Materials
Red, yellow, blue, black and white tempera paint, 12"x18" drawing paper, sponge, palette, can for water, 1" and ½" flat brushes.
Resources
Paintings by Franz Kline (Mahoning 1956; Cardinal 1950) and Hans Hofmann (Rising Moon 1964; The Gate 1959)
Each group of four will have red, yellow, blue, black and white paints to share. They will also have a can for water, a palette (or shiny magazines to mix colors on), a sponge, and several paint brushes. Distribute 12"x18" drawing paper. Instruct students to:
- experiment mixing colors to create lines and shapes
- fill the page to the edges
- leave white spaces if they want to
- use black and white paint to lighten and darken some of the colors.
Display the wet paintings. Ask students to identify:
- primary colors
- colors made by mixing primary colors
- colors made by adding white paint; black paint
- Why is it good to mix your own colors?
- What happens when we mix too many colors together?
- Why is everyone's painting different?
In preparation for lesson #3, the classroom teacher should take the class on a neighborhood walk and note:
- colors
- buildings
- vehicles
- signs
- people