Style
Each lesson Plan focuses primarily on one of the 4 Cornerstones of Art:
Drawing | Painting | Color | Style
OVERVIEW
Students have a day to finish up any work in progress, and of Artists’ Choice, but learn the 7 steps to making art in doing so. A structured approach to creativity allows for freedom of expression and choice of subject without floundering through a lot of false starts and frustration.– – –
Grades 3 – 12
Week of May 12 – 16
1 Hour & 45 Minutes
Lesson At A Glance
Here’s a brief overview of the complete lesson. It’s also on your prep page in the Ready, Set, Go! section (below the lesson).
Colored buttons jump to each section in the full lesson plan below.
15 Minutes – Sketch figures from photos
5 Min – Go over handout
10 Min – Pinterest display
7 Min – Find it quickly
15 Min – Several sketches
5 Min – For chosen media
10 Min – Light lines
35 Min – Create
2 Min – Everyone helps
Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.
SCROLL & TEACH
LESSONPLAN
Each section is a different color. Read over once and then you can SCROLL & TEACH using any device you like. It’s designed to work well with your phone.
LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to set up their work area for painting with acrylics.
M A T E R I A L S
- 14″ x 17″ Sketch Paper
- 4B pencil Or Ebony
- Compressed Charcoal
- White erasers
- Kneaded erasers
- Cheasel
All materials are suggestions and may be modified as you see fit. We have tried many items, and these seem to allow the most versatility for the cost.
1.1 Print
Reference
People Photos
Cut images apart and print enough for each student to choose from several.
2 Pages – Opens in new window
1.2 choose
Students select a photo they want to start with.
Have photo references cut out, and ready for students to choose. They can exchange photos for different sketches.
1.3 sketch
Students sketch from references.
Let them sketch in any way they like, but encourage several quick sketches rather than one detailed one.
Using charcoal is the best way to work for quick sketching, but some students prefer pencil. use a large soft lead, such as a 4B or Ebony.
Advanced Student Lesson
CREATIONS - tap here to open
Our Creations lessons are for students who have completed the two years of Foundations and are ready to begin using all that they have learned to create new work. These more challenging versions of the same concepts and techniques are easily taught along-side students in the Foundations course. This allows for excellent review, and is encouraging for students to see progress from each viewpoint.
Use the Student Instructions printout below to distribute to your Creations students. Tap the image to open the PDF in a new window.
Abstract Painting
Overview: Students will create a background using colors they choose, and then create an abstract line painting using photographic reference as their source.
Use a canvas board, a sheet of taped canvas, or a stretched canvas if available.
Step 1. (15 minutes) Set up for painting in acrylic, and cover the canvas with a thin coat of any colors of your choosing. Brilliant colors work well. Colors may be mixed with water instead of white, for a glaze effect, or white can be mixed in for opacity – colors that look more solid. Set aside to dry.
Step 2. (20 min) Choose a reference source from any book or use the provided PDF photographs below. Use a pencil and sketchpad to create an abstract line drawing based on the photo. You should try to make it different enough so that it’s hard to recognize the subject.
Step 3. (5) Write down some ideas for how color will be used as line and filling in areas. The original underpainting may be covered a lot, or it may show through and be an important element in the painting.
Note: colorful lines and pattern can add a lot of visual interest to this painting.
Step 4. Resume painting, using a variety of Brushes for different effects. Clean edges and lines are much easier to create when the paint is a very fluid.
Tap images to open Creations Student Instructions and Reference Materials in new windows
Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.
LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to break down artwork creation into easier steps.
M A T E R I A L S
- PDF printout
All materials are suggestions and may be modified as you see fit. We have tried many items, and these seem to allow the most versatility for the cost.
2.1 Print
Reference
7 Steps to Make Art
Print enough so every student can have one to use or to keep.
1 Page – Opens in new window
2.2 Teach
Read through each of the steps in the handout.
Encourage questions and discussion if you have time.
Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.
LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to get inspiration from other artists work.
M A T E R I A L S
All materials are suggestions and may be modified as you see fit. We have tried many items, and these seem to allow the most versatility for the cost.
3.1 Display
Use a large classroom display to show artworks.
Pinterest Gallery – Artwork for Inspiration
Tap the icon to the left to open our special Pinboard showing examples of artwork to display to your class. See our Article for making Pinterest work on larger displays. You can also use a laptop or large tablet and gather everyone around like you’re using a book.
3.2 Discuss
Students see a variety of artwork & discover what they like.
As you go through these photos, talk to students about which art inspires them. Everyone has different inspiration, so it’s ok if they don’t like the same things as their neighbor.
“Inspiration comes from anywhere, but when you aren’t feeling it, the best thing to do is look at other people’s artwork. Even art you don’t like can spark an idea. Look at different artists’ techniques too.
Use your imagination. This is what you have it for.”
Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.
LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to find reference & make decisions.
M A T E R I A L S
- PDF prints of people from Step 1
- Magazines (be cautious with content)
- Books
All materials are suggestions and may be modified as you see fit. We have tried many items, and these seem to allow the most versatility for the cost.
Brushes should be nylon for springiness and durability. Round brushes are the most versatile.
4.1 Life
Students find objects to draw.
Use a still life library if you have one, or just bring some fun things for the class, such as flowers, vases, stuffed animals, etc.
4.2 Images
Students pick from your reference library.
They can use a print from earlier, or find another source. Try to have a wide array of things to choose from, but not too many actual images or books. In fact, you should tell everyone they have a 5-minute time limit. Otherwise students will get lost in the search
4.3 WEb
Students can request pictures from the internet.
We only let the teacher use the web, or if your older students have their own devices and you have wifi with security features you can allow at your own discretion. It’s great to have a printer handy, or small stands to hold phone.
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to distinguish between thumbnails, gestures, and studies.
M A T E R I A L S
- Reference photo on stand
- 2B and 4B pencil
- Kneaded eraser
- Sketchbook
All materials are suggestions and may be modified as you see fit. We have tried many items, and these seem to allow the most versatility for the cost.
5.1 Teach
Students observe as you talk about 3 types of sketches. You can demonstrate as you speak.
- Thumbnails – Tiny sketches without details. For composition.
- Gesture and rough sketches – Quick but accurate sketches that help students learn a subject. These can be thrown away afterward.
- Study Sketches – longer studies to establish details.
5.2 Review
Remind students that practice is not art.
“When you make a practice work, the paper is not made into artwork. Some people have a hard time with that. It comes from the idea that everything you do is supposed to be art, but that’s not true. That would be like having a piano player’s scales made into a recording and put up on Spotify. No one wants to hear someone practice their scales”
5.2 Inspire
Students know practicing is important.
You need to explain that practice work is for getting the inaccurate work out of your system. Instead of erasing and fussing over the final art. Do practices and then you don’t have to erase so much.
Students will still feel inadequate sometimes. Remind them that if they don’t like their work, that is proof that they have the high standards needed to be an artist. If it drives them to go forward they will become better and more accurate.
Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.
LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to set up their work area for painting with acrylics.
M A T E R I A L S
- Reference
- Water tubs
- Brushes
- Palette or plate
- Acrylic paints
- Smocks
- Paper towels
- Pen and ink
- Oil pastels
- Blender sticks
All materials are suggestions and may be modified as you see fit. We have tried many items, and these seem to allow the most versatility for the cost.
Brushes should be nylon for springiness and durability. Round brushes are the most versatile.
Paint pigment list:
- Napthol or Pyrrol Red
- Hansa or Light Yellow
- Pthalo Green (blue shade)
- Cyan or Cerulean Blue
- Ultramarine Blue
- Dioxazine Purple
- Magenta
- Burnt Umber
- Raw Sienna
- Titanium White (professional grade only)
6.1 Setup
Students set up their work area.
Ask several people to go get water tubs filled, and others to find smocks. That way you have two or three groups in different areas so you don’t get backed up with lines.
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to draw guidelines before creating artwork.
M A T E R I A L S
- Graphite pencils for work on paper
- A dark gray colored pencil for work on canvas
All materials are suggestions and may be modified as you see fit. We have tried many items, and these seem to allow the most versatility for the cost
7.1 Draw
Students draw very light lines on selected surface.
This is not the artwork. It is like a pretend drawing that you are going to trace over with the real art.
7.2 Examine
Students should stop and look at the drawing.
Work is seldom drawn accurately the first time. Look for size relationships (proportions), and how things line up with other things (alignments). What is not in the right place?
7.3 Change
Students change what they want to.
If guidelines are drawn lightly, you can erase and change them until you are satisfied. Then the artwork will be much easier!
Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.
LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to be expressive & apply what they’ve learned.
M A T E R I A L S
- Reference
- Water tubs
- Brushes
- Palette or plate
- Acrylic paints
- Smocks
- Paper towels
- Pen & ink
- Oil pastels
- Blender sticks
All materials are suggestions and may be modified as you see fit. We have tried many items, and these seem to allow the most versatility for the cost.
8.1 Encourage
Students get feedback.
Encouragement is not just telling people you love what they’re doing. Especially if you don’t really like it that much!
Find one thing you believe wholeheartedly is very good, such as a color or color scheme. Or one part of the drawing that is especially accurate. Point this out and praise them for it. Students are often already upset about their work before you come by. Don’t add to that by saying critical things.
If you don’t think a student is happy, don’t just try to fix what YOU think is wrong. Ask them what they think. Ask if there is one thing that is bothering them about the work. Then help them figure out that one thing. This is a win, and is very encouraging for moving forward on their own.
Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.
LEARNING TARGETS
Students know the importance of cleaning up.
M A T E R I A L S
- Paper Towels
- Cleaning wipes
- Sink
- Waste baskets
- Well-lit spot for photos
- Camera or phone-camera
9.1 CLEAN
- Wash hands
- Super-wash brushes if used
- Put art supplies away
- Wipe tables & toss trash
- Remove any smocks (last)
- Check for items on floors and tables
9.2 PHOTO
OBJECTIVES
- Practice and improvement in planning and executing artwork
- Understanding the progression of artwork, which includes steps many people skip
- Accomplishment from applying information to their workflow
- Fulfillment by creating their own artwork
TROUBLESPOTS
ART WORDS
Thumbnail – Very small drawings that help artists compose a work quickly. They are drawn about 1″ x 1.5″ so that it’s not easy to make details. The focus is on big shapes and values, which are helpful in composition.
Guidelines – Very light lines on selected surface. This is not the artwork. It is like a pretend drawing that you are going to trace over with the real art.If guidelines are drawn lightly, you can erase and change them until you are satisfied. Then the artwork will be much easier.
CLASSROOM
PREP
Have a bunch of amazing supplies ready, and cut a few things apart before-hand in a way that make you look amazing.
Print all of your PDFs from the lesson plan and cut any references apart as needed.
What your room needs
Here are your printable lists and room prep instructions.
Opens in new window
CLASSROOM
MATERIALS
- 8.5″ x 11″ copy paper
- 8.5″ x 11″ card stock
- 11″ x 17″ copy paper
- Rulers
- Scissors
- Box cutter (teacher only)
- Large Drawing boards with clips
- Water containers
- Spray bottles
- Water droppers
- Paper towels
- Smocks
STUDENT’S
MATERIALS
- 14″ x 17″ Sketch Paper
- 11″ x 15″ watercolor paper
- 2B Pencil
- 4B pencil
- Ebony pencil
- Black Sharpie
- Markers
- India ink
- Ink dip pen with metal nib (not too sharp a point)
- Soft compressed charcoal sticks (not pencils)
- Canvas pencil (dark gray colored pencil)
- White erasers
- Kneaded erasers
- Acrylic paints
- Oil pastels
- Blender sticks (stumps)
- Sandpaper boards (to clean blenders)
- Paper palette pad, or disposable trays/plates
- 11″ x 14″ Canvas (loose or from real canvas pad)
- Canvas boards (optional)
- Tape – blue painter’s tape
- Brushes – All sizes