In the spring of 2012, amidst the blooming of flowers and the gentle sway of southern breeze, I found myself in the company of an extraordinary artist and friend, Garrett May.

As we discussed the inspiration behind his whimsical cow paintings, I was struck by the fusion of creativity and simplicity that defined his work. Little did I know that this encounter would lead me on a journey to introduce my students to the joy of drawing simple cows with a how to draw cows lesson that would become a staple in my art class!

Garrett May is an interesting individual. I promise - I’ll tell you about how this all leads to drawing simple cows! Just keep reading, just keep reading (she sings in her best Dory-voice…)!

Garrett, with his towering stature and deep southern drawl, was a stark contrast to the conventional image of an artist. Yet, his passion for art and his roots in the rural landscapes of Mississippi infused his work with a charm that captivated all who beheld it. The more I studied his works, the more I came to appreciate my friend's talent.

I knew my students would appreciate learning about and from this artist who lived in the same state as them. We were also pretty young at the time (fresh out of college at Mississippi State University) so it made it easy for me to help them see that anyone really could be an artist!

3 Reasons to Use Garret May's Work As Inspiration for Drawing Cows with Oil Pastels

I had an epiphany about using Garrett May to teach a lesson on easy drawings of cows to my students. I really wanted them to understand that artists are everywhere and that anyone can be an artist, but I wanted to help them make their cows drawing cute at the same time.

Then, it hit me! There are some fundamental things they need to know that this lesson could help teach:

1. You Need to Know That Anyone Can Be An Artist

I realized that using Garrett's artwork as a teaching tool could bridge the gap between my students' perceptions of artists and the reality of artistic expression. Rather than viewing artists as distant figures, I wanted my students to see them as everyday individuals whose creativity knows no bounds.

Thus, I embarked on a journey to incorporate Garrett's vibrant cow paintings into my curriculum, sparking curiosity and igniting imagination in my young learners.

2. The Big Difference You Need to Know Between Oil And Acrylic

I could teach them the difference between oil paint and acrylic paint with this lesson. These two types of paint sometimes look very similar on canvas, but they have very different qualities that matter to the process. Since I knew Garrett worked with both acrylic paint and oil paint, I could show them the two by doing a demonstration. We could talk about what the oil in the paint meant.

However, I knew I didn’t want to let them use oil paints on their own work. So, I substituted oil pastels instead. I also had them use baby oil to smear the oil pastel, making it look and feel a lot more like oil paint.

3. Teach the Elements of Visual Art in a Meaningful Way

Incorporating the elements of visual art into this lesson enriches students' understanding and appreciation of artistic techniques. As they engage in drawing and tracing lines to outline their cows, they not only develop proficiency in line as one of the elements of visual art but also explore the varied effects that different line qualities can evoke.

Additionally, the use of white school glue to outline the cows offers a tactile experience that introduces students to the concept of texture as one of the elements of visual art. Through experimentation with blending techniques and the application of baby oil, students further delve into texture creation, observing how the surface of their artwork transforms and evolves with each stroke.

By integrating these elements seamlessly into the lesson, students not only hone their artistic skills but also cultivate a deeper connection to the expressive possibilities of visual art.

3 Steps to This Easy Drawings of Cows Lesson

Here’s what we did:

1. Students viewed examples of Garrett May's artwork and worked in groups to brainstorm questions for him to answer. He was kind enough to select a sampling of questions and record a video interview for the students to watch. This was like bringing him into the classroom. For future references, if you can’t get a guest to visit your actual classroom, see if they would be willing to pre-record a video for your students to watch. Through group discussions and video interviews with Garrett himself, my students discovered the stories behind the art, gaining insight into the creative process and the artist's unique perspective. It was as if Garrett had stepped into our classroom, sharing his passion for art and inspiring the next generation of creators.

2. Gather materials. Here’s the materials list of the exact items we used to create these:

3. Draw the cows onto construction paper with a pencil. Then, trace the lines with glue. Once the glue dries, use the oil pastels to add color. Finally, use a small amount of baby oil to smear and blend the oil pastels.

How to Draw Cows with Oil Pastels Art Project : Final Thoughts

Ready to draw simple cows with your elementary art students? Doing a project like this is a great way to incorporate different textures to create art and show what happens when you combine different substances. In this case, using the baby oil to help with the smearing process also creates an oil paint look.

Then, they drew their own simple cows and outlined them with white school glue. Next, the students used oil pastels to add color. They used baby oil to help ease the smearing process. It also made the work look more like it was made with oil paints than oil pastels. Garrett May is from Brookhaven, MS. So, we added that to our art around the world map.

If you want more inspiration for drawing simple cows, check out this Cow Skull Project inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe. It includes 24 pages of items to get your students drawing simple cows, and even doing some literacy work! They will use a game sheet to draft their art, compare their image to Georgia O'Keeffe’s, and reflect on the drawing process. It’s a really well-rounded lesson with lots of depth and extended learning opportunities.

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