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James Pence

How to Draw a Glow-in-the-Dark Mountain

Draw a Glow-in-the-Dark Mountain

In this, the last of our Four Mountains series, Jim demonstrates how to draw a “glow in the dark” mountain using negative space and black light chalk. Jim is drawing with fluorescent lecturer’s chalk on gray bogus paper. You can buy the chalk and paper Jim is using from Eternity Arts (eternityarts.com). You can also do this picture with fluorescent pastels and pastel paper. Scroll down to see the fluorescent products we offer. And don’t forget to buy a black light! 

Mountain range with stars and moon. Text overlay. Landscape Workshop: Draw a Glow-in-the-Dark Mountain. See the Light Art

How to Draw Butterflies

How to Draw Butterflies

I love to play with color, and two of the best subjects for creative use of color are butterflies and flowers. So this week on the blog, we’re featuring some tutorials on how to draw butterflies.

Since many of these tutorials are in black and white, your children can have some fun coloring their butterflies and making them beautiful.

I hope you’ll get out your art supplies and draw along with some of these artists.

Basic Butterfly Drawing

http://kidsfront.com/how_to_draw/butterfly_drawing_24.html

This site offers a very basic step-by-step drawing of a butterfly. The drawing is on the “cartoonish” side, but it’s good for younger children.

How to Draw a Butterfly in 9 Easy Steps.

http://www.howtodrawanimals.net/how-to-draw-a-butterfly

This website includes both a step-by-step approach to drawing a butterfly and a short video demo.

Videos:

Here’s a basic video that’s easy to follow

 

 

For older children who want more of a challenge, this sketch of a butterfly is a good one to follow.

Blue butterfly with text overlay. Easy Tutorials on How to Draw a Butterfly. See the Light Art

How to Draw a Marigold Mandala

Marigold Mandala on green background. See the Light Digital Art Projects

Digital Art Projects 1: Marigold Mandala

About the Project:

Here’s a very basic digital art project. No bells or whistles on this one. Just one layer, using a symmetry tool and flood fill.

This is a good, and relatively easy, starter project for a beginner in digital art. 

I titled this, marigold mandala, but didn’t think of that name until after I did the video. As I was drawing, the design kept reminding me of a particular type of flower, but I didn’t remember the name “marigold” until later.

Lesson Objective:

To gain a basic familiarity with the tools and software we’ll be using for future digital art projects, specifically the symmetry tool and autofill (bucket) tool. Also, how to set up a digital canvas. 

 

Resources Needed:

To create this project, I used Autodesk Sketchbook (sketchbook.com) with a Wacom Intuos Pro graphics tablet.

You can download Sketchbook free at: www.sketchbook.com

You can get a graphics tablet and pressure-sensitive stylus as low as $27 HERE

Content Guide:

Intro & Software/Hardware – 0:00
Navigating Sketchbook – 4:06
Set Up Your Canvas – 8:00
Select Your Brush – 10:15
Set Up the Symmetry Tool – 11:00
Draw the Mandala – 12:42
Color the Mandala – 18:12

Devotional Thought:

Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these (Luke 12:27 NIV). 

All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall (I Peter 1:24 NIV).

It’s interesting to note that when scripture refers to flowers, it is almost always with an eye towards either God’s provision or peoples’ temporality. The two verses above are representative of the divergent thought lines. In one, Jesus instructs his hearers to consider the wildflowers, how God clothes them even more majestically than Solomon in his splendor. In the second verse, Peter is quoting from Isaiah 40 and emphasizing that human splendor and glory passes away with the speed and finality of a flower dying.

They are dramatically different thoughts, and yet there is a powerful connection. I am to trust in the God who created the heavens and the earth, knowing that He will provide for me–whatever I need. The wildflowers are to be my example. 

On the other hand, I should never seek my own glory and power, because I–and my presence and glory on this earth–will pass away quickly and with barely a trace left behind. The wildflowers are to be my example.

As you draw this digital “flower,” remember the wildflowers. They will remind you to trust God and seek his kingdom and glory–not your own. — Jim Pence

See the Light Art Class 9-DVD Boxed Set
Try 3 Free Lessons!

Download 3 video art lessons on us!

What you’ll learn…

The foundational skill of art is drawing.

Whether you’re using a pencil, pen, brush, or a piece of chalk, it’s all about drawing.

In your free lessons, you’ll learn…

…The basics of what makes a drawing
…What you need to have in your drawing “toolkit”
…The most essential skill of drawing
…How to synchronize your hand and your eyes
…The basics of composition

Leonardo da Vinci – Renaissance Man

Leonardo self portrait

This month’s featured artist is Leonardo da Vinci. Although he is often referred to as “Da Vinci,” he is more properly called “Leonardo.” This is because da Vinci refers to the city where he was born. Leonardo did not have a last name. We’ve curated some online resources to help you study Leonardo this week. 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mona_Lisa,_by_Leonardo_da_Vinci,_from_C2RMF_retouched.jpg

Here are some links to Leonardo-related websites that you might find helpful:

Summary: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leonardo-da-Vinci

Deep Dive:
https://www.history.com/topics/renaissance/leonardo-da-vinci

Activity: Open Window (Using Leonardo’s Perspectograph)
https://www.mos.org/leonardo/activities/open-window

Take your art to the next level with See the Light videos:
James Pence

Art Projects: Pointillism Fruit (Georges Seurat) Download

(What art supplies do I need for this? Click HERE.)

(Can this be used for a high school fine arts credit? YES! Click HERE for more information.)

Create a fruit still-life in the style of French artist, Georges Seurat. Pointillism Fruit is the fourth in See the Light’s Art Projects video series. Each lesson helps advance skills and learning as students complete wonderful works of art in the styles of famous artists. Start creating now with these downloadable video art lessons!

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October 13, 2018 No Comments
James Pence

Art Class Volume 9 – Lessons 33-36: The Portrait (Faces & Figures) (DVD)

(What art supplies do I need for this? Click HERE.)

(Can this be used for a high school fine arts credit? YES! Click HERE for more information.)

Drawing faces and figures is both challenging and exciting. When you add people to your drawings, the pictures come alive. In Art Class Volume 9, Pat Knepley introduces you to the basics of drawing people. Lessons include: Drawing People, A Different View (Profile), It Starts with a Stick Figure, and The Human Figure.

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August 2, 2018 No Comments
James Pence

Art Class Volume 3 – Lessons 9-12: Value & Color (Download)

(What art supplies do I need for this? Click HERE.)

(Can this be used for a high school fine arts credit? YES! Click HERE for more information.)

In Art Class #3, Value & Color, you’ll learn how to use value (light and dark) to create a sense of realism, and color to bring your drawings to life. Lessons include, It’s Not Just Black and White; Tone, Shade & Shadow; Color, Color, Color; and Complements & Intermediates.

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October 10, 2018 No Comments

And don’t miss these free resources from our blog:

Sky and mountain background with flying eagle and cartoonish pencil. Text overlay: How to Draw Eagles. See the Light Shine

How to Draw Eagles

June 29, 2020 No Comments

This Saturday we will celebrate America’s 244th birthday. Today, we’re going to have a (sort of) patriotic theme by learning how to draw eagles. The

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Shape Scavenger Hunt (Happy New Year!)

Shape Scavenger Hunt. See the Light Art Blog

Happy New Year (almost!) from See the Light Art!

We’ve got a lot of new stuff coming your way in 2020. This week, enjoy a blast from the past as Jim uses an audio cassette (remember those?) to show you how to draw something by identifying its shapes.

Shape Scavenger Hunt. See the Light Art Blog

Creative Christmas Projects: Paper Snowflakes

Collage with green, blue and pink background. Text overlay: Creative Christmas Projects: Paper Snowflakes. See the Light Shine Art

I don’t know about you, but I love decorating for Christmas. And the best Christmas decorations are the ones we make at home. This month on our weekly blog posts, I’m listing some Christmas craft videos I’ve found on YouTube that will be fun for you and your children to make. 

Each week will have a theme, and I’m trying to have videos at different age/skill levels. And I’ve selected videos that are around 5 minutes in length. If you’re like me, you rarely have an hour to spend watching a tutorial video. These ones are short and sweet, but they still show some excellent projects.

This week’s theme is Paper Snowflakes. I remember making these all the time when I was growing up. Mine were pretty basic, but the craft has come a long way since I was a boy. I hope you’ll enjoy making some of these snowflakes and hanging them around your house this holiday season.

First is an easy project for younger children:

The next two are a little bit more challenging…

Finally, check out this awesome 3-D snowflake project:

Next week: Do it yourself Christmas cards.

Collage with green, blue and pink background. Text overlay: Creative Christmas Projects: Paper Snowflakes. See the Light Shine Art

Take your art to the next level with See the Light videos:
James Pence

Art Projects: Horsing Around (Edgar Degas)

(What art supplies do I need for this? Click HERE.)

(Can this be used for a high school fine arts credit? YES! Click HERE for more information.)

Horsing Around – Watch the video and produce your own masterpiece in the style of Edgar Degas, in 4 step-by-step lessons with Master Artist Pat Knepley.

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August 6, 2018 No Comments

And don’t miss these free resources from our blog: