Artist Mouse Art Lesson Watercolor Painting BTS Art Project Directed Drawing

This Artist Mouse Art Lesson is a directed drawing and watercolor painting project for teachers, art teachers and homeschoolers. Students draw a mouse holding an oversized paintbrush in front of a bright splash of paint, then outline, shade with hatching, add pencil crayon details and paint the background.

The project combines drawing, illustration, line work and color, so it fits elementary art, middle school art and homeschool art at any point in the year. Use it as an animal art lesson, an illustration or mixed media lesson, an Inktober-style drawing lesson, a creative thinking unit or a guided sub plan.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE PDF)

• 1 Cover Page
• 1 Teacher Prep and How to Use Page explaining how to project the PDF, gather materials, photocopy pages and use the poster sample as a visual hook
• 2 Lesson Plan Pages with learning outcomes, lesson overview, materials, big ideas, competencies, Socratic questions and teacher/student action guidance
• 1 Art Rubric for execution, creativity, evidence of process and responsibility
• 1 Finished Example Page showing the completed mouse artwork
• 1 Step-By-Step Draw: Mouse Painting Handout, a condensed visual reference for sketching
• 30 Step-By-Step Tutorial Pages with visual and written directions

WHAT STUDENTS LEARN

The tutorial walks students through lightly sketching the mouse, adding ears, paws, tail and face, drawing the paintbrush and paint splatter, tracing in black marker or fine liner, erasing pencil lines, shading with hatching, adding texture, coloring details with pencil crayon, and painting the splash and ground with watercolor, tempera cakes or watered-down tempera.

Along the way students practice illustration, directed drawing, line, shape, space, texture, color, form, value, creative thinking, craftsmanship, fine motor skills and following visual directions.

Materials: pencil, eraser, black marker or fine liner, pencil crayons, cardstock or watercolor paper, and watercolor paint, tempera paint cakes or watered-down tempera paint.

FAQ

Who can use this resource?

Teachers, art teachers and homeschoolers, including classroom teachers who teach art and want a guided drawing and painting lesson.

Is it only for back to school?

No. It works as an animal art, illustration, watercolor or directed drawing lesson any time of year, and it can also fit Inktober or creative thinking themes.

Is it editable?

No. It is non-editable.

What can students use for the painting?

Watercolor paint, tempera paint cakes or watered-down tempera paint, so it fits different classroom and homeschool setups.

How long will it take?

Usually 2 to 3 classes, depending on student age, class time, detail level and how long students spend on hatching and painting.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen McGiveron (Ms Artastic) is an artist and educator whose work has been featured on NBC LX News and in OCO Magazine, as the featured educator on the cover of the October 2025 edition. She designs art lessons for kids and educational resources for teachers, and hosts the Ms Artastic YouTube Channel and Podcast.

TERMS OF USE

This resource is for single educator use only.

YOU MAY: use it with your own students. Please purchase additional licenses if more than one teacher will be using it.

YOU MAY NOT: share, copy, upload, post online, distribute or resell it in any form.

Sincerely,

Ms Artastic