Inspired by the paintings of Matisse and other impressionists. I had students look at still lives of flowers, fruits, and birds. They created four thumbnail sketches and incorporated elements of these images or chose their favorite as a final drawing. We discussed borders echoing the colors and the imagery of the main picture. The students once again worked on their watercolor techniques- wet on wet, gradated washes, and kosher salt thrown in for good measure. Nice bright pops of color and happy images of birds, flowers, and fruit. Happy end of summer!
I had the students practice watercolor techniques: salt, saran wrap, alcohol drops, wet on wet and transparent washes. They did at least 7 circular color fields and stems. I asked them to vary their colors.
The following week they used a black sharpie to outline images and add details. The students ended up finding shapes within shapes and animated some of the images, almost like surrealism.
I had my students trace stencils of hearts, tulips, and daisies onto colored papers. They used foil paper, gemstones, buttons and white paper doilies.
I scanned the images on an Epson printer. I used light pink construction paper behind the doilies to create contrast. The colors of pink and red and a theme of love is a nice reprieve from winter!