Flowers in a vase (large petal
flowers like pansies, lilies, sunflowers, etc.)
Magnifying glass (2-3 for class)
Prints by Georgia O'Keefe - available at public library
11" x 14" white kid surface vellum bristol paper
Permanent non-toxic black fine tip Sharpie brand markers (1 per student)
Watercolor paints (8 or 16 color Prang or Crayola brand best) (2-3 students
share 1 set if necessary)
#10 watercolor brushes (1 per student)
Containers to hold water (baby food jars)
Salt (optional)
3/4" drafting tape for border on edge of paper (1-2 rolls, 60 yd.) OPTIONAL
1. Optional - Teacher or older
students should tape border before start of activity and carefully and slowly
"untape" after work is dry to create white border.
2. Students observe flowers close
up or use a magnifying glass to study the shapes, textures (bumpy, flat, etc.)
and patterns (repetitive circles, lines, colors, etc.) that make up the whole
flower. Discuss analogies to other shapes they might see - fruits, vegetables,
animal ears, etc.
3. Display prints of flower paintings
by Georgia O'Keefe and discuss how she fits the flower in the picture plane,
leaving very little negative space (white space within art).
4. Have students squint to look
at negative space in paintings.
5. Students choose a flower and
draw an enlarged view of it with black marker, concentrating on the outside
edge and lines delineating pattern.
6. Demonstrate "wet-on-wet"
watercolor, wetting 1 petal on the paper at a time (with no color just water)
and than applying color to that same surface. Colors will merge forming soft
edges.
7. Students add paint to flowers
and to negative space using the wet-on-wet technique.
8. Students have the option of
adding salt to their paintings which creates interesting textural effects.
Take a pinch of salt and sprinkle on wet paint in area of desired texture.
