1. Abstract Watercolor Compositions

2. Goals of this 6 th Grade unit: To gain an understanding of warm and cool colors and how they can convey a mood within a painting. To become proficient with basic watercolor painting techniques. To gain an appreciation for abstraction through the development of a composition that includes abstract drawing and coloring/painting techniques.

3. Step #1 Choose an animal that has characteristics similar to yours. Find an image that you can use for drawing references.

4. Step #2 In your sketchbook, begin a sketch using simple basic shapes.

5. Step #2 In your sketchbook, begin a sketch using simple basic shapes.

6. Step #3 Begin your final sketch on 9x12 watercolor paper (given by teacher).

7. Step #4 Draw two straight lines that extend from one side of the paper to another. Draw two organic lines that extend from one side of the paper to another.

8. Step #5 Draw two geometric and organic shapes. These shapes should overlap existing lines.

9. Step #6 - Understanding Warm and Cool Colors Cool colors are made mostly of green, blue and violet. This family of colors is called cool because they remind you of cool things like a cool forest or a cold lake. Warm colors are made mostly of red, orange and yellow. This family of colors is called warm because they remind you of warm things like the sun or fire.

10. What warm colors do you see in Vincent Van Gogh's painting? How does this painting make you feel? What cool colors do you see in Claude Monet's painting? How does this painting make you feel?

11. Neutral colors

12. Step #7 Paint the inside of your animal with warm OR cool colors and paint the background in with the opposite color scheme.

13. Step #8 (Final) Using a Ultra-Fine tip sharpie, go over your pencil lines.