Design an Alabama Postage Stamp
Overview
This lesson will focus on Alabama's symbols as student's design their own state stamp.
Image Credit: Chris Hartsfield, Half-Full, 1991, Watercolor, 1993.3
- Standards
- Art Discussion
- Curriculum Content
- Art Instruction
- Terms
- Expand
- Resources
Essential Question
What symbols can be found for the state of Alabama that can be used in my own postage stamp design?
Student Learning Objectives
Students Will:
- Learn about the state of Alabama
- Identify the symbols of Alabama
- Design my unique postage stamp
Standards
Third Grade:
- Art: 1, 2, 4
- SS: 8
Fourth Grade:
- Art: 1, 3, 4
- SS: 4, 5
Fifth Grade:
- Art: 1, 3, 4, 5
- SS: 1, 3
Sixth Grade:
- Art: 2, 3, 5
- SS: 4
Discussion Prompts
- What is this a painting of?
- Do you live in Dothan, AL? Fill in the blank: Dothan, AL is the ________ Capitol of the World!
- Can you name any state symbols off the top of your head?
About the Artist
Chris Hartsfield is a self-trained watercolorist who works primarily with bright, clean colors to achieve a realistic style of painting. His technique produces a complicated yet detailed scene which reveals an understanding of depth and realism. He enjoys painting a variety of subjects, including still life, landscape, street scenes, and nautical scenes. His compositions are well balanced and flowing, keeping the observer’s eye engaged.
His realistic paintings utilize flat planes of color layered rather loosely to produce a sense of realism.
Since Hartsfield began his art career in 1988, he has had paintings accepted in national and regional watercolor competitions. Including The American Watercolor Society, The National Watercolor Society, Arts For The Parks, Georgia, Kentucky, and Oklahoma Watercolor Society shows. He has won numerous “Best of Show” and other awards in over 500 juried art shows. His paintings are bought by both private and corporate collectors.
Half-Full pays homage to a crop which is very familiar to Wiregrass residents – peanuts!
Below is a comprehensive list of Alabama state symbols, click on the images below for more information about each symbol.
Materials
9" x 12" white paper, pencil, eraser, ruler, colored pencils or any colorful mediumInstructions
Want to watch an instructional video? Click here to join one of our educator’s in designing a stamp!
On a while piece of paper draw a 1 inch border around the edge. Within this border draw half-circles mimicking the edges of a postage stamp. Once the edge is drawn, cut out the half-circles.
Study the look of a stamp. What words can be found on a stamp? What numbers? Determine what price your stamp should be and what words should be on it, i.e. Alabama, State of Alabama, Alabama State Symbols, etc.
Inside the large rectangle with a scalloped edge, students will choose at least 3 state symbols to draw alongside their chosen words and stamp price. Their drawing can overlap or exist in different corners of the paper. Encourage your students to draw light until they have it right! Erasing dark pencil lines does not always work.
Once students have the drawing of their stamp completed, they can now start coloring. It is encouraged to have color everywhere on the stamp except for the scalloped edge.
Finished Alabama state stamp
