Watercolor Technique Butterflies

Lesson Plan Submitted by: Judith Walsh
Art teacher at Mt. Zion Elementary, Suffolk, VA.
Grades: 2th & 3th grades

Procedure:

Each student is given 2 sheets of paper and a butterfly pattern. The pattern is optional. If they want to draw their own they can. They will trace around the pattern on each of the papers. Next, students will cut them out. The teacher (you) will then demonstrate the wet-on-wet painting technique on one butterfly and the wet-on-dry technique on the other butterfly. Students will see the difference in the techniques and get to experiment on their own butterflies. The two outcomes are very attractive!

Next, you can have a discussion on which technique they liked the best. Which one gave them more control? When papers are dried they can be mounted on poster board for display. You will be pleased with the outcome!

Note: A way to encourage creativity is to put up a selection of patterns on an overhead or whiteboard. Once they study them a minute for comprehension, you then remove the images so students are forced to create their own design. Students should probably be introduced to symmetry so that students understand that butterflies are the same on both sides.

To integrate science, students can be exposed to the stages of a butterfly and the various species associated with them.

Materials:

• Watercolor Paint

• White Drawing Paper

• Drawing Pencils and butterfly pattern (optional)

Links:

• Thinking Fountain- butterfly pattern lesson.

• Mel Stampz- This blog not only has information about butterflies but it has man butterfly lesson links.

Resources

Books

Pheromone: The Insect Artwork of Christopher Marley - Christopher Marley's graceful arrangements of jewel-like arthropods make converts of those who have seen insects as creepy--these are stunning works of art, his delicate butterfly assemblages sublime. The more than 170 color photographs.

Full-Color Decorative Butterfly Illustrations CD-ROM and Book (Dover Full-Color Electronic Design) - This treasury of dazzling butterfly illustrations—accurately portrayed in a wide array of colors and sizes—offers illustrators, graphic artists, and craftspeople a glorious variety of eye-catching design options. The 388 finely rendered images are perfect for adding a graceful touch to poster art, Fabric, stationery, newsletters, catalogs, and many other projects. Disk contains all items in book.

Posters

Landscape with Butterflies Print by Salvador Dali, 32x24 - You can use this art as a transition from science to art.

Rice Paper Butterfly by Riker - This poster has great contour line patterns.

Woodstock Butterfly by Turner, Dona - This poster is done in a style that is close to what your students might make.