Sweet, Simple Fairies
We had a super-great time this morning sketching up a little family of fairies from a nice little book we picked up yesterday. Honestly, my drawing skills aren’t anything to write home about, but following the simple instructions in the How to Draw Fairies and Mermaids book (from Usborne), I couldn’t believe what I came out with.
The concept behind my favorite fairies is simple–lay down a few splotches of watercolor (or markers, we tried both) then go back over and define it all with a fine black felt tip pen. It complimented some of the ideas in the book we’ve been using for our art lessons (and from which I’ve learned a ton: Mona Brookes’s book Drawing With Children–awesome!) in terms of breaking things down into simple shapes and going step by step.
Even Daisy was happy with what she came out with–it resembled what was in the book enough to satisfy her, but had her own cute little ideas too.
Next up I think we’re going for these mermaids:
…or these cute little watercolored fairies:
The toadstool umbrella just melts me!
Hi
I think the fairies are adorable but I’m not sure how they are in synch with what Mona brooks teaches.
I have been reading her book and doesn’t she say to look for the shapes.
How were you able to put her practices into action? I’m just a bit confused because they seem to me to be a bit sophisticated. Is this book you were referring to a new way of teaching drawing?
I’ve been working with my daughter using Mona Brookes’s book and it’s been difficult for her to really look at a single object as a collection of shapes (e.g. a vase has two discrete, curved sides, an elongated oval at the top, a curved line at the bottom…) that are all hooked together to make a larger form. It all seemed to click with these, though–first is the curved line for the chin, some shapes for the hair, two filled circles make eyes, a small curved line for the nose, a larger one for the mouth, etc. I’m hoping that she can take this idea of breaking down into smaller components with her to other projects
Oh, these are truly darling!! You both did a fantastic job!! I could see a 2nd career here! Love the flowers too!
These are precious! Absolutely adorable. I love how they turned out. So, so sweet.
very cute. and the toadstool umbrella is heart melting
I love these fairies. I saw this blog post and decided to get the same book. I can’t wait for it to get here. All the drawings are delightful and your renditions are great - you are very talented!
I’ve used Mona Brooke’s book with my older children too and I like her approach!
well done, if I had that much skill it Would be something to write home about
oh i’m going to have to check that book out, for my dd and our girl scout troop.
Oh, those are the most darling fairies. I love Usborne books. I am so not artsy though, so that’s the kind of book I need! Stopping by from SITS to say hello!
That looks like an adorable book Amanda. I really like the cute drawings Daisy came up with.
These are precious! Absolutely adorable.I really like the cute drawings…thanks.
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Reenee
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These are precious! Absolutely adorable.I really like the cute drawings…thanks.
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Reenee
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I agree, the toadstool umbrella is adorable. Although, I am partial to toadstools
Looks like a sweet book.
The drawing is ever so cute. And the tips are easy to follow. Many thanks.
Greetings from London.
I was looking all Sunday for some opinions and news about the usborne activity books and here you have delivered. Thanks!
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We have this book too, and I love it! My girls are 10 & 12 and we have done a few of the projects, I love to have something we can all sit and do together. We have also loved a few of the other books in the series. (Sometimes I think I love it even more than the girls!)
PS Me again - here is a post I did about one of the ideas we used from the same book: http://womanofnotes.blogspot.com/2009/06/friday-artworks.html
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