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4 KIDS 2 Do

Teachers May Reproduce this Page

Help yourself to my YouTube Channel for kid-friendly mini-poem-movies in which I read many of my published poems.  (There's a section just for haiku, and a variety of longer poems for kids.)  I created these for National Poetry Month in April of 2020.

HAIKU HOW-TO resources:

Click over to my POETRY page to see my poem in a past issue of LADYBUG, with a link to LADYBUG'S Teacher's Guide for the issue.

(Print all or simply highlight selection you need.)

FOR ARTISTS - Sketch Pad

© Robyn Hood Black


It was always easier to sketch the wolves when they were asleep! This is Luna napping, the week of her first birthday. Try it with your own dog or cat or guinea pig! (Little brothers and sisters work, too.)

© Robyn Hood Black

What does it mean to "sketch from life?"
It just means drawing directly from an object in front of you rather than from a photograph or other reference.
I sketched these two wolf pups at the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve. Of course, sketching animals is MUCH easier when they are asleep! I could now work from this sketch and photographs to make a finished drawing, or I can use it as a learning exercise.

Now you try it: Quietly sneak into a room where your pet is sleeping and see if you can sketch him or her. The trick is to work fast and fill in large areas; don't get too bogged down in details. If you don't have a snoozing pet, try a stuffed animal. (Then you won't have to worry about your model getting up and walking off!) Have FUN!

PAST PAGES:

For centuries, artists have sketched or copied the works of masters to improve their own skill.
This rough sketch from my sketchbook was copied from a book by Konrad Gesner from the sixteenth century (!) as printed in Seahorses by Catherine Wallis.

Now You Try It

Do you just love a particular artist's work? On a piece of paper or in your own sketchbook, try your hand at that artist's style by copying part of a drawing or painting you love. Make sure to give credit to the original artist by including "after Picasso" (or whomever you choose) beside your own name.

© Robyn Hood Black

CHARACTER
Here is a rough sketch from a story I am working on. How do you think this little fellow is feeling? How do you know?

Illustrators wouldn't have pictures without characters. Pick a favorite person or animal you like to draw.

Now try this:
1. Draw your character.







2. Now draw your character when he or she is alone at home and a scary storm makes the power go out.








3. Now draw your character after he or she has just won a special award.








I'll bet your character looks proud - and so should you!
HAPPY ILLUSTRATING!