MIXED MEDIA: ABSTRACT DESIGN: SHADE, TINT, AND TONE
LESSON FOCUS:
This lesson focuses on creating an abstracted piece using line and is completed using a
color scheme that emphasizes shade, tint, and tone.
VOCABULARY:
Color scheme: Plan for organizing colors.
Design: Plan, organization, or arrangement of elements in a work of art.
only one hue and the values, tints, and shades of that hue for a unifying effect.
Line: An identifiable path created by a point moving in space.
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.
Tone: Varying degree of brightness or dullness of a color, similar to intensity. Achieved
by adding the color’s compliment to tone it down.
Value: The art element that describes the darkness or lightness of an object.
PROCEDURE:
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Using 1” masking tape, carefully mask off the edges of your paper. The edge of
the tape should align with the edge of your paper. Press is down.
Mix a light shade of grey and paint the entire piece of paper with the paint. Don’t
be afraid of painting over the tape, you will peel it off when you are done. Let dry.
Using a thin brush, create a series of lines using ink the break down your surface.
Make sure they overlap, cross, divide and generally break up your space into a
series of smaller spaces. They may or may not run off the page. Let dry. Ink is
permanent and will not come out of your clothes!
Chose a generally color scheme:
Warm: red, orange, yellow
Cool: green, blue, violet
Analogous: one color and the two on either side that share it’s name: red,
red-violet, red-orange
Begin painting your spaces using the color scheme you chose and the tints,
shades, and tones of you colors. Add a few accent spaces where you use a color
opposite you color scheme. Mix new colors. Figure if you want all your colors
close in relation (all dark shades of the colors) or opposite. Be creative and keep
mixing. Add black, white, or complimentary color.
Keep painting until your work looks balanced. Leave a few empty spaces. As you
work, keep looking at the painting and let it tell you where it needs color and what
kind- dark, light, medium
Your painting will be considered finished when 90% of the surface is covered. If
you aren’t sure, see me.
MATERIALS:
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9”x24” watercolor paper
masking tape
ink
Tempera paint
Assorted brushes
Plastic cup