Fifth Grade Art Lesson 3

Tree Line Drawing with Ink

Objective:

The students will observe an actual tree and draw it using line variation.

Materials:

Any color construction paper, permanent ink pen (Sharpie), a tree or a picture of a tree to observe

Procedure:

Today we are going to look at the art element line. Lines are everywhere. You see them every day no matter where you are. What I want us to focus on is called line variation. That means varying the quality of your line, letting each line get thicker, thinner, lighter, darker, or even disappearing to create an implied line. To help us learn to use line variation we are going to use a tree. If it's not too cold and the weather is fine, it would be best if you could find a tree somewhere that you could sit in front of while you work. Using your permanent marker, let your eyes follow the outer edges of the tree. Follow it from the bottom all the way to the top of the branches. Take special notice that you will not find a tree that has a rectangle or a circle on it. To create the branches, simply use the letter V to separate and show how branches spring off from one another. When the tree is drawn you'll want to go back and add line variation to create the texture or surface of the tree trunk. If your tree still has its leaves, simply use a controlled scribble motion as you cannot draw a thousand leaves. But you can imply a thousand leaves by simply controlling a quick, loose movement. If your tree goes off the paper, do not try to make it smaller to squeeze it in, but let it go off the edge of the paper.

Conclusion:

Who can describe what line variation is? Do so with both words and an example. Mount your tree drawings and display them for everyone to enjoy.

Artwork and Examples used in this lesson

Teachers Example

“Tree” by Piet Mondrian

Unknown Artist

Student Artwork

Student Artwork