4 sessions; 50 minutes per session

SWBAT Design an effective pattern to go around their bottle
SWBAT Utilize painting techniques
SWBAT creatively balance color and designs

Recyclable glass bottles (Wine, Juice, Soda, pickle jars, etc. Have students bring some from home completely washed and labels removed)
Good quality acrylic paints
Puff Paints
Acrylic Brushes
Water buckets
Wax Paper
Polyurethane
Foam Brushes
Graphite pencils

Need these materials? Visit Blick!

1. Have student thoroughly clean all dust and dirt from bottles.
2. Paint a nice blended base of 2-3 colors using gradation and ombre painting techniques, let bottle dry.
3. Draw out chosen designs lightly with a pencil.
4. Carefully paint in design.
5. Some students may use the puff paint to accent or outline their designs, or then may draw out their whole pattern using the puff paint, let dry.
6. Coat bottles in a thin layer of polyurethane and let dry overnight. This seals in the paint job and gives in a nice shine.

Students will be assessed on their ability to complete the bottle in the necessary steps, strength of their designs, and effectiveness of the piece being a good decoration.

My kids loved this project because it was different than painting on paper or canvas, and since we do not have a kiln at our school, it gives the illusion of being like pottery. They did them as gifts for friends and family, and we even sold them as a fundraiser too and made a lot of money from it.

Ancient Greece, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts Movement, Folk Art

Balance, Color/Value, Contrast, Emphasis, Proportion/Size, Rhythm/Pattern, Shape, Space, Texture, Variety

Acrylic, Painting