2014 Year of the Horse Chinese Brushpainting Project

Chinese New Year is always a fun topic for an art lesson, and this year is the year of the horse.

I came up with a simple but elegant project for the kids in my art class.

First start with scratch paper and do some sketches - the basic shape of the horse starts with an S shape.  Add the mane and tail, then the ears.  Now demonstrate the top of the horses head, practicing the curve of the forehead and the indent of the nose.  Next practice the jawline, another curve and indent, but the opposite direction this time.  Finally add the eye.

Have them also sketch the Chinese Character for Horse.

Give them their watercolor paper and have them sketch the horse and the Chinese character for horse.

Give the students a fine tipped brush and the black watercolor paint to go over their sketch.

The same for the red watercolor paint to do the Chinese character.

Now for the hangar - I found some fancy chopsticks and simply punched large holes with a hole punch, threaded the chopstick through the paper and added some red string tied in a loop.  Thread the string under the chopstick and you're finished.

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Here's a new one for the Year of the Dog!