Sumi-e Ink Animals

Intrigue students by showing them the first step of an animal—the gray reduction that is not yet recognizable. Then show the next steps until they say “It’s a ___!”

1. First sketch in pencil very lightly the parts of your animal. Then have kiddos stop.
2. Discuss painting in gray with the tippy toe of your brush for thin lines. Paint the outline.
3. As a class, use black to create each appropriate limb, eyes, etc. It is fast!
4. The most important part is to stop when it is done! Students might like to freely paint the frame around their picture to look like a design, bamboo, fish, etc. for the end of class.
5. Print name legibly on the front of the paper (at least an inch from the edge so the name will not be cut off).