Abstract Animal Watercolor Compositions

Abstract Watercolor Compositions Goals of this 6th Grade unit: To gain an understanding of the color wheel and identify: primary and secondary colors, warm and cool colors, neutral colors, and tints. To gain an understanding of how colors, when grouped together, can convey a mood and a sense of contrast within a painting. To become proficient with color mixing and blending. To become proficient with basic watercolor painting techniques: water to color(paint) ratio holding the brush; at an angle – wide stroke, upright – thin stroke. Wet on wet paper vs. wet on dry paper. To gain an appreciation for abstraction through the development of a composition that includes abstract drawing and coloring/painting techniques.

Step #1: DRAWING Choose an animal that has characteristics similar to your personality. For example, I chose a Ram because I like to approach things head-on. Find an image you can use for drawing references. The image must be of a REAL animal, not a cartoon. The image can be a realistic drawing and/or a photo. A profile (side view) of an animal works best for this project.

Step #1: DRAWING (continued) In your sketchbook, begin a sketch of your animal using simple basic shapes. No outlining! I will check to see if shapes are used in your drawing!

Step #1: DRAWING (continued) Use your shoulder when drawing, try not to let your wrist rest on the table.

Step #1: DRAWING (continued) Begin your final sketch on watercolor paper provided by Mr. Anderson. Do not include too many details.

Step #2: ABSTRACTION Goal: Using a series of lines and shapes break-up the composition to create a sense of abstraction. Draw two straight lines (highlighted in red) that extend from one side of the paper to another. Draw two organic lines (highlighted in green)that extend from one side of the paper to another.

Step #2: ABSTRACTION (continued) Draw two geometric and organic shapes. These shapes should overlap existing lines. Reminder: The goal is to break up the composition.

Step #3: Understanding the COLOR WHEEL When grouped together, colors can convey a mood and a sense of contrast within a painting. Warm colors are made mostly of red, orange and yellow. This family of colors is called warm because they remind you of warm things like the sun or fire. Cool colors are made mostly of green, blue and violet. This family of colors is called cool because they remind you of cool things like a cool forest or a cold lake.

Step #3: Understanding the COLOR WHEEL (continued) Goal: Practice painting and mixing colors to create the color wheel (VIDEO).

Step #3: Understanding the COLOR WHEEL (continued) What warm colors do you see in Vincent Van Gogh's painting? How does this painting make you feel? What cool colors do you see in Claude Monet's painting? How does this painting make you feel?

Step #3: Understanding the COLOR WHEEL (continued)

Step #4: PAINTING YOUR COMPOSITION Make a decision: Will your animal be painted with warm or cool colors? The background will be painted with the opposite color scheme. Paint 2 shapes for each of the PRIMARY colors: RED YELLOW BLUE Remember to paint in the designated color scheme areas.

Step #4: PAINTING YOUR COMPOSITION (continued) MIX only primary colors to create SECONDARY colors. Paint 2 shapes for each of the SECONDARY colors: Red + Yellow = ORANGE Red + Blue = PURPLE Yellow + Blue = GREEN Remember to paint in the designated color scheme areas

Step #4: PAINTING YOUR COMPOSITION (continued) Mix White with at least four colors to create a TINT. Paint a shape with each of those TINTS. White + Any Color __________ = TINT Remember to paint in the designated color scheme areas

Step #4: PAINTING YOUR COMPOSITION (continued) Mix Brown with a warm and cool color and then use that color in your painting. Brown is a neutral color that can be mixed with any color to create darker versions of that color. Remember to paint in the designated color scheme areas

Step #4: PAINTING YOUR COMPOSITION (continued) Finish your painting on your own. Try not to paint the same colors next to each other.

Step #5: OUTLINING Using a Ultra-Fine tip sharpie, go over your pencil lines to clean up the edges. You may add patterns within the shapes as seen in the other examples. This is not a requirement.

FINAL STEP: ASSESMENT Were you able to better using basic shapes as a starting point? Are you able to identify the following: Primary colors? Secondary colors? Neutral colors? Tints? Were you able to control watercolor paints; too much water, too much color? Were you able to maintain the warm and color schemes within your painting? How do you think you did overall?