MIXED MEDIA: Abstract Watercolor
NAME:_____________________
LESSON FOCUS: This lesson focuses on creating an abstract watercolor
painting using numerous techniques and outlining different shapes in sharpie.
VOCABULARY:
Abstract: Non-realistic, emphasis of artwork focuses on elements and principles of
art.
Backruns: Found in watercolor painting, backruns are those dreadful hard-edged
shapes that sometimes creep into a clear wash when the paper dries unevenly and
cockles.
Blending: Is a means of achieving soft, melting color gradations by brushing or
rubbing the edge where to tones or colors meet.
Contour Line: An outline of an image created from two contrasting shapes, colors,
textures, etc.
Glazing: Glazing is a technique in which thin, transparent washes of color are laid
on successive layers of dried colors, such as many sheets of colored tissue paper.
Graded wash: In watercolor, the purpose of a graded wash is to create an area of
color that moves gradually from dark to light, from light to dark, or from one color
to another.
Masking out: Masking out means isolating certain areas of a painting by covering
them up with a paint-resistant surface, so that they can be freely worked over
without marking the surface.
Pan: In painting, the name of the storage container for individual watercolors.
Plastic wrap technique: The use of plastic wrap placed onto a wet wash of
watercolor to produce textures and effects.
Salt technique: The use of salt sprinkled into a wet wash of watercolor or ink to
produce textures and effects.
Shape: Organic or geometric. 2-dimensional, having length and width.
Variegated wash: With water-based media exciting and unusual effects can be
obtained by laying different colored washes side by side so that the melt into each
other wet-in-wet.
Watercolor: A painting medium consisting of pigments suspended in a solution of
water and gum Arabic; often stored in pans.
Wet-in-wet: Colors are applied over or into each other while they are wet, leaving
them partially mixed on the paper.
PROCEDURE:
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Complete watercolor exercise.
Choose colors that you think will work well together- usually ones that are in
a row mix well. Stay away from all the colors or opposites, as they will make
browns. Do not use white.
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Using at least three of the techniques you explored on your watercolor
exercise, create an abstract painting that focuses on shapes and color mixing.
You can leave some areas of the paper white or use masking, however 75% of
the paper must be painted. You can tilt paper to encourage drips and runs.
Once you are pleased with the painting, let it dry FLAT!
You can go back into the painting after it has dried, but once paint has been
applied it can not be taken off or covered up.
Once the painting is completely dry, use a sharpie to outline the new shapes
that you see. Experiment with line thickness when you outline. Your
composition must be balanced.