Students will be able to:
- create 10 simple watercolour figures in a variety of poses;
- build on their own and others’ discoveries to generate new ideas;
- explain their process;
- demonstrate technical accomplishment and creativity.
SIMPLE WATERCOLOUR PEOPLE – Shape, Gesture
Steps
Step One
TORSO:
- Moisten the watercolour paints by dropping a brush load of water on the colours you want to use.
- Pick up a drop of colour and paint it onto the paper in a small blob.
Step Two
LEGS:
- Paint the legs a little longer than usual.
Step Three
HEAD and ARMS:
- Paint the head a little smaller than usual.
- Paint the arms long enough to go about half way down the legs.
Step Four
- Practice making figures in different poses.
- Fill the page.
Step Five
- Add a few simple brush strokes to suggest hair and feet.
Learning Goals
Extensions
Have students:
- collect or take their own photographs of people in different poses, for example, playing soccer, hockey or volley ball;
- continue to practice painting watercolour figures based on the poses in their photos;
- practice adding more detail to each figure to better identify what the person is doing;
- paint a scene that includes at least 2 figures.
Prepare
Introduction
- View and discuss several of the watercolour images.
- Ask students to describe the people in the images, tell who they think they are, and what they are doing.
- Ask them to explain what they see that makes them think so.
- Focus on how simple the figures are, and yet it is still possible to imagine who the people are, and what they are doing. - Ask students to share what they know about using watercolour paints.
- Explain that today's class is for learning how to make simple, blob figures with watercolour paints.
- It's a time to simply practice making people in different poses.
- Introduce the challenge.
Activities
The Challenge
- Create 10 simple watercolour figures in a variety of poses.
- Build on your own and others’ discoveries to generate new ideas.
- Explain your process.
- Demonstrate technical accomplishment and creativity.
The Process
- Make sure everyone understands the challenge.
- Demonstrate how to prime the paints by dropping a small amount of water in the colours you want to use.
- Remind students that they will need to clean their water once it gets dirty, because the dirty water will muddy their colours.
- Establish success criteria with your students, for example,
I know I am successful when:
- I have painted 10 figures in different poses
- the paper is in good condition
- I can accurately describe how to paint simple figures - Guide students through the steps outlined in this lesson plan.
- Observe students as they work.
- Provide individual assistance and encouragement.
Sharing
- Place students into small groups.
- Ask them to:
- Compare their work and describe to each other something they find interesting and why.
- Discuss the things that are especially effective and why.
- Talk about what they found difficult and what they found easy to do.
- Discuss what more they would like to learn about painting figures with watercolours. - Share ideas with the whole class.
- Ask students to tell how they felt about painting figures with this technique.
Assessment
- Observe students as they work – thoughtful focus, discriminating, seeking more information, elaborating, experimenting
- Observe students as they discuss the paintings – active listening, insightful contributions, supporting ideas with evidence found in the artwork and from personal experience.
- Use a checklist to track progress. (Downloads – SimplePeople_tracking.pdf)
