5-12 Tues. 5/05

Project Title:
Abstract Express Triptych

Materials:
-White Project Paper (3 big pieces of paper!... or more)
-Painting Supplies (acrylics or watercolors, paintbrushes, water, paper towels, etc.)
OR
-Drawing Supplies (colored pencils, markers, crayons, or pastels)

Online Resources:

-Sotheby’s: Joan Mitchell Paintings, Biography

-Living Your Wild Creativity: Joan Mitchell

Google Images:

-Joan Mitchell Diptych Paintings

Lesson Inspiration Step-By-Step Video Guidance:

-Video Lesson Guidance

YouTube:

-Joan Mitchell Brief Bio for Kids

-What is Abstract Expressionism?

-Abstract Expressionism

Steps:
Have fun! Enjoy this! Explore Your Creativity! Relax! **Be sure to follow along with the step-by-step YouTube video inspiration and/or the written out lessons. **And don’t forget to check out all of the Online Resources to help with inspiration!

  1. Read and Research Artist.
    Look through all online source materials for project inspiration. You want to know who Joan Mitchell was and the powerful impact she made on Abstract Expressionism in Modern Art.

  2. Pick 3 Pieces of Paper.
    Choose your pieces of project paper. You want at least 3 pieces of paper You may use more than three pieces of paper if you would like (that would be called a multi-panel)! When using two surfaces for one artwork, this is called a “diptych.” When using three surfaces for one artwork, this is called a “triptych,” which is what you are making! The papers can be the same color or different.

  3. Lay Out Paper.
    Lay the project papers next to each other so that they are touching, like an open book. They can be horizontal or vertical, but they must be touching. Refer to the video lesson guidance!

  4. 1st Color.
    This can be a painting or a drawing-whichever you prefer. Choose a color. Add blotches or marks of that color in various spots across all of your project papers. You can have this color overlap between the pages. This does not have to look like anything real- This is Abstract Expressionism!

  5. 2nd and 3rd Colors.
    Repeat that process with a 2nd and 3rd color. Get creative and wild with your marks across the papers!

  6. 4th and 5th Colors.
    Repeat that color and mark-making process with a 4th and 5th color.

  7. Details.
    Add little detail marks on the papers. You can use the same 5 colors you have used already, or use new colors. You want to fill the space of your diptych making the background project papers disappear from your color!