Majestic Eagles

---

🦅 Bald Eagles – North America (Art Around the World Series)

Growing up in Alaska, I was always filled with awe any time I saw a Bald Eagle. These majestic, feathered creatures seemed almost mythical—soaring silently above the trees or perched high on a branch, completely unbothered and regal. I remember that quiet wonder so clearly.

Since those days, Bald Eagles have thankfully been removed from the endangered species list, and every now and then, you can still catch a glimpse of one—if you’re paying attention. So when our Art Around the World series brought us to North America, I knew there was no better subject to represent this region than the iconic Bald Eagle, especially since it’s also our national bird.

We approached the project differently based on grade level:

🖍️ For our younger artists:

We created beautiful ripped paper collages layered over blue backgrounds. Students began by studying eagle photographs and illustrations, paying attention to the shape of the beak, wings, and feathers. We used oil pastels on white and brown paper before tearing it, which added depth and texture to the collage pieces.

We talked about how feathers lay in a single direction, how they overlap, and how light hits them—little things that help young artists really start to see like artists. It was a fun, hands-on project that brought together color, texture, and shape recognition in a way that felt playful and approachable. And those bright blue skies with soaring eagles? Stunning.

✏️ For our older students:

We shifted to observational drawing, using close-up reference images of eagles to study details—from the curve of a beak to the sharpness of talons to the layered textures in the feathers. Students each picked one focal point, and we mounted their finished pieces together as a series of four close-up views. The result felt dramatic and powerful—each drawing capturing something different about this incredible bird.

As always, I printed a wide variety of reference images and pulled in digital resources so students could zoom in and explore the bird’s anatomy. We also shared fun facts about Bald Eagles throughout the lesson—it’s always amazing how much more engaged students become when they connect the science, history, and symbolism behind the art.

---

💡 Why it works: This project combines observation, symbolism, technique, and creativity all in one. It meets students where they are—giving littles a bold, tactile way to explore form and texture, while older students dig into refinement and realism. It ties in beautifully with science and geography lessons on North American wildlife, and it sparks great discussion on endangered species, conservation, and cultural symbolism too.

Whether it’s the power of the image or the thrill of capturing something so iconic, Bald Eagles always inspire thoughtful work—and these pieces make for a stunning display.

©HOPECREEKSTUDIOS2025