Art Lesson Plan: Metallic, Iridescent, and Fluorescent

Students will create a vibrant and beautiful “seascape painting” that depicts a bird or other coastal animal in its natural habitat. Students will display vivid colors, shimmer, and brilliance with Liquitex® Iridescent, Metallic, and Fluorescent Acrylics. Instructors can also enable students to see the relationships and applications of art to the fields of science, art history, and history.

Metallic, Iridescent, and Fluorescent Art Plan Objectives

• Realize that color in nature is essential to the survival of a species.
• Research, study, and sketch a specific marine bird or animal to be the subject of the painting.
• Gain knowledge and skill in painting techniques for metallic, iridescent, and fluorescent acrylics through firsthand experience with materials.

Cross-Curricular Ideas

• Tie this activity into an ELA lesson by having students write a short narrative or poem about their metallic‑toned sea creature or scene.
• Use this activity to practice scientific skills: have students research how marine animals use fluorescence or iridescence for survival, then label their artwork with diagrams.
• Incorporate a physics lesson by demonstrating light properties (reflection, refraction, fluorescence) using metallic vs. fluorescent paints under different lighting.
• Combine with math by having students design geometric or fractal patterns using metallic paint, calculate ratios, or repeat shapes in their seascape.

Tips for Painting with Metallics, Iridescent, Fluorescents

• The addition of Liquitex Gloss Gels will enhance the optical brilliance of the colors.
• Iridescent colors can mimic metal. They can give depth to a translucent backdrop for layers of transparent color.
• Adding a small amount of Iridescent color to any other pigment will add radiance to the color to imitate gold, silver, copper, or bronze.
• Finely milled metallics can be used in airbrush tools.
• Iridescent paint can go from transparent to opaque, depending on how much is on your brush. They are best viewed on top of a transparent color.
• Graphite Grey is best used over a white background. It can be brushed to a high sheen and glow under a black light!

We can’t wait to see what amazing works of art your students create. Be sure to share them with us via social media and through our Student Art Contest.