HERMIT CRABS- blending & shading with oil pastel are a great way for integrating art and marine biology. Hermit Crabs art lesson is also a great art integration for STEAM based curiculums. These hermit crabs can be taught in a classroom, at home, art camps, or after school enrichments programs. This is done in oil pastel and crayon, but charcoal, chalk or paint would work too.
A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD of “HERMIT CRABS” is available on ETSY & TEACHERS PAY TEACHERS
Art terminology & techniques that you can cover in this lesson:
Drawing from simple shapes, overlapping shapes, beginning blending techniques, and shading and dimension.
It makes a great ART PROJECT to display.
Ties in art with the following books:
HOUSE FOR A HERMIT CRAB- Eric Carle
IS THIS HOUSE FOR HERMIT CRAB?- Megan Macdonald
HERMAN THE HERMIT CRAB- Cindy W Hollingsworth
A great way to integrate art in to STEAM or MARINE BIO curriculums.
This is a great activity for grade levels 2-8. An excellent resource for homeschoolers, teachers, and parents. I have done this in my Marine Bio Art Elective class. Hermit Crabs, would make a great summer camp art project. It can be taught to a group of different skill levels or ages.
MATERIALS FOR THIS LESSON CAN BE FOUND ON MY AMAZON STORE
YOU’LL NEED:
Use simple shapes and start the shell with a big slanted oval in the center of the paper. Overlap a few more ovals, each one smaller than the last. Draw in a circle for the head and add 2 tall ovals for eyes. Add in an arch above its head for the opening of the shell.
Draw in the claws and legs.
Use black OIL PASTEL to outline the shell (charcoal or graphite will work for this step too)
Blend the black outline with 1 finger to create shading and dimension on the shell. Other colors of oil pastel will work for this too, brown, pink, even rainbow?
With OIL PASTEL Color in the hermit crabs face, claws, and legs with a variety of reds and oranges. Then add any details to your little guys.
This ocean background scene is just a suggested technique, students can create any type of background for their hermit crab drawings.
EXPERT TIP: use crayon to color in the background. It goes on lighter than the oil pastel used on the hermit crabs. It will help to make sure those stunning little hermits stand out againts their backgrounds. Use oil pastels for the rocks and any other details you may want to add.
FULL LESSON WITH DETAILED STEP BY STEP DRAWING INSTRUCTIONS, MATERIALS LIST, AND COLORING FOR THIS “HERMIT CRABS ART LESSON” AVAILABLE ON ETSY & TEACHERS PAY TEACHERS
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