08 April - Depth and Value in Overlapping Objects - 4th grade

Description:

To draw and color in with pastels a still life in which the objects are overlapped to show depth and colored to show changes in value.

Supplies:

One 12x18-inch piece of black drawing paper per student

Pencils and erasers (for light sketching of still life objects)

Oil pastels

Fruit, such as a large apple or grapefruit, a lemon or lime, large squash, and an object such as a vase or bowl.

Pre-Class Prep:

Set-up: Make a still life arrangement at each table

• Have pastels,paper,rulers and pencils ready for distribution.

Depth and Value

1. Talk about depth and value. Depth refers to the amount of “distance” projected by a composition. Ask them if they can think of ways to arrange objects in a painting to achieve a feeling of depth? (Foreground, Middle ground, Background) By overlapping objects within a composition, an artist can create the illusion of depth.Overlapping is a technique used to get some depth in a composition.

Value refers to how dark or light something is. Warmer lighter values are shown on a object where the light is hitting it; as you move across the object it gets darker and cooler as you move to the shadow cast by the object. It is the change in the value of the colors applied to an object that make it seem real and appear more realistic or 3-dimensional.

Process: Drawing the Still Life Explain that they will draw the composition they see on their tables on the black paper using their pencils (remind them to draw lightly-they will be going over the drawing with pastels.). Before they begin to draw, they need to know:

1. Draw BIG Shapes – fill the paper with their drawing! No tiny fruit and veggies in the centerof the paper.

2. Overlap each object – Each object should overlap the one behind it. When they begin drawing they should start with the object that is closest to them, because you will see all of its edges. Then add the one just behind it.

3. Put in a horizon line – Now that their objects are on their papers, have them place a line just behind them to suggest the edge of the table in the distance.

Painting the still life with Pastels

1. Students need to decide which side the light will be coming from in their drawings (right or left). Tell them that where the light hits the objects most directly, there will be what is called a “highlight” or very light spot that may even look white Have them lightly pencil small (penny size) circles on each of their three objects where they think the highlights should be.

2. Students can start painting with the pastels. They want to achieve a change in the VALUE of the coloring across each object that clearly shows that they have light sides and dark sides (the side the light is coming from is colored lighter - the other side is colored darker.

For the lighter side students can add white For the darker side of their object can even have some of the dark paper show through. Or the students can use color compliments. For example, if they have a lemon in their composition, urge them to use white and yellow on the light side and purple (yellow’s color compliment) on the shadow side. If they want to color their pumpkin or butternut squash orange, have them make the shadow side dark blue. If they have a red apple the shadow side would have green, etc.

Notes on using pastels - The more pastel they layer over the black paper, the more bright color they will get. - If they want the color to be smoothed together, they can rub gently with their finger to blend. - Have students start coloring their objects beginning with the one in back first. By working from the top down, they will avoid smearing their work in the foreground.