Negative Space Watercolor Painting

Lesson Plan

Description

Students will brainstorm and create animal images as personal metaphors. They will emphasize the relationship between positive and negative space as they experiment with nontraditional watercolor painting techniques such as plastic wrap, salt, and paint blowing.

Level

Intermediate

Areas of Study

Watercolor Space Contrast Science Literacy

Collections

Watercolor and Everyday Life

Lesson Objectives

Students will brainstorm and sketch ideas for animals with characteristics that reflect the artist’s personality.

Students will experiment with nontraditional painting techniques in the negative spaces of their animal design.

Students will explore traditional painting techniques in the positive spaces of their animal design.

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Teaching Strategies

Facilitate a brainstorming activity focused on personified traits that animals and people share.
Review positive and negative space.
Demonstrate traditional watercolor techniques.
Introduce nontraditional watercolor techniques: salt, plastic wrap, and blowing.

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National Standards

Create

Demonstrate willingness to experiment, innovate, and take risks to pursue ideas, forms, and meanings that emerge in the process of art- making or designing.

VA:Cr2.1.8a

Demonstrate openness in trying new ideas, materials, methods, and approaches in making works of art and design.

VA:Cr2.1.6a

Demonstrate willingness to experiment, innovate, and take risks to pursue ideas, forms, and meanings that emerge in the process of artmaking or designing.

8.VA:Cr2.1

Demonstrate openness in trying new ideas, materials, methods, and approaches in making works of art and design.

6.VA:Cr2.1

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Time Requirements

Teacher Prep Time

15 minutes

Demonstration Time

15 minutes

Student Studio Time

1 hour and 15 minutes

Supplies and Materials

Sketchbook (with multimedia paper or similar)
Pencils
Erasers
Watercolor paints
Paintbrushes
Water cup
Salt
Plastic wrap
Paper straws
Black ink markers with a variety of nibs

National Standards

Create

Demonstrate willingness to experiment, innovate, and take risks to pursue ideas, forms, and meanings that emerge in the process of art- making or designing.

VA:Cr2.1.8a

Demonstrate openness in trying new ideas, materials, methods, and approaches in making works of art and design.

VA:Cr2.1.6a

Demonstrate willingness to experiment, innovate, and take risks to pursue ideas, forms, and meanings that emerge in the process of artmaking or designing.

8.VA:Cr2.1

Demonstrate openness in trying new ideas, materials, methods, and approaches in making works of art and design.

6.VA:Cr2.1

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Steps

Brainstorm and Sketch

Brainstorm and sketch an animal that shares a significant personality trait with you. (Sly as a snake, memory of an elephant, prepared as an ant, loyal as a dog, busy as a bee, etc.)

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