Monochromatic Abstraction

Submitted by: Kathryn Seidl
Longwood University
Grade level: Middle School (Grade 6/7)

Goals / Objectives:

The students will recognize and understand the relationship between tints and shades of a color to create a monochromatic painting. The student will demonstrate their ability to create a gradation of light to dark.

Materials Needed:

11 x 18 (28 cm x 45.7 cm) inch Drawing Paper
Acrylic Paint or Tempera Paint
Paint Brushes (varying widths)

Lesson Instructions:

• Introduce monochromatic color schemes to students with examples from Picasso’s Blue Period. Question students about how they would make tints and shades of the color of their choice, to assess prior knowledge.

• Ask students to practice making multiple shades and tints utilizing the practice sheet that is attached. After they practice mixing their colors, they will move on to sketching the design of their final piece.

• List elements that you want included in the final piece. For example, I asked students to include five vertical lines, a star, a circle, a square, dotted lines, horizontal line, and any additional elements the student would like to add. Explain that their goal is to create an abstract design that then creates many shapes/sections to be painted in.

• Once design is complete, students will define lines with black paint and a thin brush. The black paint must dry before they move on to the final step.

• Students will then fill in the spaces, beginning with their original color. The students must include at least three tints, three shades, and the original color.

Assessment: