Help students recreate personally meaningful places and imagery on their canvases via the use of shadow and reflection. Our Sunlight, Shimmer, and Shadow art lesson plan incorporates photography, emotion, and art to create truly touching pieces.
Using the art of chiaroscuro, students begin to observe and understand the way the eye sees light and shadow (places untouched by direct light). They will gain an appreciation for the emotional value of dappled sunlight, hazy shadows, and shimmering reflections.
To get started, students take photos of a place of personal importance. Then have them select the image with the best composition for their painted pieces. Next, the artists sketch their selected scenes on an illustration board. Following the detailed instructions, use graphite crayons and water-soluble crayons to shade and shadow and metallic watercolor paints to highlight water reflections and sunlight. The pièce de résistance? A short essay explaining why this location was chosen and what personal meaning it holds.
Follow the link above for the Sunlight, Shimmer, and Shadow art lesson plan, including images, step-by-step directions, and a materials list. Suitable for grades 4-12.
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