Last night I decided to take some time to experiment with our new Crayola pastels to get ready to present a mini-lesson to the kiddos.  I had never used pastels before, so I spent some time reading about different techniques and styles.  I doodled around and created an interesting flower using the blending technique.  I left my sketch pad open and on the breakfast table to be “discovered” in the morning.  (I find that our kids are much more inclined to try new things if I can entice them or hint at possible projects.)  My drawing was a big discussion point over breakfast, and I was glad that the kids could recognize my drawing as a flower!

B was first to grab her sketch pad and give it a try:

M joined soon after, and they really started to get the hang of it!

Usually, the kids try one drawing and move on to other things.  Today they surprised me by trying different versions and exploring their own ideas.  M came up with a sunflower design:

Before bedtime, we were back at it and having a really good time.  (I sprayed the finished drawings with a clear fixative to prevent smudges!)  Here are a few of our finished pastel drawings: