Painting is one of the oldest forms of expression. People have been painting for over 30,000 years, using coloured earths and minerals to make pictures or to decorate themselves or their possessions.
The dry colour powder is mixed with a ‘medium’ to make it liquid and make it stick when it dries out. Water, oil, acrylic, beeswax and egg yolks can be used as a medium. Almost anything can be used to apply the paint, but the common tools are the brush, knife, roller and spray gun. Spraying paint is not new! Artists in the Stone Age used hollow reeds to blow paint onto walls of caves.
The Color Wheel
It's easy to mix paints to make new colors. You can use the primary colors (red, blue, and yellow) plus black and white to get all of the colors of the rainbow.
The Color Wheel shows the relationships between the colors.
The three primary colors are red, yellow, and blue; they are the only colors that cannot be made by mixing two other colors.
The three secondary colors are green, orange, and violet; they are each a mixture of two primary colors. Their hue is halfway between the two primary colors that were used to mix them. On the color wheel, the secondary colors are located between the colors they are made from.
The six tertiary colors (red-orange, red-violet, yellow-green, yellow-orange, blue-green and blue-violet) are made by mixing a primary color with an adjacent secondary color. On the color wheel, the tertiary colors are located between the primary and secondary colors they are made from.
Black, white and gray are not true colors (or hues). They are considered to be neutral, achromatic colors. To make a color lighter in value, add white.The more white you add, the lighter the color will get. This is called a tint of the original color.
To make a color darker (this is called a shade of the original color), add a small amount of black. If you add too much black, your color will be almost black. Another way to darken a color is to mix in some of the complementary color. Just by mixing these colors, you can get all the colors of the rainbow !
Activity 1: Label the Color Wheel
A color wheel shows the relationship between the colors. Label and color the primary, secondary, and tertiary colors on the color wheel below.
The three primary colors (red, yellow, and blue) cannot be made by mixing two other colors. On the color wheel below, the primary colors are located on the points of the main triangle. Put red at the top.
The three secondary colors (orange, green, and violet) are each a mixture of two primary colors. On the color wheel, the secondary colors are located on the points of the upside-down triangle, between the colors they are made from.
The six tertiary colors (red-orange, red-violet, yellow-green, yellow-orange, blue-green and blue-violet) are made by mixing a primary color with an adjacent secondary color. On the color wheel, the tertiary colors are located between the primary and secondary colors they are made from.
Activity 2: My favorite artist
Name ________________________
Date _________________________
1. List biographical information on artist including:
Name ____________________
Date of birth ______________
Location of birth ___________
Artist's style ______________
2. Choose 2 of your favourite works of art by this artist.
First work of art:
Title ___________________
Date _____________________
Media ____________________
Where you can find it ______
Second work of art:
Title ____________________
Date ______________________
Media _____________________
Where you can find it ________
3. Personal Opinion: Why you like it / him /her ?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
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4. Write a brief description comparing the two works of art.:
colour, line, shape, form, shapes, space, and texture;
how are they different;
how are they similar;
which do you like best; why.
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
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5. Create your own masterpiece in the style of your favourite artist.
Activity 3: Art discussion questions
What was the last art gallery you went to?
What’s the longest you’ve ever spent looking at one picture? What was it about that picture?
What’s the longest you’ve ever spent in an art gallery? And the shortest?
Who’s your favourite artist?What do you feel when you see one of his/ her paintings?
What do you think about abstract and semi-abstract art?
What do you think about contemporary art and artistic installations?
Do you think any artists who are around now will be remembered in 50 years?
When do you think the best art was being produced?
Is there any one artist you think is over-rated?
What is the most you would spend purchasing your favourite picture (assuming you had unlimited money)?
Activity 4: What's the meaning of colors?
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