The northern lights (aurora borealis) are a breathtaking atmospheric phenomenon that people travel great distances to witness. The beautiful dancing lights have captivated people for millennia. In this art project, students will create their own version of the majestic lights using oil pastels.
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Materials:
– Two pieces of heavy black paper
– Oil pastels
– Glue stick
– White paint
– Toothpick
Step 1: Draw the Northern Lights
Draw squiggly lines across one piece of black paper. Then use two different colors, alternating dotted lines underneath the first squiggly lines.
Step 2: Smudge lines
Use your finger to lightly smudge the pastel lines upwards with a slight curve. If the colors are not bright enough, you can add more pastels and smudge again.
Step 3: Make mountains
To make the mountains, tear the second piece of black paper lengthwise creating jagged edges. This will become your snowy mountains.
Step 4: Make a glowing horizon
Using the torn piece of paper you just created to make your mountains, line it up with the bottom of your paper and trace along the edge with a pastel, then smudge it like in step 2.
Step 5: Make snowy mountains
Crumple up your torn mountain paper into a ball. Unfold the ball and run a white pastel over the creases.
Step 6: Glue mountains
Glue the mountains to the bottom of your page.
Step 7: Make stars
Use a toothpick and white paint to create stars in the night sky.
Take a look at another version using different colors!
Created by Andrea Minobe
