Home » Teach » Lesson Plans » Lesson 3: Expressive / Imaginary Landscape

Lesson 3: Expressive / Imaginary Landscape

Overview

Students will begin to draw a landscape using a photo as reference.  

Grade Level

6-12

Media

Oil Pastel Drawing

Tempera or Acrylic Paint 

Lessons In Unit

10

  • Unit & Lessons

Materials and Tools

  • Oil pastels
  • Black construction paper
  • Landscape reference images

Objectives

Students will understand that:

  • Artists can use reference images to help them make their artwork realistic. 
  • Artists can mix colors to make a wide variety of colors for their work.

Students will be able to:

  • Use a photo as reference to make a landscape drawing. 
  • Begin mixing oil pastels to create the colors of the sky in their drawing.

Activities

Revisit Landscape Structure

Model Sketching a Landscape Composition:

Model using a reference image as inspiration for a landscape drawing, lightly sketching the largest shapes in the foreground, middle ground, and background. 

Work Time:

As students begin to draw a landscape, encourage them to:

  • Select a landscape photo to use as reference.
  • Sketch first using a light-colored oil pastel and light pressure. 
  • Begin to mix colors starting with the sky and working down the page. 
  • Work from light colors to dark. 

Reflection

  • What was a challenge you ran into? How did you resolve it?
  • What is one technique you used in your drawing? 

Resource

Georgia O’Keeffe, Out Back of Marie’s

Georgia O’Keeffe. Black Mesa Landscape, New Mexico / Out Back of Marie’s II, 1930. Oil on canvas, 24 1/4 x 36 1/4 inches. Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. Gift of The Burnett Foundation. © Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.