Line, Color and Movement: Oil Pastel
Submitted by: Felicity Rodriguez
Art Teacher at Heritage Middle School, Berwyn, IL
Title of Lesson: Line, Color and Movement: Oil Pastel
Grade level: 8th Grade
Objectives: The students will:
Use the element of line (primarily) to create the illusion or sense of movement
Create a sketch that is non-objective, yet can be inspired by real objects, conditions, or ideas
Become familiar with the medium of oil pastel
Become familiar with artists who create non-objective art
Create a final oil pastel drawing that creates movement or the illusion of it.
Materials Needed:
Sloppy Copy Drawing Paper
12x12 (30.5 x 30.5 cm) Manila Paper
or Gray Bogus Paper
12x12 (30.5 x 30.5 cm) White Construction Paper
803 or better or Tag board
Newspaper
Light Box
or overhead projector for tracing
and 
Lesson Description:
Day 1- Power Point presentation: Line, Color and Movement. Activate prior knowledge/ discussion of line. Discussion also on non-objective art. Begin a Sloppy copy with the following requirements:
You must complete all 3 sketches
Each design needs to be different
You are trying to create an illusion of movement or have the viewer’s eye be drawn to look form one area, to the next in a specific direction
It is not supposed to look like anything (hence non-objective art), but you can get your inspiration from objects, other artists, other works of art, or conditions (like weather)
You may name your ideas
Day 2-3
Continue Sloppy copy with the following requirements:
You must complete all 3 sketches
Each design needs to be different
You are trying to create an illusion of movement or have the viewer’s eye be drawn to look form one area, to the next in a specific direction
It is not supposed to look like anything (hence non-objective art), but you can get your inspiration from objects, other artists, other works of art, or conditions (like weather)
You may name your ideas
When you have all 3 small sketches done you will begin a 2nd, large sloppy copy. This copy is 12 x 12 (30.5 x 30.5 cm) and the exact same size as the final project, but on manila paper. This drawing should look exactly like, or be an improvement on the smaller sloppy copy version. Students may trace and transfer their 2nd SC to final paper.
Final paper is 12 x 12 (30.5 x 30.5 cm) thick, white construction paper. Please draw lightly on final paper.
Day 4-5
Oil Pastel Techniques
Demo/ Doc camera
Hatching/cross-hatching
Curves/ waves
Blocking areas
Blending
Showing value
Flat colors
Scratching into
Students will watch each technique and attempt each one.
Days 6-10
Students should be finished with redrawing/ copying their drawing on the final 12 x12 (30.5 x 30.5 cm) white construction. Now students will select the color scheme and test out colors to make sure they work well together. Then they will coloring in on their final drawing.
Keep the following tips in mind as you are working:
When you trace/ draw in pencil on the final copy, try not to press to hard with your pencil. Pencil sometimes does not look good under light pastel colors. Keep your pencil pressure light and it will help with any issues.
Start your coloring in the top left-hand corner if you are right-handed. Start in the top right-hand corner if you are left-handed. This will keep you from smearing any pastel with your arm while you are working.
Don’t use the same color on sections that are touching.
If at all possible use black last! This will help avoid smudging it into colors or getting shavings on other areas.
There should be no white spaces when you are done with your project. Please cover all areas of your paper, even if you need to use white oil pastel to do it.
Assessment:
National Visual Arts Standards Covered:
Visual Arts Standard 1
Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
IL State Standards:
26.A.3e Visual Arts: Describe
how the choices of tools/technologies and processes are used to create specific
effects in the arts.
26.B.3d Visual Arts: Demonstrate
knowledge and skills to create 2- and 3-dimensional works and time arts (e.g.,
film, animation, video) that are realistic, abstract, functional and
decorative.
