Help students recreate personally meaningful places and imagery on their canvases via the use of shadow and reflection. Our downloadable Sunlight, Shimmer, and Shadow lesson plan incorporates photography, emotion, and art to create truly touching pieces.
Using the art of chiaroscuro, students will begin to observe and understand the way the eye sees light and shadow (places untouched by direct light) and gain an appreciation for the emotional value of dappled sunlight, hazy shadows, and shimmering reflections.
To get started, students choose a place of personal importance and take several photos, ultimately selecting the image with the best composition for their painted pieces. Next, the artists sketch their selected scenes on illustration board. Following the detailed instructions, graphite crayons and water-soluble crayons are used to shade and shadow, while metallic watercolor paints highlight water reflections and sunlight. The piece de resistance? A short essay explaining why this location was chosen and what personal meaning it holds.
Download a complete lesson plan for this project, including images, step-by-step directions, and a material list, today.
For Grades 4-12.
