PAINTING (3): ANIMAL DESIGN
NAME:_______________________
LESSON FOCUS:
This lesson focuses on creating a symmetrical animal design inspired by the work of
Haitian artist, Pierre Maxo.
VOCABULARY:
Acrylic paint: Pigments mixed with an acrylic vehicle.
Balance: Principle of art concerned with equalizing visual forces, or elements in a work
of art. If a work of art has visual balance, the viewer feels that the elements have been
arranged in a satisfying way. Visual imbalance makes the viewer feel that the elements
need to be rearranged.
Contour drawing: Drawing in which only contour lines (outlines) are used to organize
the elements of art.
Formal balance: Way of organizing parts of a design so that equal, or very similar,
elements are placed on opposite sides of a central axis. Symmetry is a type of formal
balance.
Symmetry: A special type of formal balance in which two halves of a balanced
composition are identical, mirror images of each other.
PROCEDURE:
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Look at the work by Haitian artist, Pierre Maxo for inspiration.
Look through a variety of animal books and choose an animal or animals to
include in your image.
On 9”x 12” manila sketch paper, begin to create a design using your chosen
animal (s). Fill in the background with elements from the animal’s environment.
Your background may include plants, trees, water, sky, etc. and may be
simplified. Draw using contour lines only.
Once you have a well balanced composition, trace over your pencil lines using a
black sharpie marker.
Now place the manila paper under ½ the full sheet of oak tag and trace it. Once
finished, flip the design (like a book) and trace it on the other ½ of oak tag so the
design is symmetrical.
Paint your design using a variety of bright colors. Your animals do not have to
look like photographic images and you may enhance your colors. Outline your
entire image using black or any other dark color (for example, green leaves may
be outlined in a dark green, etc.).
Your painting will be considered finished when the entire surface is covered.
MATERIALS:
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9”x 12” manila paper for sketches
12”x 18” oak tag for the final image
animal books or photos for reference
acrylic paints (assorted colors)
brushes
palettes
water containers
PIERRE MAXO
Pierre Maxo is a relatively young painter, born in 1969, whose works are becoming
increasingly popular amongst collectors of Haitian art. He was a student of the wellknown Haitian painter Gabriel Alix. Similar in style, Maxo's works are distinguished by
the brightness and vividness of their colours.