“Repetition and variation are foundational principles in the next phase of creating unified designs.”
– Nancy Smith
Materials and Tools
- 18” x 24” white paper 80#
- Red paint in soufflé cup
- Blue paint in soufflé cup
- 1” brush
- Water in deli cup
- Sponge
- Tray
Activities
Step 1: Invitation to Explore
- “What color did we create/make last week?”
- “How did we create orange?”
- “What do you see on my tray this week?”
- “We have blue and red!”
- Review removing the lid off of soufflé cups.
- “What do think will happen when we mix blue and red?”
- Create an area of color with the red paint.
- “Now I want to use blue. Can I put my brush into the blue paint? Why not?”
- Model cleaning the brush singing the brush washing song.
- Review drying it on the sponge (Remind the students of the connection between bathing and drying off before you put on your clothes.)
- Create a patch of blue paint.
- Explain that red and blue are both strong colors.
- “What do you think will happen when we mix red and a little bit of blue together?”
- Add a little bit of blue to a patch of red! “What color did we make? Purple!”
Step 2: Work-time
- Invite 3-4 students to the art center.
- Encourage students to stand or sit, whichever is more comfortable for them so that they can use their whole arm as they move the brush on the paper.
- Each student has his own tray with a cup of red paint and a cup of blue paint, a brush, deli cup with water and a sponge.
- Review removing the lid off of the soufflé cup.
- Remind students to wash their brushes between dipping into red or blue. Sing the brush washing song.
- You will need to be fully present at the table until the students have internalized the brush washing routine into their approach to painting.
- Comment on the many shades of purple the students are creating and how they are moving their brush to create patches/areas of color.
Step 3: Reflection
“I see blue and red in this painting. What color did you make?” You can extend the reflection by asking: “Was it harder to mix green, orange or purple?”
Vocabulary
Paintbrush, handle, wood, bristle, sponge, mixing, add, blend, light, dark, lighter, darker, top, bottom, corner, middle