MIXED MEDIA: MONOCHROMATIC ANIMALS
NAME:_________________
LESSON FOCUS:
This lesson focuses on creating a posterized animal painting using various shades of one
color.
VOCABULARY:
Color scheme: Plan for organizing colors.
Design: Plan, organization, or arrangement of elements in a work of art.
Free-form shapes: Irregular and uneven shapes. Their outlines are curved, or angular, or
both. Free-form shapes are often natural.
Monochrome: One color. A monochromatic color scheme uses only one hue and the
values, tints, and shades of that hue for a unifying effect.
Posterize: A photoshop filter that breaks a picture down into a specific number of values,
like a paint-by-number.
Shade: A dark value of a hue made by adding black to it.
Tint: A light value of a hue made by mixing the hue with white.
Value: The art element that describes the darkness or lightness of an object.
PROCEDURE:
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Choose a picture of an animal (animals) that you want to paint. The more contrast
in the photograph, the better. Email it to me at mkania@rtmsd.org
Once I print out two copies of the photograph, outline the 5 different values with a
thin sharpie. The more detail you can add, the more realistic it will look.
Using a ruler, draw a 1”grid on your photograph. Begin with the beginning of the
photograph itself, not the edge of the paper. Make a mark every inch around the
photograph, then connect the lines.
On a piece of 16”x20” manila paper, make a 2” grid, making a mark every two
inches and connecting the lines. You should have the same number of squares on
the manila as the picture, just twice as large.
Transfer the different values of your photograph to the manila paper, enlarging it
as you go. You are making a paint-by-number. You can number your painting if
you need to. 1=lightest, 5=darkest
Using tempera, mix a color of paint that you want to use. Do not use paint directly
from the bottle. You will only need about a half cup full. Put your name on the
lid.
Paint all shapes that are that color.
When mixing your other colors, get white or black, and add you color to it. Paint
all shapes of that color prior to moving on to the next value.
Your painting will be considered finished when the entire surface is covered.
MATERIALS:
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16”x20” manila paper
16”x20” oak tag
Tempera paint
Assorted brushes
Plastic cup
Sharpie