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Painting Perspective

Cities the world over have mascots that represent them. Students will investigate some of these and create a replica of one out of Model Magic.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

Steps

  • Step 1

    One point perspective is a key art technique that allows artists to represent a sense of depth on a flat surface. It is done by using a vanishing point, which is the point at which parallel lines appear to converge. Imagine looking at a picture of railroad tracks, which are parallel. The rails in the foreground appear wider, and they get progressively narrower in the distance until they appear to meet at the horizon line, a line across the drawing that provides a reference point. Have students look at images and identify the horizon lines and the vanishing points.

  • Step 2

    Ask students to sketch a scene using the one point perspective technique and watercolor pencils. Then have them add water to the sketch which will become a watercolor painting. The can add more watercolor paint to increase the saturation of color in the scene. While the paint is drying have them compose a poem that evokes the feelings in the art. When the paint is dry, they can use marker to transcribe their poetry onto the scene.

  • Step 3

    Have students present their art and poems and discuss the importance of providing perspective and depth in art.

Standards

ARTS: Speculate about processes an artist uses to create a work of art. 

ARTS: Explore and invent art-making techniques and approaches. 

LA: Develop real and imagined narratives. 

Adaptations

Have students explore two-point and three-point perspective. The two-point method is used when drawing such objects as buildings or room interiors, and the three-point method is used to show a bird's eye view (looking down) or a worm's eye view (looking up).

Visual poetry is a form of poetry in which the placement of words on a page creates an image. For example, in a poem about the moon the words might be arranged in a crescent form on the page. Challenge students to create a visual poem of their own.