Do the Gelly Roll! (working on black paper)

I love this project! This project is a large size 'doodle' on black paper using metallic 'Gelly-Roll' markers (available at scrapbooking stores and Michaels). High quality black paper works the best with the roll markers. Black construction paper is too textured and is not acid free. I usually give an assignment as an ideas starter, for example, a pet or flower to start. The students are to 'doodle' in the background of the initial drawing, using repeating patterns and connecting objects. These markers have to be held at a 90 angle, and can be tricky for beginners. Sometimes we use light colored pencils and experiment with how the colors show up on the dark paper.  We talk about repeating designs and balance during this class.  Each student is required to show me their ideas on a scrap paper before they get a piece of black paper. The designs look best when most of the black paper is filled in and the colors are bold.