Step 4: Paint the Fine Details
Have the older students paint finer details such as red around the orange droplets of a CRUSH can, outlines of letters, circles, bubbles, silver shadows on letters, and other highlights. Paint the details once the main design has had some time to dry. Have the real pop can on hand to examine the colors used. Use smaller paintbrushes if needed. Use a grey color if you do not have silver. Spray or paint with a clear sealer to protect the wooden park bench.
Hints and Tips
Be sure to check if permission is needed to paint on a public place such as a wall or bench. If permission is granted, it is a wall mural. If not, the art can be seen as graffitti.
Choose a theme for the mural. Pop art is a popular genre of art but pop cans may not be acceptable at a nutrition positive school. Andy Warhol's pop art of a tomato soup can may be better for a wall mural in a cafeteria or on a picnic table. Pop art of famous people such as educators, presidents or stars can be used on a library wall, theatre billboard or computer station.
Sports wall murals in a gym, jungle wall murals near a play structure, and waterfall murals near a water fountain are popular wall murals for children. Ocean wall murals work well near a splash water park. There are many mural ideas that you can brainstorm with your students.
Tape the design near the bench when working. Keep the actual pop can nearby to refer to it. Making the letters appear as they do on the can is the most important aspect of the project. Other features can be added for extra effects, such as additional bubbles, stars or droplets.
Full wall murals which make a person think a hallway continues in one direction is a concept using perspective. This kind of wall mural is suitable for older grade art classes.
Painting a wall mural while learning about a certain wall mural artist can aid in the learning of other cultures. See the article on the Mexican artitst, Diego Rivera's Murals Lesson Plan.
Use the art lesson to teach about other famous murals, mural artists, or other famous artists. Painted murals can be compared to chalk artists who create non-permanent murals.
Use the art lesson to teach about primary or complementary colors, perspective drawing and painting techniques such as sponging, ragging and airbrushing.
Children will take an interest in painting and respecting a public place such as a school wall or park bench if they have a vested interest in the creation of a wall mural on it. Be sure to involve your students in the design and actual painting of the mural. They will find murals to be both fun and easy to paint. Kids' murals are a creative art lesson for many ages.