Grey Scale  painting

The following is a tempera paint art lesson for elementary students in 2nd grade on grey scale color schemes. It is an art lesson that is free + easy to follow step-by-step  photos with written instructions.

Scroll down to find:
  1. examples of grey scale images
  2. step-by-step instructions with pictures of the project
  3. a lesson plan (including California State Visual Art Standards)

reference pictures
Jackson Pollock
'Cathedral' 1947 
-American Abstract Expressionist Painter
-Known for his drip paintings
-Jan 28, 1912 - Aug 11, 1956

step-by-step instructions

Follow the instructions along with the photos.
1. with thin brush + black paint - paint a horizontal line- paint 2 slightly diagonal, vertical lines as shown
2. connect with a slightly curved, horizontal line
3.near top - paint 2 rectangles - slightly, diagonally outward
4. paint 2 circles under shoes drawn - always allow room for imperfections
5. paint 2 vertical lines above 1st shape -  atop paint a half circle
6. paint a circle at ids of rectangular shapes - paint a few 1/2 circles atop of large shape as shown
6. add a small amount of white paint to some black paint - paint inside all shapes as shown
7. repeat step 6 
8. continue the same until each shape in filled
9. continue to repeat step 6 by adding a small amount of white paint to the paint being used so it gets lighter in blue each time.
10. finished art piece 
11. alternative paper color + image

objective

Students will, successfully make a grey scale painting using shades of black.  They will gain knowledge about what shades of black are, + how to make them.  Students will mix shades of black + paint an image with them.

materials

  • 9"x12" construction / drawing paper
  • tempera paints - black, white
  • paper towels or rags
  • tempera brushes
  • table coverings
  • cups for water

activity

1.  Show students examples of tints + shades, various values + how to achieve them.
2.  Start with white, add extremely small amount of black, paint, add more black, paint, + so on.
 3.  Demonstrate painting large enough for all students in class to see details.
 4.  See example pictures for demonstration of painting steps. 
 5.  Use only white + add black little, by little..  

clean-up

- See alternatives to lesson above.
- Paint geometric shaped animals.
- Paint on colored paper.

vocabulary

  • Balance - Visual equilibrium in a composition; achieved by organizing the weight and attention of all elements in an artwork.  Types of balance are symmetrical, asymmetrical, radial, and crystallographic.
  • Color - The visual sensation dependent on the reflection or absorption of light from a given surface.  The three characteristics of color are hue, value. and intensity.  Color Harmony; The use of compatible colors to help unify a composition. 
  • Form - A 3-dimensional volume or the illusion of 3-dimensions (related to shape, which is 2-dimensional);  the particular characteristics of the visual elements of a work of art (as distinguished from its subject matter or content).
  • ​Geometrical - Objects, lines, or shapes based on mathematical concepts, such as the circle, square, or rectangle.
  • Harmony - The principle of design that combines elements in a work of art to emphasize similarities of separate but related parts. 
  • Line - A point moving in space.  Line can vary in width, length, curvature, color, or direction.
  • Proportion - The size relationships of one part to the whole and of one part to another.
  • Scale - The size of an object or image that is measured by its relationship to the other objects and images that are recognized for their normal or actual size.
  • ​Shape - A two-dimensional are or plane that may be open or closed, free-form or geometric.  It can be found in nature or is made by humans. 
  • Space - An area in which objects or images can exist. 
  • Still Life - Arrangement or work of art showing a collection of inanimate objects.
  • Tint - Color lightened with white added.
  • Unity - Compositional similarity, oneness, togetherness, or cohesion.  Total visual effect in a composition achieved by the careful blending of elements of art and principles of design.

variation

  • use colored paper fo background sheet
  • draw simplified animal images - using geometric shapes
  • use a color plus white
  • draw multiple images working together in a composition
  • use larger paper

ca sate visual art standards

2.0 CREATIVE EXPRESSION
Skills, Processes, Materials, and Tools
2.2 Demonstrate beginning skill in the use of art media, such as oil pastels, watercolors, and tempera.