Animal Studies - 4th Grade

Design of a lesson plan booklet at a Waldorf school in the 4th grade. Design: Andrea Reiß

The finished period booklet illustration of a squid

Step 1

The first step is to create a template: On a piece of sturdy paper, we draw the outline of a squid – with a round head and curved tentacles. Then we carefully cut out the shape with a craft knife or small scissors. This creates a negative mold into which Seccorell will later be applied.

Step 2

Now we place the cut-out stencil in the center of a blank page in the period booklet. We carefully rub some red Seccorell paint powder onto the rubbing block and loosely brush it into the cut-out areas of the stencil. Then we gently rub the powder in with our finger – this creates the shape of the octopus with soft color gradients. If we work the paint in thoroughly, the surface will become smudge-proof and acquire a velvety sheen.

Step 3

Once the octopus is completely finished, we carefully lift off the stencil. Using a soft cotton pad, we then wipe off any excess color powder onto a separate sheet of scrap paper and rub it in to prevent any powder from flying around.

Step 4

With the eraser stick, once the paint is smudge-proof, we can selectively lighten individual areas. In this case, we'll reveal the squid's eye. To do this, we carefully erase a small oval area in the shape of the head. Highlights on the tentacles can also be added in this way.

Step 5

Rubbing the colored sticks at an angle against the rubbing block creates a sharp edge – ideal for drawing details and contours. We can use this technique to further refine the octopus's eye.

Step 6

For the suction cups, we mix a bright orange on a separate sheet of paper – for this we use some light red and golden yellow Seccorell powder. Using a cotton swab, we apply small, round dots of this mixture to the tentacles.

Step 7

Now we'll create the water and the underwater world. Since we want to work exclusively with the primary colors red, blue, and yellow, we'll mix various shades of green from blue and yellow, which we'll use for aquatic plants. For darker areas like rocks or shadows, we'll add a little red. The colored powder is then roughly distributed in the desired areas.

Step 8

The previously distributed colored powder is now gently rubbed into the painting surface using fingers or a cotton pad. This creates soft transitions, and the shapes of aquatic plants, stones, and water movement become visible. Different pressure and directions used while rubbing can be used to create texture and depth.

Step 9

Finally, we use a cotton pad to remove excess paint powder from the picture. This gently works the paint into the paper, making the surfaces more even, softer, and more durable.

Step 10

The result is a vivid image of an octopus – embedded in a colorful, dynamic underwater landscape.