Color A Celtic Resurrection Butterfly Cross

       I used metallic ink pens to color in my teacher's sample cross drawing. These inks really stand out if you draw with them on dark or black construction paper. Although, I chose to draw on a nice acid free paper for this particular activity (construction paper fades rapidly). The project is designed for students fourth grade and up. I've included patterns for the butterfly and cross below for those of you who would like to draw a cross very similar to mine. I colored the floral part of my design with Rembrandt colored pencils. These have a nice velvety texture that sharply compliments the metallic inks.

      The butterfly in the modern Christian church, and when I say modern I mean within the last 100 years, is used as a symbol for resurrection. This is because the metamorphosis that takes place during the life cycle of butterflies mirrors the lives of regenerated Christians in both life and death after the Holy Spirit indwells them personally. The cross, in turn, symbolizes the beginning of this resurrection process because of the ultimate price of salvation paid for us through Christ's death on the cross and His resurrection from the tomb.

      Encourage your students to frame their work if they are pleased with the results. I have found that many parents love to receive simple drawings such as these for a birthday or Mother's Day and/or Father's Day gift.

This is my teacher's sample of a Resurrection Butterfly Cross. Students can use all kinds of metallic ink pens to color in their sketches. They will need to use a white or yellow colored pencil to trace around their stencils before applying the inks. Although I chose silver for my sample, this pattern would look just as attractive in gold or copper inks.

Click directly on the image to download the largest possible file. You will need to fold an additional piece of paper and place the dotted lines of the cross template on top of the fold to cut out the entire cross pattern.

More Links to Cross Drawing/Coloring Projects:

• Bible Verse Easter Cross from The Glitter Queen. Also more cross projects here and here again by Kids & Glitter.
• Color Crucifixion Symbols
• Color a Early Pectoral Crucifix
• Jesus, died for our transgressions
  

Drawing Butterflies By Progressive Steps

     I have included here a series of five, butterfly, drawing exercises from an old book. In each case it is the last figure of each series of diagrams that you are striving to copy.

      Learning to draw is best when students are encouraged by multiple means of processing information. Teachers should encourage progressive diagram drawing, drawing from real life, drawing from artworks and from their imaginations. The more articulate the student, the easier it becomes for him or her to express themselves. It is difficult for art students to become articulate if their teacher is attaching too much philosophy to practice early in their pupil's development.

      Each method of drawing accesses different areas of the brain. Educators will soon discover that different students excel at different rates according to their familiarity with utilizing that particular part of their brain. Teaching art to the very young should focus primarily on the absorption of knowledge and how to use it within a wide variety of circumstance/context. 

      All artists should be given time to learn how to manipulate information without having the process judged by those art educators that teach according to current popular belief.  Do not fixate on artistic schools of thought or practice until a student is approximately sixteen or older and is able to make important choices for himself apart from your personal tastes and opinions.
      The method of drawing illustrated in the jpgs. below, is very appropriate for cartoonists or graphic designers to learn. Encourage art students to try this method of making art along with many other practices inside your classroom.

full frontal butterfly draw

Draw butterfly from side.

Draw another butterfly from side.

Smaller butterfly drawing challenge.

Last step-by-step butterfly drawing challenge.

Stencil Easter Rabbits Eating Clover

      The Easter bunny picture above was made by the use of a series of stencils. The rabbits and the dandelions (taraxacum) where drawn by one method and the clover by another. In order to make the soft appearance of the fuzzy animals and the dandelions, I gently rubbed the side of my colors over the top of each stencil. The effect resulted in a feathery appearance. Next, I traced around the clover and colored in the shapes left behind, resulting in harder brighter lines and shapes. 

      Teachers in this lesson may then discuss with young students the differences between design elements that are sometimes difficult to communicate in a drawing only. The rabbits look soft; the clover looks smooth. The fur and seeds look fuzzy, the clover looks bright and so on . . . Tactile ideas are easier to communicate through a fabric assignment but sometimes this is not affordable. Visual textures may be easier to believe when associated with objects that are obviously associated with textures small students enjoy in both their toys and in small animals that they are fond of.

      Teachers will need to make stencils in advance for the assignment. These should look similar to the black silhouettes that I have pictured below.

Draw a mother hen and her chicks

      Draw a mother hen and all of her baby chicks. Try to fit as many of them as you can in your farmyard picture. I've included a process drawing below for teachers to project on a white board.

How to draw a mother hen and her chicks by Lutz.

Pick-a-little, Talk-a-little, Cheep, Cheep, Cheep! from a stage performance of "My Fair Lady"

Draw a Bunny Portrait

      Draw a portrait of a bunny. Here is a step-by-step picture depicting how. I've also included a video of bunnies in cups for those of you who would prefer to work from life.

How to draw a rabbit tutorial.

A Repeating Line Butterfly Design

      Give students newsprint to fold, design and cut out their own butterfly stencil. 

      Then have them trace around their stencils onto some interesting tissues or napkins printed with bright colors. Cut and decoupage these butterflies to a very large piece of white drawing paper and let the pictures dry. 

     Students may then use markers to draw lines around their butterflies that echo the shapes, colors and rhythms of their butterfly decoupage.

The butterflies appear to vibrate with the rhythm of the line work.

• The Lord Is Risen! coloring page
• The True King's Crown

Doodle an Easter bunny or a chick

      Draw a doodle with a thick black marker on your page. Now turn the paper round and inspect the shapes and twists of the lines carefully. How can you turn it into a bunny or chick?
      Add color with markers, crayons or paints to interpret your Easter squiggle into a funny, fuzzy character.

Teacher's Sample.