This is a pen and ink drawing of a white spruce (picea glauca) tree from my neighbourhood. It is an old one, taller than a four-storey building.
A good studio project that combines art and science is to try to draw a specific tree species, where the student researches details about their tree, such as:
- is the species native to the region?
- what to the needles/leave/cones/seeds look like?
- what does the bark look like?
- how old does it typically get?
- how tall does it typically get?
- what is the scientific name for the type of tree?
Then the class can do a gallery walk and learn about different kinds of trees and how to differentiate between them. After, if the project works out, this could make a great art show!
- Patrick
