Art II Lesson Plan

Watercolor Puzzle

This is a new lesson for my Art II class this year that I have been very pleased with.  Besides teaching skills and concepts, it has helped almost everyone in the class have a successful outcome. I begin my Art II classes with a review sheet over the principles of art.  The principle that I focus on during this project is rhythm.

Watercolor Puzzle

          1.  Students will find a picture of a landscape or a close-up of a flower. 

          2.  Students are given instruction about basic watercolor technique including wet on wet, wet on dry, leaving white areas, layering color and creating texture.  Students observe a short demonstration during this instruction.

          3.  Students are given a piece of watercolor paper and instructed to tape it to a board with masking tape. 

          4.  Students sketch lightly in pencil very simple guidelines for their painting onto the watercolor paper.

          5.  Students paint the water color,  being sure to include some wet on wet and some wet on dry. Students are encouraged to use high contrast and strong color changes.

          6.  When finished, students will take the painting off the board and cut the painting into pieces.

          7. The student will then reassemble the painting by gluing the pieces onto another  surface using rubber cement.  Students are encouraged to create rhythm in their final project by the way they assemble the pieces. It will be helpful for some students( depending on their design)  to number their pieces before they cut them apart. Depending on the look they are trying to create, different students will choose different backgrounds for the final project. 

          *Just a note.  Encourage students to think outside the box and cut apart and reassemble in interesting and creative ways. 

Materials needed: watercolor paper, watercolor brushes, watercolors, masking tape, boards, pencil, scissors, rubber cement.

*Please enjoy the following examples.*

Michele 10^th Grade