Our Computer Art class makes personalized books for children in the community. It's a sort of "service project" that helps get our art out into the public. It also helps students learn to use an art app they might need to use in real world situations -- Windows Paint.

The book illustration directions are for Windows Paint. Most of my students aren't going into art as a career. They still might need to make graphics for a Word document or a Power Point presentation, for college or for a job. In most cases, Windows Paint will be a more realistic, practical choice for them. Students who plan to go into art as a career are welcome to do the project in Adobe or a similar professional art app if available. However, most of my students don't have access to those high-end art apps outside of school. If they fall behind on the project, they can use Windows Paint at home, at a friend's house, or at the library. The basic principles of combining lines, shapes, colors, and textures to create digital art are the same whether using Windows Paint or a high-end professional program.

The directions below are in .pdf format. If they won't open on your computer, you need to download and install a free .pdf viewer (like Adobe Reader).

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Windows Paint Warm-Ups

Introduction to Windows Paint: Name Design
A textured reflected name design to familiarize students with various drawing, painting and editing tools.

Tessellation
A whimsical pattern that gives students more opportunity to work with various tools.

Underwater Landscape
This is more of a warm-up for doing book illustrations.Students draw and make various textures by using various tools.

Children's Book Illustration

Children's Book Illustrations
Thoughtfully looking at children's book illustrations, including some compare and contrast.

Optical Design
Students use lines, shapes and children's favorite colors with Paint tools to create checkered designs.

One-Point Perspective Name for Child's Book Cover
This is to begin work on the covers for the children's books. Students draw children's names in one-point perspective.

Draw Cartoon Animal, Part 1
The students draw the children's favorite animals as part of their books.

Draw Cartoon Animal, Part 2
Details are added to the cartoon animals to anchor them on their pages.

Draw Child's Favorite Food
The students draw the children's favorite foods as part of their books.

Cartoon Faces for Child's Book
The students create portraits of the children and the people they live with.

Book's Front Cover and End Page
The students design book covers that incorporate the childrens' names in one-point-perspective. They also create fun and pleasant end pages for the book.

Book Text
This is to compose and print the narrative text for each page of the book.

Book First Draft in B&W
Students print the book illustrations in black & white. They check the pictures for fix-ups, get feedback, and reprint the fixed pages.

Assemble Book Part 1
Students do the final printing of the book illustrations in color.

Assemble Book Part 2
The pages of the books are prepared for lamination and binding.

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