Dandelion

These drawings were made after we read Plesna haljina žutog maslačka by Sunčana Škrinjarić. It is a story about a sad yellow dandelion that couldn't go to the most important annual dance organised by different flowers because he believed his dress wasn't pretty enough. But then, an old spider decided to help him and created the most beautiful white gown. The little dandelion was the happiest and most amazing flower that special night.

Interesting facts about dandelions:

• Dandelions have one of the longest flowering seasons of any plant.
• Seeds are often carried as many as 8 kilometres (5 miles) from their origin.
• They were known to ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, and have been used in Chinese traditional medicine for over a thousand years.

So, after we read the story and talked about these interesting facts, my kids, Einstein E and Power P, got busy with their dandelion art. 
Materials:
-    Book (optional)
-    Real dandelions (optional)
- Microscope (optional)
-    Black paper
-    White paint (we used acrylic)
-    Plate, foil, or lid for a little pool of paint
-    White chalk for stems
-    Different flowers and/or some evergreen branches  
-    Q-tips
-    Toilet paper roll
-    Scissors 

Step 1. 
We first read the story (it is in Croatian), described the pictures, talked about different flowers that went to the dance, and discussed the moral of the story.

Step 2. 

After reading the book, we went outside, found some white dandelions and took a few seed fluffs (the little individual fluffy bits that blow off the ball). Then, we observed them through a microscope to get a better idea of the gown described in the book.
Step 3.
Materials. Prepare everything you need for this little work of art. On our way back, we picked a few different flowers and branches to see if they would leave a print similar to a dandelion. The boys took out black papers, to get a nice contrast with the white colour of a dandelion, and some white paint.
Step 4.
“Painting”. Draw a few stems (or you can do it after the flowers have been done). 
-    For painting dandelions using flowers, all you have to do is put the flower in some white paint and start stamping it on the paper.                     

-    Q-tips also don't require any special preparation. Just bind a few of them together, dip in and start stamping.

-    For a paper roll dandelion, cut fringe at one end of the roll, dip it in a little pool of paint (which can be on a plate, foil, lid…) and start stamping. 

                           

Step 5.
Display. 

If you want to create some dandelion art, feel free to stop here. If you are interested in a dandelion`s life cycle and want to create more art, here are some of our ideas.