Not only is "apple" the first chapter in a traditional alphabet book, I believe it is possibly the first object of still life drawing to many children. People like drawing apples because they are cheap and handy. (and we can eat it when the drawing is finished. =p) Although I didn't have much talent in painting, I do remember myself drawing fruits as a child. I would always start with drawing an apple because it's easy to draw comparing to a banana or grapes, yet it requires more techniques than drawing an orange.
I found a few artwork on Artsonia, an online gallery where teachers upload their students' artwork. (You may click on the picture and see the same artwork of the whole class!
"Puffy apple"
by Kathryn (Pre-K), USA
The puffy apple was made with shaving cream, glue, and paint mixed together. It is then spread out by the child to the shape of an apple.
"Apple Mosaic"
by Luke (Grade 1), USA
"Woven Apple Baskets"
by Matty (Grade 2), USA
by Matty (Grade 2), USA
I believe these children must have enjoyed the process of making their apple apples! They all look delicious! Perhaps one day, they would become someone like Paul Cézanne (1839 - 1906), who became an expert in drawing apples.
Please click on the painting below - "Study of An Apple" by Cézanne to see his complete work.
For children, if they want to take a closer look at Cézanne's apples and know more about the painter, they may like the interactive site Cézanne's Astonishing Apple developed by the Metropolitan Museum. For younger children, they may enjoy the Cézanne's Apple Sing-along!
You may visit the MEET THE GREAT ARTISTS page to find out about other artists!
