Elementary

The Essential Question
How can we combine patterns within an organic shape?

Objective
Students will explore line, pattern, and color while using a variety of media to draw and paint leaves.

Materials
9 x 12" (23 x 30 cm) mixed-media paper, watercolor paint, paintbrushes and water cups, pencils, ultrafine black permanent markers, black oil pastels

Procedures

1. Ask students to observe real of photographed examples of different types of leaves. Then have students sketch one or more large leaf shapes on their paper in pencil.
2. Students will then draw repeating patterns inside the leaves, making sure not to repeat the same pattern within a single leaf.
3. Students trace over their pencil patterns using ultrafine black permanent markers and erase any pencil lines.Using a black oil pastel, students trace around the outer edge of each leaf, creating a barrier for the watercolor (see step five).
4. Students paint the background outside the leaves using either warm or cool colors.

Colleen Lam is an visual arts teacher at Edgewater Elementary School in Edgewater, Colorado.