Curriculum Guide

"This Is My Nature"

Gabe Brown
Sandy Litchfield
Timothy McDowell
Jackie Tileston
Laura Sharp Wilson

Lesson Plan One:

Pre-Visit Activity:

Take the students outside for a walk around the school or neighborhood specifically looking for botanical and other shapes in nature.  These could be as simple as the shape of a mountain or tree. They could also be as complex as the pattern of veins in a leaf or the top of a dandelion gone to seed. When you return, have them discuss the shapes of the objects they observed. Now, discuss where artists and graphic designers use these images in their work.  This could be in packaging (such as floral patterns on a tissue box) or in textiles, clothing, home décor, wrapping paper, gift cards and the like.   Have the children observe these things in their homes and bring examples into the classroom if possible to discuss.

Lesson Plan Two:

Post-Activity:

Abstract Landscape of Shapes

Supplies:
Watercolor paper or construction paper
Acrylics, watercolor or both
Brushes
Paper towels
Water Cups
Aprons or painting shirts
Pencils for sketching
Examples of designs from pre-activity

Steps:

1) Have the students begin by studying the design examples they found. Have them examine and choose shapes to incorporate in their abstract landscape.

 2) Begin by loosely painting an abstract backdrop on the paper.

 3) While this is drying, begin composing the artwork by sketching the chosen shapes and designs onto a second piece of paper. (Sketch lightly because ideas can change!)

4) Once objects are sketched, begin painting them onto the abstract backdrop they created. Take into consideration the idea of contrast by using colors that will show up on top of the colors on the bottom layer.

5) Let dry!

Vocabulary:

Landscape--A painting, photograph or other work of art which depicts scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers and forests. There is invariably some sky in the scene.
Botanical-- 1. Of plants and plant life.
                2. Of or connected with the science of botany.
                3. Of or belonging to a botanical species.

Encaustic-- The medium, technique or process of painting with molten wax (mostly beeswax), resin, and pigments that are fused after application into a continuous layer and fixed to a support with heat, and achieves a lustrous enamel appearance. The solvent for encaustic is also heat.

Pigment-- Finely powdered color material which produces the color of any medium. Made either from natural substances or synthetically, pigment becomes paint, ink, or dye when mixed with oil, water or another fluid (also called vehicle). When pressed into wax it becomes a crayon, pencil or chalk.