Donut Drawing

Donut drawing is a fun end of the year activity to add to your classroom. Drawing a donut can be used in a media art lesson, lesson on pop art, product design, art lesson or more. You can use my donut drawing templates to get students to draw and design donuts if they finish their work early or to decorate a donut that is themed around the holidays.

Donut drawing is a fun activity for middle school students! I don’t know about you but my students sure do have a sweet tooth! 

Donut Drawing

Here are some ways to use it in your classroom:

• If students finish their work early

• To design their own flavour and then write a paragraph about it

• To design their own flavour and create an advertisement like a poster or commercial

• To design their own donut themed around a prompt like the holidays or animals

• To draw a donut with different materials like watercolour or pastels 

• To draw a donut after interviewing a local bakery

• To draw a donut after learning about the artist Andy Warhol and the pop art style

• To draw a donut to celebrate a birthday in the classroom

And so much more! 

You can check out my donut drawing templates here! 

Another great end of the year activity is Drawing a Popsicle. Drawing a Popsicle includes templates to be used in the same way as Donut Drawing.

Students can decorate their own popsicles and then have a nice popsicle treat outside to celebrate the end of the school year! 

You can check out my popsicle drawing templates here!  

Donut Drawing and Popsicle Drawing is a great end of year activity for middle school.

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Enjoy the drawing sheets in your classroom or at your home! 

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Symmetry in Art

Symmetry in art is a great way to teach realistic drawing skills and math to your students. Or provide extra drawing practice to your kids. Symmetry drawing is fun and easy to do with symmetry drawing worksheets. Symmetry art can help refine art and drawing skills by completing a symmetry line drawing. 

Symmetry in art is everywhere and is a part of nature. Trees, flowers, insects and so much more are symmetrical. Kids can learn about botany and anatomy while drawing the other half of a symmetry in art worksheet. 

All you need is printed or photocopied page of my symmetry worksheets, a pencil and eraser. It’s that easy!

Kids love grabbing a worksheet when they finish their work early. Completing these handouts have helped them to improve their drawing skills and it provides them with a nice quiet and calm activity to do. They are very popular at the end of day or to help students settle after recess!

Benefits of Symmetry Drawing in Art

• improve drawing skills

• improve fine motor skills

• students can learn patience and practice their sketching skills

• rainy day/down time activity

• can teach math through symmetry

• students can learn about botany and insects through different themed symmetry sheets!

• easy math, art or sub lesson plans

Who are symmetry drawing worksheets for?

I recommend using these worksheets with students in grades 4-8. I also have portrait symmetry drawing worksheets for high school.

In a free version of my best-selling insect symmetry worksheets you can download a sample of the product to test it out before you purchase. The insect symmetry handouts are great to incorporate in an insect unit, earth day activity, spring activity, early finisher activity, art or math lesson.

You can download the FREE Insect symmetry worksheets here! 

I have also made an 88 page insect symmetry line drawing package that includes 44 different insects that are on gridlines and some without gridlines. The gridlines make it easier for students to draw because they can count the squares as they draw to make sure their side matches up. These gridline sheets incorporate math and measuring nicely! The pages without the gridlines are a bit more challenging. 

You can check out the 88 page insect symmetry worksheets here! 

To learn about botany I have made an 88 page symmetry trees/leaves drawing pages and an 88 page flower/plants drawing pages.

Save 30% by buying the bundle!

I recommend students in grade 4-8 using these symmetry worksheets. If you like all three (the leaves/trees, insects, and flowers/plants) you can save 30% by buying the bundle - You can check out the bundle here!  

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Check Out My Most Popular Products

Symmetry Drawing Bundle for Grades 1-3

Symmetry Drawing Bundle for Grades 4-7

Symmetry Drawing Bundle for Grades 8-12

Symmetry Drawing for Grade 1-12

Buy More and Save with the Symmetry Drawing Mega Bundle !

Take a look at the bundle here!

Enjoy the symmetry sheets in your classroom or at your home!

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3 Benefits to Symmetry Drawing

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The Biggest Secret for a Struggling Artist

The biggest secret for a struggling artist is more common than your think! Being an artist is a difficult job. It's a journey and very much a marathon.

There are a lot of barriers to becoming a successful artist like; self doubt, your ego talking, imposter syndrome just to name a few. I’ll share the biggest secret for a struggling artist below! Read on!

Before you read on...I think some perspective is needed.

Images from Styled Stock Society

It is important to define what success looks like for you.  This is the BIGGEST secret for a struggling artist.

Do you want a new exhibition every week or one a month? Do you want an art sale every day or are you fine to have a couple a month or a year just as extra income?

Only you know what success means to you. Because it’s different for everyone! In order to stop feeling like a struggling artist you really need to define what success is going to look like for you! 

Here is my letter to the struggling artist  - you could even try writing a letter to yourself - it might be helpful.

Dear Struggling Artist,

I know things are hard right now. And you may be beating yourself up. Wondering when is it going to be your big break? When can you finally pursue your art full-time?

And your time will come.

You might be scrolling through Pinterest and Instagram and thinking wow, they have a TON of followers. They must have a TON of sales! They are so lucky! I wish I could have that… I wish it was easier for me..

And your time will come.

You might spend your days daydreaming or hoping that things might turn around. 

And your time will come.

But in this stage you are in now, just know that it is not permanent. It can and it will get better. If you give up now you’re abandoning your passion, your true calling, your talent and gifts for the world to see. I know this has been a big dream for you for a while now. Trust your gut and follow your own path. Don’t follow someone’s else’s path or their definition of success. What’s the point of that really?

I want you to become crystal clear about what you want...

I want for you to have the life of your dreams.

Deep down, only you really know what that looks like... So take a moment and write it ALL down. 

Start dreaming your biggest goals and wildest dreams (even the ones that scare you or the ones you are doubting will come true). Pursue them anyways and pursue them especially. 

What do you want more of in your life? What do you want less of?

Start Brainstorming now! Take out that old journal or sketchbook...seriously.

Sincerely,

Every Struggling Artist

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Let me know if this exercise was helpful for you - message me on social media so we can connect more. I would love to hear from you!

You Got This - it will get easier!

Winter 2020 Exclusive Painting Video

Twice a year, I send my email list an exclusive acrylic painting video lesson to your inbox! Videos include start to finish instructions and are not public on my YouTube Channel - You will have lifetime access to these videos! >>>Enter your email in the blue form below to join! Please note that I am no longer sending the Winter 2020 painting tutorial - however -please join my mailing list by clicking on the grey form so that you don’t miss out on the next tutorial!

You will learn how to paint an acrylic painting from beginning to end with valuable tips. I am a trained artist in acrylic painting and I am a certified teacher. I have my Master of Fine Arts degree and loads of teaching experience to make painting for beginners a simple process where you can feel confident and have fun! I send an email to my list twice a year where I give you a private link to the video tutorial. You will have lifetime access to the video lesson.

Would you like to improve your acrylic painting? I show you 10 common mistakes beginner acrylic painters make and what you can do to avoid them - click the button below to grab your FREE guide! Grabbing this guide will also put you on my mailing list so you can receive the next seasonal painting tutorial!

These Videos Are Perfect For You If:

1. You love art or painting

2. You want more time to yourself to be creative! 

3. You are interested in learning more about acrylic painting and developing your skills

4. You want a fun project to do by yourself or with friends or family (recommended age is 7 and up!)

5. You are a painter or want to give it a try!

6. You are beginner or experienced painter

7. You want to relax and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of painting

8. You want fun, simple and creative ideas to paint

Enter your email below to get access so you don’t miss this video or the next one!

Close up of the winter 2020 acrylic landscape painting by Jackie Partridge

Check out the What the Other Paintings Have Looked Like in the Past

Fall 2020

Summer 2020

Spring 2021

Summer 2021

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Learn How to Improve Your Colour Mixing with Acrylic Paint with Colour Mixing Basics!

Learn how to improve your colour mixing with acrylic painting - this is a great start to improving your acrylic painting skills. You have to be able mix your own colours! Colour mixing is a skill that takes practice! I have highlighted some FREE acrylic painting tutorials below to help you get better at acrylic painting! Colour mixing can be challenging! It isn’t as simple as elementary school art lessons where you discover the magic of mixing two colours together to get a completely different colour. Check out my colour mixing basics resources linked below!

Learning to mix colours from scratch takes you from a beginner painter to an intermediate painter. If you mix your own colours, you will be able to paint more realistically and your paintings will be more visually appealing to look at!

Using brown paint straight from the tube doesn’t have the same effect as mixing your own brown. There is so much range and possibilities when it comes to mixing your own colours!

It is ESSENTIAL to learn the foundations of colour mixing to be successful at acrylic painting! I will show you how easy it is with step by step instruction with video paint lessons all about colour mixing with acrylic paint!

I have broken down colour mixing lessons into easy to understand paint tutorials perfect for beginner painters! (including children!)

Colour Mixing Basics

• To make a colour lighter (a tint) add white

• To make a colour darker (a shade) add black

• To make a colour dull - add it’s complementary colour

• Experiment and test - try to make as many colour with your primary colours (red, yellow and blue) plus black and white

Learn How to Mix Green

This video is great for developing your skills. Mixing green is not as simple as mixing yellow and blue paint. If you are great at mixing greens and able to mix a variety of greens then you will be able to paint more realistic landscape paintings. Once you have mastered mixing greens - you will be able to paint better landscapes - click here to read more tips on painting landscapes!

Watch the Mixing Greens Video- HERE

Video Length: 13 min. 20 sec.

Learn How to Mix Grey

Mixing grey is not as simple as black + white. The more variety you have in your colours the more interesting your paintings will be! This video is a quick way to develop your colour mixing skills and make more professional looking paintings!

Watch the Mixing Greys Video- HERE

Video Length: 8 min. 15 sec.

Need More Help with Colour Mixing?

You can download my FREE colour mixing worksheets and videos for mixing green and grey here!

Mixing Purple Worksheets and Videos!

Mixing Skin Tones Worksheets and Videos!

Colour Wheel and Value Scale Worksheets and Videos!

OR save 30% and purchase the colour mixing bundle with everything mentioned above!

Want to Improve your acrylic painting? Download my FREE 12 Page Guide - I will show you the 10 common mistakes that acrylic painters make and how you can avoid them to become a better acrylic painter FASTER!!

Click the button below to download the FREE guide!

Learn How to Make a Colour Wheel and Value Scale

If you haven’t painted before and don’t know much about mixing colours - I recommend watching this video. I explain the basics of colour theory. You will learn about primary, secondary and tertiary colours and how to mix them. You will also learn about making a tint or shade with a colour. This is a great educational video perfect for beginners, teachers, parents homeschooling and daycare providers. Colour mixing is the foundation of acrylic painting!

Watch the Colour Wheel and Value Scale Video- HERE

Video Length: 25 min. 9 sec.

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Try painting coaching to improve your skills fast!

If you find these videos helpful please share them with a friend!

Be sure to subscribe to my channel where new videos come out every week!

5 Tips for Still Life Painting - Paint a Better Still Life!

5 Tips for how to paint a better still life will help improve your still life painting! Painting a still life as a beginner painter can be difficult.

Especially when you are trying to make the painting realistic! I have written a collection of tips to help make this process easier!

There is also an assortment of videos on painting still lives from lemons to eggs and everything in between. You can check out those painting lessons on my acrylic painting for beginners YouTube channel

How to Paint a Lemon- watch this video to learn more: click here to watch!

Here Are Some Tips to Paint a Better Still Life:

1. It helps to have your still life set up and arranged in front of you to paint, alternatively you can paint from a colour photograph -however having a real still life like a bowl of fruit or a vase of flowers right there will allow you to see all the tiny details.

2. Map out your painting in a coloured stick of chalk. A still life is all about painting/drawing what you see. Draw your still life in a stick of chalk. If you make a mistake it will easily rub off -saving you paint and time! Using something like a pencil to draw on the canvas might still show through layers of paint and can be hard to erase.

3. Exaggerate the highlights and shadows! Shadows and highlights on an object is what makes it look three-dimensional in a painting. You have the creative freedom to express what you see and convince someone that what you are painting is life-like. So darken the shadows and brighten the highlights to make them pop and stand out! A way of doing this is shining a light from a lamp on your still life which will make it more obvious where the highlights and shadows are making it easier to paint!

Bird’s nest still life painting - watch how to paint the eggs- here!

4. Paint in the direction of your object. This sounds obvious but a lot of beginner painters make the mistake of painting all objects with long flat straight brushstrokes. This ends up making round objects like lemons, apples and vases look flat and lack having a form. I have created a great short YouTube video to help with this- click here!

5. Remember to paint in layers and take your time! You don’t need to finish your painting in one sitting, taking your time allows you to add more details which helps make the painting more realistic. If you don’t like something you can paint over it -this is why I love acrylic painting!

Bonus tip:

If you are painting a still life over a day take a photo of it to ensure you are capturing the same lighting and that objects haven’t moved!

You can learn more about acrylic painting by checking out my FREE 16 Page Guide - 10 Mistakes Beginner Painters Make and How to Avoid Them!

I would love to see your still life paintings and give you feedback! tag me on instagram @jackiepartridgeart and use the #jackiepartridgeartclasses

I invite you to subscribe to my NEW YouTube Channel where I have new videos for beginner acrylic painters every two weeks!

- Check it out here!

Practice Painting a Still Life

How to Paint a Lemon

How to Paint Round Forms like Eggs

How to Paint a Pumpkin

How to Paint a Poppy

Want to improve your painting quickly? Try my painting coaching!

Follow me on social media by clicking on one of the icons below for more great tips!

Frequently Asked Questions - Shop Policies and Services

What is the cost of standard shipping?

Standard shipping is FREE in Canada. The U.S. and in all other countries shipping is $9.99.

How much is express shipping?

Express shipping in Canada and the U.S. is $14.99 and in all other countries it is $19.99.

Do you offer any sales or discounts?

Yes you can join my email list at www.jackiepartridge.com/shop. You will receive an automatic discount code to save 15% on your next purchase. If you do not receive an email right away after joining please check your junk mail! When you join my mailing list you will also learn about special sales and promotions for being a member. Usually I offer 1-2 sales per year with no more than a 20% off discount. 

What is your refund policy?

I do not offer refunds on digital products like ebooks or online courses due to the digital nature of them.  For all digital products (ebooks and courses) all sales are final and nonrefundable.

I offer refunds on physical products like artwork and hardcover books. I will happily provide a refund for a physical product if an artwork or book ships to you and comes damaged. Although this doesn’t happen often and I ensure I package my art securely - it can happen with any online order. If you receive something damaged just take a photo of how the artwork was received and email it to jackiepartridgeart@gmail.com I will respond in 1-2 business days and send you an e-transfer. 

Are taxes included in the price of products?

Yes taxes are built into the prices of all products for sale.

Can I apply watercolour paint or ink to your handmade paper?

      

No the paper is intended to be sold and displayed as is and has not been sealed to be able to have a liquid like a paint or ink applied. The handmade paper is not meant for painting, drawing or writing on.

Does your art come framed?

My art ships unframed allowing me to be able to offer free shipping in Canada and the U.S and allowing you to be able to select the best frame to suit your personal design style.

You can purchase the same or similar frames in your house or choose to invest and have it professionally framed. For my artwork I personally suggest simple frames like white or a light-toned natural wood since a lot of my art is softer, neutral and light coloured. To receive some helpful tips on framing art -check out this blog post I wrote! 

Do you offer private acrylic painting lessons or portfolio review?

I do offer online private art lessons or portfolio review. Click here to pay and we will discuss dates/times. You can see my prices here!

Do you plan on offering online courses in the future?

Yes, I am currently in the developing stages of creating online courses for acrylic painting. In the meantime you can look at my YouTube channel for acrylic painting. The best way to stay connected is to join my email list - sign up here! 

I am also working on a course for how to make an art portfolio application for school - join the wait list and get a FREE guide with 10 tips to make your portfolio stand out here!

Do you offer art commissions?

Yes I do offer commissions for acrylic painting or handmade paper art. I only accept a small number of commissions per year as it is a large time commitment. If you are interested in an art commission you can email me  jackiepartridgeart@gmail.com or read this blog post about art commissions and what you need to consider before we get started: click here to read!

I love your art! Where should I hang it?

Thank you first of all! This is a common problem -figuring out the perfect place to hang art that you love. I have written a helpful post about ideas of where you should hang your art. You can read the helpful tips here! 

Will you make a sequel to your book Patched?

I self-published my book Patched with the help of the Waterloo Arts Fund in 2018. I plan on creating a sequel to this book within the next 2-3 years. You can see more from this project by searching the hashtag #patchedproject on instagram! 

 Issues with order or further questions?

If you experience any issues making an order on my shop or you have further questions feel free to contact me: jackiepartridgeart@gmail.com. I will try to contact you within 1-2 business days. 

How can I stay connected and hear updates?

Click one of the social media icons below to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube or Instagram. Click the link icon to follow me on Teachers Pay Teachers. Make sure to join my mailing list at the bottom of the page to hear about art news, sales and receive a discount!

Thanks for your interest! - Take a look at the online shop here! - and don’t forget to sign up for my email list to save 15%