An Introduction to Art Techniques

Introduction:
This is a wonderful lesson for introducing young children color, brush handling, and the concept of abstract art. It is a simple lesson designed to foster experimentation with color combinations. And there is an element of surprise to it in that you will not be able to guess the final product until the paper is unfolded. Most likely it is a technique that everyone has tried at one point or another in their childhood.

Materials:

• A palette of non toxic tempera or washable colored paints
• Brushes
• Heavy bond paper or any other strong white paper
• Water cans
• Someplace to dry a large number of paintings

Directions:
1. Introduce and/or review colors, including a mention of primary colors if the children are advanced enough. A color wheel is an extremely useful tool for this purpose.

2. Take a minute to demonstrate proper brush handling and care.

3. Now have the children fold their piece of paper in half and help them write their names on the back before they begin to paint. It makes it easier to refold the paper once the paint is applied. When they have done that, let them go wild with the paint application. Most young children will load the paint on pretty thick, so take this into account when you choose your paper. Encourage them to mix the colors on their paper and experiment with shapes and patterns.

4. When they are ready, have them fold the paper in half and lightly rub so that a symmetrical design appears when the paper is unfolded again. Set each piece aside to dry.

5. As an optional segment, take a looking walk around the room. Ask the children what shapes, patterns, and designs they see (like the famous psychological tests). Also, point out where primary colors have mixed on the paper to form secondary colors, or where patterns emerge where there were none before.

Art Terms:
Primary colors – the three colors from which all other colors can be mixed: red, blue, and yellow.
Secondary colors – colors achieved by mixing two of the three primary colors. Red + Blue = Purple, Red + Yellow = Orange, Blue + Yellow = Green.
Color Wheel/Circle – a circular arrangement of the hues of the spectrum as they appear in nature. The warm colors lie within the half of the circle that contains red, yellow, and orange and the cool colors lie on the half of the circle with green, blue, and violet.

Resources:
Kohl, MaryAnn F. Scribble Cookies and Other Independent Creative Art Experiences for Children. Bright Ring Publishing, WA. 1985.

Mayer, Ralph. The Harper Collins Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques. Harper Collins Publishers. New York. 1991.

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