de Youngsters Studio: Memory Book Inspired by Jennifer Bartlett’s “Four Seasons”

By Jennie Smith, senior teaching artist

January 5, 2021

three artworks, including avocado on toast, leaves with a 2021 label, and grass

Make an illustrated book to capture moments of your life, inspired by Jennifer Bartlett’s Four Seasons (1990–1993). As we begin a new year, let’s draw the markers of time that we observe throughout the day or over the course of a week. We will make a special book to house the collection of drawings!

Materials

  • A rectangular sheet of paper or a paper bag
  • Ruler
  • Scissors
  • Thin cardboard, such as from a cereal box
  • Pencil
  • Thin paper of your choice, such as rice paper or newspaper
  • Gluestick
  • Drawing/painting tools of your choice, such as colored pencils, watercolors, or drawing pencils

Questions to Consider

  • Are you going to capture a day of your life or an entire week?
  • What moments will you capture? What things will you draw to share those moments?
  • Maybe you went on a fun day trip one day and want to draw your family car or the bus you took. You could draw something wonderful you saw out your window! Maybe you had the most delicious lunch and want to remember it—draw it and you will!

Steps

1. Make the book, following the instructions in the video.

2. Create your drawings! Remember, you can complete all your drawings in a day or make one drawing for each day the week.

Reflect  

  • Do you remember what time of day you made each drawing? 
  • Does looking at the drawings bring up a particular memory from the day/week? 
  • Did certain drawings capture specific emotions? 
  • What did you enjoy drawing most? 
  • How was the process similar to writing in a journal? 

Share

After you have completed your day’s or week’s drawings, take a look at your illustrated book of memories with a loved one. Use the reflection questions as a way of talking about your drawings.

We would love to see what you create! Email pictures of your artwork to families@famsf.org or tag us on any social media platform with #deyoungsters.

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