With today being the first day of fall I felt it would only
be appropriate to post one of my favorite art lessons I did with
my students on watercolor painting
Still life of Pumpkins
Grade 3rd - 8th
Color theory
Objective:
Students will learn how to use
Complementary colors for shading instead of black
for a still life painting.
Supplies:
· A medium size
pumpkin
· Set of
colored pencils
· Pencil
8 1/2 x 11
computer paper
· Color
wheel
· 11 X 14
Card stock paper
· Prang
watercolor set
· One small
and one medium paint brush
· Cup of
water
Motivation
- Talk about how Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel.
- Discuss with the students about the light source, high lights and cast shadow.
- Teach the students to observe the pumpkin’s circular shape and how the
grooves of the pumpkin are curved like the shape of the
pumpkin.
 |
| Pumpkin drawn with colored pencils by 3rd grader |
Step 1:
Students will draw the pumpkin first with colored pencils on computer paper
to become familiar with the colors, high light, shadows and cast shadow.
They will start by coloring with yellow, the lightest color, then color the
pumpkin orange being sure to the leave the high lights yellow.
Next they will outline the grooves and bottom of the the pumpkin with blue,
then the students will color the shadow areas on the pumpkin with purple.
to become familiar with the colors, high light, shadows and cast shadow.
They will start by coloring with yellow, the lightest color, then color the
pumpkin orange being sure to the leave the high lights yellow.
Next they will outline the grooves and bottom of the the pumpkin with blue,
then the students will color the shadow areas on the pumpkin with purple.
Then they will use yellow and green to paint the stem.
Lastly, students will color the cast shadow with blue and then purple right under the pumpkin,
being sure not to outline the shadow.
being sure not to outline the shadow.
 |
| Pumpkin painted with watercolors by 8th grader |
Step 2:
On a piece of watercolor paper students will draw the pumpkin with a yellow
color pencil to avoid erasing.
Then they will start painting with yellow, then use orange being sure to
leave the high lights yellow.
Next they will paint the grooves and bottom of the the pumpkin with blue, then the
students will paint the shadow on the pumpkin with purple.
Then they will use yellow and green to paint the stem.
color pencil to avoid erasing.
Then they will start painting with yellow, then use orange being sure to
leave the high lights yellow.
Next they will paint the grooves and bottom of the the pumpkin with blue, then the
students will paint the shadow on the pumpkin with purple.
Then they will use yellow and green to paint the stem.
Lastly, paint the cast shadow with blue and then purple right under the pumpkin,
letting the colors run together.
letting the colors run together.
