How to Make Construction Paper “Cool Cats” Using Cool Colors: An Elementary Art Lesson

Welcome to a vibrant and fun-filled elementary art lesson at the Artsy Fartsy Club, where creativity meets simplicity! Today, we're diving into a delightful construction paper project—creating “Cool Cats” using cool colors. This engaging activity is perfect for young artists eager to explore the calming shades of green, blue, and purple while honing their cutting and gluing skills.

Grab your art supplies, and let's transform simple construction paper into adorable artwork!

What You Need:

• Green, blue, and purple construction paper

• A black marker

• A pair of scissors

• A glue stick (or any other adhesive like Elmer's glue)

The Cool Colors

In our last session, we explored warm colors by creating “Hot Dogs” using red, orange, and yellow. Today, we focus on the cool spectrum of the color wheel, which includes green, blue, and purple (or violet). Remember, these colors are reminiscent of things like water, grass, and the sky, providing a calming effect, which is why we refer to them as “cool colors”.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Prepare Your Paper:

   • Start by selecting your construction paper in green, blue, or purple. We used 8x12".

   • Fold one piece of paper in half like a book to create a clean, sharp crease. This folding method ensures symmetrical cutting, which is important for our project.

2. Drawing the Cat:

   • With the paper folded, draw half a heart on the fold. This heart will form the face of your “Cool Cat”. Make sure the heart is wide to create a chubby, cute cat face.

   • Carefully cut along your drawn line, making sure to keep your scissors steady and cut away from your body for safety.

3. Creating the Muzzle:

   • Take a new piece of paper, fold it like a book, and draw a smaller wide heart, which will become the cat’s muzzle.

   • Cut out the smaller heart, and glue it upside down to the lower middle of the cat's face.

4. Creating the Ears:

   • Take a new piece of paper, fold it like a book twice, and draw a smaller heart, which will become the cat’s ears.

   • Cut out the smaller heart and remember, since the paper is folded twice, you’ll end up with two symmetrical ears.

5. Assembling the Cat:

   • Glue the ears, heart shape upside down, to the top of the heart-shaped face.

   • For each ear, also cut a smaller heart in a different cool color and glue it inside the ear to add depth and detail.

6. Adding Features:

   • Use the black marker to add features like eyes, a nose, whiskers, and a mouth. These details will bring your “Cool Cat” to life.

   • Feel free to personalize your cat’s features to reflect different expressions or characteristics.

Closing Thoughts on Construction Paper “Cool Cats” Using Cool Colors:

This project is not just about following steps; it’s about learning and experimenting with art. The act of creating something with your hands can be as soothing as meditation, benefiting both your emotional and mental health.

Remember, art is unique to each creator. Your “Cool Cat” might look different from others, and that’s what makes it special. I would love to see your finished art, so feel free to share it with me at artsyfartzyclub@gmail.com.

If you enjoyed making this cool-colored feline, don’t forget to check out our previous session on “Hot Dogs” to complete your collection of artful pets. And check out the blog for more fun projects!

Thank you for joining me in today’s elementary art lesson. Keep practicing, exploring different colors, and most importantly, have fun with your creations. Let's get art-tastic and see you next time at the Artsy Fartsy Club!