Blended Candles


Minnesota K-3 Visual Art Standards Used in This Lesson:

  • 1. Identify the elements of visual art including Color, line, shape, Form, Value, texture and space.

  • 2. Identify the tools, materials and techniques from a variety of two- and three-dimensional media such as drawing, printmaking, ceramics or sculpture.

  • 3. Identify the characteristics of visual artworks from a variety of cultures including the contributions of Minnesota American Indian tribes and communities.

  • 4. Create original two- and three- dimensional artworks to express ideas, experiences or stories.

  • 5. Share and describe a personal artwork and reflect on a presentation based on the feedback of others.

  • 6. Compare and contrast the characteristics of a variety of works of visual art.

    • Additional Tie-ins

  • Christmas or other candle lighting holidays like Birthdays

    • Students are walked through how to draw a melted candle, how to paint purple or pink on it, and how to blend white into it.

    After drawing the candle, the students paint it a solid color. When everyone has a solid candle shape the melted side is painted over again with wet color to ensure a good blend can happen with the white.

    Next the teacher demonstrates how to clean the brush completely, pick up white with it and draw a line on the melted side of the candle. Every time students want more white they need to clean out the brush and drag it across the paper towel to make sure there's no color left in it. Then they can get more white on the brush and continue painting. The white is blended into the color with vertical strokes.

    When the candle is blended, it looks 3-D and the drips can be added to the top. After the candle is dry, students use chalk pastel to make a glow at the top after which glue is added in the shape of an oval or flame to which glitter is added.