Advent Majestic Kings

In this Advent Majestic Kings art lesson, middle school students will create a dramatic art piece revealing a magical sky behind the three majestic kings.

Grade Level

6th, 7th and 8th Grades – The examples in this lesson are made by 7th graders.

Objective

In this Advent Majestic Kings lesson, students will paint three kings traveling in the Advent story.

Time

2-3 60 min lessons

Materials

• Black acrylic paint – Crayola Artista II Washable Tempera Paint in Black, Painting Supplies, 16oz
• 9×12 Watercolor paper – Canson (100510941) XL Series Watercolor Pad, 9″ x 12″, Fold-Over Cover, 30 Sheets
• Brushes – Acrylic Paint Brush Set, 1 Packs / 10 pcs Nylon Hair Brushes for All Purpose Oil Watercolor Painting Artist Professional Kits
• Liquid Water Colors – Sargent Art 22-6010 10-Count 8-Ounce Watercolor Magic Set
  • Or this mini version for homeschooling – Sargent Art 22-6210 10-Count 4-Ounce Watercolor Magic
• Table Salt
• Pencils
• Template: Print out image from Crayola site: Click Here

Inspiration/Artist

I was inspired to make this project after I saw this idea on the Crayola.com website: Click Here

Instruction with Questions

Day 1

I found this project on Crayola.  Their directions are great!  I switched it up a little bit.   Review the role of the Three Kings in the Advent story.  Discuss the Epiphany.

Pull students (about four at a time) and have them watercolor the sky.  Pass out watercolor paper.  (make sure to have them write their name in pencil on the back of the paper before they paint) 

The key is to start with the paper being wet.  This will give the watercolors more time to bleed and a better chance of staying wet when you add salt. 

I give them directions (and do a quick example first) in a circular movement, layering over each color so they bleed together:

• Add water
• Then purple 
• Dark blue
• Light blue
• Finally, water only in the middle
• While the paper is still wet, add table salt

Set aside to dry. This process is pretty quick. Once dry, brush off the excess dry salt.  Isn’t the effect awesome?!!

Day 2 and 3 as needed

Print out the Crayola wise men picture onto card stock.  Cut out pictures of the three wise men and camel.  The cutting could be done on the same day that students are being pulled aside to paint their sky. I put one set of the camel and three kings into a baggie and distribute one bag per four students.

Using a pencil, have students create a ground line about two inches from the bottom of the page.  This does NOT need to be a hard line in order to add a more organic look.

Trace the images onto the paper onto the sky with the figures touching the ground.  No flying camels!!  Haha.

Students paint black acrylic paint on their ground and figures.  I offer two types of acrylic paint brushes; medium round and small round for details.  Make sure to have a dollar store plastic table cloth, or something to protect the table from the black paint. 

Show them how to use water to thin their paint for best results.

I really emphasize the importance of solid black figures which means layering paint as needed. The goal is to have silhouettes. Along with the paint not being too watered down, causing a transparent affect, I also remind them to not allow their paint to stay too thick. This creates fuzzy wise men…and nobody wants that.

Here are some finished Advent Majestic Kings!