Artwork #4: Watercolor Painting

Overview

Goal

Students will explore the unique qualities of watercolor by learning fundamental techniques. The project consists of two parts: Part 1 requires students to create a series of three polaroid-style watercolor paintings, experimenting with different techniques and compositions. In Part 2, students will apply their skills to create a full-size watercolor painting that demonstrates an understanding of composition and color theory.

Materials

Surface: Watercolor Paper
Materials: Watercolor, Paintbrushes, Tape, Paintbrushes, Water buckets

Requirements:

Your project must incorporate a variety of watercolor techniques (at least 2) in each painting.
Your project must incorporate a foreground, middleground, and background.
Your project must be fully painted with no white areas.
Your project must be neat and clean.
You must complete your art portfolio and its requirements.

Watercolor Materials

You can find these painting materials in the labeled drawers and cabinets located at the back of the room.

Round Brush

Used to paint details

Flat Brush

Used to paint large open areas

Paint Palette

Dried pigment used for painting.

Sponge

Used to create texture

Tape

Used for hard edge technique and taping down paper to a board

Step 1: Watercolor Swatches

Step 2: Watercolor Mixing

Step 3: Practice Watercolor Techniques

You will practice with watercolor by completing all 6 of the following techniques.

On watercolor paper, draw 6 squares.
Label the squares with the technique.
Follow the directions below to apply the technique to your paper.

Example:

Flat Wash

aka Wet on Dry

Painting with one color on dry paper.

Paint the dried surface with any color as even and consistent as possible. Work on staying in the lines.

Wet on Wet

Painting on wet paper.

Quickly paint a small area on your paper with clean water.
Load your brush with color and apply the paint into the wet areas using a fluid motion or dab motion.

Drop Color

Dripping different colors of watercolor onto a wet surface.

Quickly paint a small area of your paper with clean water.
Load your brush so that it is dripping with color & drop the paint onto the wet surface.

Variegated Wash

Gradually blending 2 or more colors together

Quickly apply color to the left or top of the square.
Quickly, clean your brush and apply the other color next to first color.
Using a clean brush and paper towels (to wipe your brush in between strokes) blend the colors together in the middle by stroking back and forth until it is smooth.

Graded Wash

Using more and less water to change the value of the color.

Add a lot of color to your brush, quickly paint the top of the square.
Clean the brush, add clean water and drag the color down by stroking from left to right so that it creates a dark to light transition.

Sponge

Used to create texture

Dip the sponge into watercolor.
Dab it onto the surface of the paper.
Add a different color for a more layered effect.

*Too much water will not give you good results.

Step 4: Part 1- Polaroid Planning Form

Tape down your polaroid papers to a backboard with masking tape.
- Keep in mind the size of the polaroids and make sure the space at the bottom of your paper is larger than your sides.
- With pencil, lightly sketch your ideas.
- Work on 1 painting at a time.
- When finished and dry, untape them.

Step 5: Part 2- Choose a Subject for Full Size Painting

Explore the different subjects to find one that interests you.
Find a reference photo to use.

Step 6: Complete your Planning Form for Full Size Painting

DO NOT USE LEAD PENCILS OR B PENCILS!

Extra Resources/Videos

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