Shaggy Cows and Scottish Views: A Mixed Media Highland Cow Art Lesson
There are a lot of things to love about Scotland: bagpipes, castles, landscapes that make you want to narrate your life in a dramatic voice… and Highland cows. THE COWS. You know the ones. All shaggy bangs, majestic horns, and enough attitude to inspire an entire art project.
This lesson came straight from the windswept hills of Scotland by way of my wonderful friend and phenomenal educator, Michelle Simmons. While visiting Loch Ness (yes, the actual Loch Ness), Michelle met the kindest crofter and snapped a photo of a Highland cow looking like it was ready to drop its own folk album. It was the perfect spark for not one but TWO art projects.
We created two versions of the project based on that same photo—one geared for early elementary and another for upper elementary. Both were hits, and both gave kids a chance to get up close and personal with this gloriously fluffy beast.
Inspired by the hills of Scotland, students build their own Highland cows using simple shapes and playful layers.
Project 1: Shaggy Highland Cow Collage (Early Elementary)
This version is all about shape, color, and playful layering. Students used basic shapes to build their cow and created background interest with crayon scribbles and bright cut paper.
Materials Used:
● Construction paper (brown or neutral as base)
● Oil pastels or crayons
● Pre-cut or student-cut paper shapes
● Glue sticks
This cheerful piece shows off crayon scribbles, colorful layers, and shaggy cow charm.
Focus Concepts:
● Shape recognition
● Color blocking
● Line and texture with crayons
We emphasized the cow's long bangs and made sure every student felt confident in building their cow using just a few simple shapes.
Project 2: Mixed Media Highland Cow Painting (Upper Elementary)
Older students focus on detail and texture in this expressive mixed media lesson.
Older students dove deeper into observation and mixed media layering. They used the same Highland cow photo as inspiration but added more painterly details, collaged backgrounds, and textured materials like book pages and tissue paper.
Materials Used:
● Tempera or acrylic paint
● Crayons or oil pastels for added texture
● Torn paper (newspaper, old book pages, tissue)
● Glue sticks or Mod Podge
Focus Concepts:
● Texture and layering
● Observational drawing
● Mixed media techniques
We zoomed in on the cow's features and talked about how to capture expression, contrast, and visual texture using overlapping media.
Why We Loved Doing Both
Both versions of the project celebrate the same inspiration through different techniques and age levels.
These projects let younger and older students experience the same inspiration at their own level. It built community across grade levels and gave everyone the chance to say, "Yep, I painted a shaggy Scottish cow and it was glorious."
Extensions & Adaptations:
● For Homeschool: Adapt either version with what you have on hand. Even crayon and paper bags can do the trick!
● Writing Connection: Ask kids to write about their cow's personality or what it might be thinking.
● Display Idea: Create a gallery wall with both versions for an instant dose of texture and charm.
Want to go deeper into easy animal portrait projects? Check out my full blog post on How to Draw Simple Cows with Oil Pastels inspired by Mississippi artist Garrett May. It’s packed with tips, materials, and even a baby oil blending hack your students will love!
And big thanks again to Michelle Simmons for the photo and the inspiration. Who knew one cow could launch so much creativity?
Tags: cows, Scotland, Highland cows, mixed media, texture, collage, elementary art, art and geography, art inspiration, early elementary art, upper elementary art
One shaggy Scottish cow sparked a wave of creativity that inspired artists of all ages to explore texture and expression.
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Get to know Amanda Koonlaba!
Hi! I’m Amanda. Teaching children to be creative thinkers is my greatest joy. I’m here to help you bring that same joy to your classroom.
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