Jeanette Bradley Illustration
  • Books
  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Blog
  • School Visits

Drawing Portraits for Kids

8/16/2020

 
I have two videos to share with you about drawing portraits! Both of these tie in with the portraits I drew of the young activists in NO VOICE TOO SMALL.  

Watch my mini art class on visual storytelling in portraits, recommended for grades 3-8, This video is seven minutes long, and delves into a little bit of portraits in art history before introducing the #MeetTheArtist meme. I then walk you through how to create your own using my template or on a blank sheet of paper. 
This second video is recommended for grades K-2, and is only three minutes long. Younger kids can watch me draw my own #MeetTheArtist cartoon self portrait, and then make their own! 
Download the printable #MeetTheArtist drawing prompt page!
Picture

Drawing Prompt Printable - WHEN THE BABIES CAME TO STAY

5/1/2020

 
Picture
Download this free printable drawing prompt for your classroom or home use! 
Picture

Makerspace Fun with Alexander Calder

4/24/2020

 
Picture
Meet the OG Maker Alexander Calder and make your own circus or theater from craft supplies you find in your house! This free, downloadable/printable class is designed to be done semi-independently by kids. Adults may need to help set up the makerspace and be on hand if kids need help with the trickier parts of assembly, but kids under 10 should be able to do much of the project independently. 

​Download or print this offline class for free. Please credit my work and link to it here if you share. 

Click on the image below to view pdf: 
​
Picture

Build a Home Makerspace

4/21/2020

 
Picture
If your house is anything like mine, there is a lot of screen time going on right now. Screens for school, screens for work, screens for fun, screens because you are stuck inside while it is sleeting in April and there is nowhere to go.  I wanted to share some ideas with you that I've created over years of teaching art to kids for ways to unplug and tap into the creative process.  All of us can use these - even myself!  After long days of working on digital illustration I can feel disconnected from the world.  Some hands-on crafting reconnects me to the playful side of art making. 

I've chosen to create these in pdf form instead of making a video because I feel overwhelmed by all of the (fantastic) educational videos and online events being created right now. Sometimes what we all need is to slow down, unplug, and do a home scavenger hunt through our recycling. 

Feel free to download or print this first "class."  Please credit my work and link to it here if you share.

Click on the image below to view pdf: 
Picture

LOVE, MAMA: Mother's Day Craft

4/13/2018

 

This is easily adaptable for the youngest of toddlers (think handprints!) through grade schoolers. 

Picture

LOVE, MAMA inspired photo frame (v. 1) 

1. Purchase unfinished wood heart frame from craft store. (About $1 each)
2. Decorate with stickers, markers, paper cut outs and washi tape. 
3. Insert photo - you are done! 

Picture

LOVE, MAMA inspired photo frame (v. 2) 

1. Print out the frame template onto colored card stock.  (download below) 
Picture
Click image to download printable pdf template
2. Carefully cut out heart, leaving edges intact. (Younger children may need assistance getting started.)
3. Fold paper on center fold line.
4. Use glue stick to glue photo into inside of frame. 
Picture
5. Glue interior of paper together.
6. Decorate with handprint, stickers, crayons, markers, or wherever your imagination leads. 

LOVE, MAMA Craft: Sock Kipling

1/29/2018

 
Sock Kipling (c) 2018 Jeanette Bradley
Sock and felt Kipling craft based on LOVE, MAMA (c) 2018 Jeanette Bradley
This is a craft I developed for a public library event.  Young children will need assistance from an adult. Older children can work in pairs.  For a large group project, it is easier to prep the craft before the event by cutting out the felt pieces so that kids can focus on assembling their penguin chicks.

You will need: 

Gray adult socks (one pair will make four penguins)
Colorful adult socks
Light gray felt
Dark gray felt (try to match the socks)
Rice (one cup per penguin)
Rubber bands (5 per penguin)
Fine point marker, such as a sharpie
Black construction paper
Glue (I used tacky glue, a glue gun would also work)

Step 1: Cut the sock in half, avoiding the heel
Picture
Step 2: Turn sock inside out. Use a rubber band to close one end of the tube, then turn inside right again. 
Picture
Step 3: Pour rice into your sock.  Using a measuring cup with a spout or a plastic cup that you can squeeze into a spout shape makes this step less messy. 
Picture
Step 4: Pour the entire cup of rice into the sock, then tie off the top with a rubber band.  
Picture
Step 5:  Use another rubber band to create a neck for your penguin chick. 
Picture
Step 6: Slide the light gray felt belly piece under the next rubber band to create Kipling's belly fuzz. Then slide the arms under the rubber band to attach them.
Picture
Step 7: Cut off the toe of the colorful sock to use as a hat.  You can also create a beanie hat with a pom pom on top by cutting a wide band of the sock and rubber banding one end.   Cut a narrow strip of the same sock to create a scarf.
Picture
Step 8: Put on the hat and scarf.  Adjust the belly and arms until your chick looks symmetrical, then glue into place. 
Picture
Step 9: Draw dots for eyes right above the cheek line.  Cut out a small triangle of black construction paper for your chick's nose, and glue it on. 
Picture
Let your new friend dry before playing with him or her! 

Click below for a printable PDF pattern.
Picture
Click image to download a printable PDF

Craft: Make Kipling's Box from LOVE, MAMA

1/19/2018

 

What you need:

Small cardboard box (reduce, reuse recycle!)
Pink or red paper for cutting out hearts (if desired, use the template to print 6 hearts to a page)
Used postage stamps cut off envelopes
Glue stick
Stamps and stamp pad for “cancelling” the stamps
​Crayons or markers
“Treasures” to put in the box, like rocks, feathers, pom poms, buttons, beads, or other found objects
Picture

Directions:

Step 1: Cut postage stamps off envelopes.
Picture
2. Print out the heart template on pink or red paper.  (It's fine to skip this step and just cut a heart from whatever paper you have on hand!
3. Cut out hearts. 
Picture
4. Glue old postage stamps onto box using glue stick.  Decorate the box with crayons, markers, or stickers. Write a pretend address if you desire, or address it to a friend or family member. 
5. "Cancel” the stamps with whatever rubber stamps you have on hand.
Picture
6. Write a love note to someone you love.
Picture
7. Fill your box with treasures, add your heart, and give it to someone special! 
Picture
Picture
Pro tip: avoid the problem of kids cutting one heart out of the center of piece of paper by printing out this heart template that fits six hearts to a page. I like to print it onto pink card stock. 
Picture
Click on image to download printable PDF

    Author

    Jeanette Bradley loves penguins, art, and chocolate, though not all at once. 

    Categories

    All
    Book Love
    Classroom Activities
    Conferences
    Crafts For Kids
    Diversity
    Events
    Illustration
    LOVE MAMA
    Printables
    Self-publishing
    Shows
    STEAM
    WNDB

    RSS Feed

  • Books
  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Blog
  • School Visits