Because it is so much fun to pull out a blue or black piece of construction paper and make a space scene with chalk pastels, we share with you today a space shuttle liftoff chalk art tutorial! Once you make the billowing clouds of smoke and the blaze of rocket boosters with chalk – we think you will agree!
-Looking for a space shuttle liftoff chalk pastel video art lesson? Find Nana’s lesson in the Art in Space section of the You ARE an Artist Clubhouse!
So gather your space engineers and fellow artists and let’s get started.
Space Shuttle Liftoff Chalk Art
Supplies needed: blue construction paper. White, pink, yellow, black, red, blue, light blue, aqua blue and brown chalk pastel colors.
For this art tutorial, turn your blue construction paper vertically to give your space shuttle the best boost. You will start by adding the tower on the left hand side of your paper, leaving plenty of space for your space shuttle take off. This is just a simple outline sketch of the tower in brown. The smoke from the liftoff will mostly cover the tower so don’t be too concerned with details. Sketch the vertical steel bars then connect them with horizontal bars as well. Your tower will need a tall antenna on top too.
You will place your space shuttle to the right of the tower. Start with the same brown as your tower and sketch in the large external fuel tank. Drawing the external tank first will help you to sketch in your shuttle in the right proportion.
Use the white chalk pastel to draw your space shuttle and the solid rocket boosters ready for launch. Fill in the color and blend it with your finger, just slightly. Next add the distinctive black nose on your space shuttle. And outline the white, adding the black marks here and there that give it the space program look.
Now it is already time to start the countdown! With your white chalk pastel, add what looks like an M of smoke coming from the engines. Fill in this area with thick, white smoke. Next, take that white chalk pastel and make curly smoke all around, below your liftoff. You will blend this in in just a few minutes. But first…
Let’s add some fire power to the take off. Get your yellow chalk pastel and layer yellow over some white. The greatest force is right underneath your rocket. So that is where you will add the yellow, then orange and even a little red.
Now the billowing clouds of rocket exhaust on the right of your painting need a little blue and black. Add a touch to give that smoke some depth.
Then it is time to blend the colors in! Have fun with this part and spread your colors. It doesn’t matter if they overlap – that is actually the point! This powerful space shuttle liftoff happens quickly.
It looks like it a mostly clear day for liftoff. You might decide to add a few, wispy clouds in the sky like I did.
Just use your white chalk pastel to lightly add one or two.
Featuring You! You ARE an Artist!
Paint your Space shuttle liftoff art and be sure to share with us! Simply tag @chalkpastelart on Instagram, use the #YouAREanArtist hashtag, or upload a photo to the ChalkPastel.com Facebook page!
- A note on chalk pastels: Pastels are an easy, forgiving medium. Fun for children and adults alike! Details on the pastels and paper we use, how and where to purchase, and links to all of Nana’s other pastel lessons are here: Our Favorite Chalk Pastels
- The practical aspects of a mess: Pastels are blessedly messy. We always have baby wipes close by to wipe hands. We wear something we don’t mind getting stained or don a smock.
Join Nana in the You ARE an Artist Complete Clubhouse for all of Art in Space and over 590 video art lessons!
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