ART III: BEYOND THE BORDER
NAME:_______________________________
LESSON FOCUS:
This lesson focuses on creating a mixed-media artwork that incorporates a main
subject that extends beyond the border.
VOCABULARY:
Border: A rim, margin, or edge. A design or decorative strip around the edge or rim
of something.
Color: Element of art derived from reflective light. The sensation of color is aroused
in the brain by response of the eyes to different wavelengths of light.
Contour drawing: Drawing the edges, or contours, of figures or objects.
Crosshatching: a drawing technique using sets of crisscrossing, parallel, and
overlapping lines to create areas of differing degrees of darkness.
Hatching: Technique of shading with a series of fine parallel lines.
India ink: Black drawing ink. It is available in two types: waterproof and soluble.
Mixed-media: Artwork in which several media are combined to obtain desired
effects.
Stippling: Rendering light and dark gradations of value in a drawing by making a
pattern of dots.
Texture: Element of art that appeals to the sense of touch.
Value: Element of art that refers to light and dark areas. Value depends on how
much light a surface reflects.
Value gradation: Gradual change from dark to light areas used to create the illusion
of three dimensions on a two-dimensional surface.
Watercolor paint: Paints that consist of extremely fine, transparent pigments in a
medium of water or gum and are available in tubes or sectioned pans. They result in
a transparent effect that distinguishes this medium from other, more opaque paints.
PROCEDURE:
 Choose a subject such as butterflies, colorful insects, birds, sea animals with
flowing fins or tentacles, or flowers and find appropriate references.
 On 12”x 15” sketch paper, create a border by measuring 2 ½ – 3 ½” from the
edge of the paper. By doing so, you will create an interior rectangle. The sizes
of the border may vary (ex: 3” at the top and sides and 3 ½” at the bottom).
 Carefully create a contour drawing of your subject using the space within and
on your border. The subject itself should extend beyond the inner rectangle
and the line around the rectangle may be “broken” by your subject.
 Once you have a balanced composition, trace onto 12”x 15” watercolor paper.
 Using black India ink and a brush and/or a sharpie marker, trace over your
contour lines. Use thick and thin lines to accent weight or importance.
 Use color within the rectangle and any parts of your drawing that breaks
through the inner rectangle.
 The border image will remain black and white. You may use value gradations
and/or hatching, crosshatching, and stippling to create values and texture.
MATERIALS:
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12” x 15” manila sketch paper
12”x 15” watercolor paper
Pencil and eraser
Ruler (if needed)
Watercolors (assorted colors)
India ink
Brushes (assorted sizes)