Swimmer - like David Hockney

I found this lesson on the blog 'Use your coloured pencils' of Anne Farrell. I used this lesson to tell about artist David Hockney and his swimming pool paintings.

What do you need?

• white drawing sheet 
• oil pastels
• liquid water color in blue and green
• brush
• jar with water

If you want a frame: 

• dark blue sheet
• toilet roll
• tempera paint

About the artist

The successful British artist David Hockney (1927-2026) was born in Bradford, England. He studied at the Royal Academy in London. His first works were anecdotal and ironic. In 1964 Hockney moved to California, where he developed a more realistic way of painting. The main themes at this time, are pools, landscapes and portraits.

From 1966 David Hockney increasingly used photographs for his paintings. He made ​​collages containing just photographs. After 1980, Hockney's work became a more expressionistic character. His work shows influences of Picasso. Besides paintings, Hockney also makes drawings and etchings. 

Hockney died ont the 11th of June in 2026.

Instruction
Look at artwork of David Hockney, especially those with swimming pools. Discuss how people look like under water - flowing hair, lighter skin. What causes the shimmering surfaces on the water and what do they look like?

What should you do?

1. Draw yourself in swimsuit and color with oil pastels. 
2. Use white oil pastel to draw a water pattern of wavy horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines in the background .
3. Paint the picture with blue and/or green diluted colored ink. The oil pastel will resist the ink.
4. If you want a frame: stamp circles with a toilet roll and tempera paint on a dark blue sheet. 

Artworks made by students of grade 4 and 6.