High School

How can artists use continuous line and watercolor techniques to create expressive marks, textures, and visual effects?

Students will experiment with continuous line and watercolor techniques to create expressive marks, textures, and visual effects.

• watercolor paper
• watercolor palettes
• cups of water
• paper towels
• paintbrushes in various sizes
• water-soluble markers, crayons
• salt
• pieces of bubble wrap and other texture-making materials

This is an experimental watercolor demonstration. Demonstrate each technique as students follow along, exploring what happens when different materials interact with watercolor.

Step 1
Have students create a continuous line drawing. Ask them to choose one object or subject to draw using a water-soluble marker. Remind students to add as much detail as possible without picking up their markers. The drawing should take up a good portion of the 9 x 12" (23 x 30 cm) watercolor paper.

Step 2
Ask students to choose a background color that works well with their line drawing. Demonstrate how to use a medium or large brush to create a wet-on-wet watercolor wash around the subject. Have students add watercolor around the subject rather than directly on it. Remind them to leave a small amount of negative space between the subject and the watercolor wash. Tip: Try lifting some of the watercolor wash with a wadded paper towel to create a subtle organic texture.

Step 3
Invite students to add crayon marks to their drawings. Ask them to choose a crayon in a complementary or analogous color family. Demonstrate how to use lines, shapes, and other repeated marks to add interest to the drawing. Tip: Have students try adding a small amount of watercolor over some of the crayon marks and observe how the crayon resists watercolor.

Step 4
Guide students as they add water to the continuous line drawing. Demonstrate how to use a clean, wet brush to add a small amount of water to a few areas inside the drawing. Ask students: How does the character of the line change when you add water?

Step 5
Demonstrate how to print with textured materials. Apply a small amount of watercolor to a small piece of bubble wrap or another textured material, then have students gently press the textured material onto different areas of the composition.

Step 6
While the watercolor is still wet, have students sprinkle a small amount of salt over the painted areas. Ask them to observe how the salt absorbs the water and pigment, creating a crystallized texture.

Step 7
Encourage students to keep experimenting!

After the compositions are dry, students complete a sticky-note self-reflection. As the teacher guides them through questions, students write down their reflections and stick them on the back of their compositions. Questions might include: What technique created the most interesting effect? How did watercolor change the line drawing? What happened when different materials interacted with watercolor? What would you do differently next time?

Karrie Arana is an art teacher at North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Georgia.