The Academy for Technology & the Classics

Lesson Plan
Instructors name: Cermanski

Course/Grade: Visual Arts I

Week of:
Thursday, October 30 to Friday,
November 7

Unit Name:
Color Theory and Abstract Painting

Common Core/ NM Content Standards:

NMVA1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7,8
Essential Question(s):

How do I understand color, texture,

contrast and balance to create a
strong abstract painting?
How do I create an abstract painting
which communicates personal
meaning?

How do I mix secondary and tertiary

colors from primary colors?

How do I make a color wheel?

Students are familiar with color

theory from previous classes.

How can I learn to abstract an object?

Other considerations (modifications,

accommodations, acceleration,
etc.):

Connections (prior learning/prior

knowledge):

Students who are having trouble

with mixing paint or painting
abstractly will get assistance from
me
More advanced students can do a
series of pieces

Resources/Materials
Teacher: Handout on color vocabulary,
color wheel, images of colorful abstract
paintings from various artists, The Rules
of Abstract Art with Matthew Collings
Students:
Acrylic paint, brushes, water jars,
rags, gesssoed paper, blank color
wheels

Assessment (How will you monitor progress and know students have
successfully met outcomes?)
Daily: Daily observations of students doing color mixing.
This Week: Completion of color wheel
Unit: Final abstract painting and participation in critique

Time allotted
WED OCT 28
Learning Target- TSW learn about
primary, secondary, and tertiary
colors and how to mix them. TSW
know this when he/she has
painted the warm colored
primary, secondary and tertiary
colors on his/her color wheel.

Lesson activities for instructor and

students
*To Prepare for classPut red, blue, yellow
paint in 12 palettes.
Do NowFirst, cover table with fabric. Then, at
the front next to sink get 1-A color wheel, 2-A
palette to share with one other person 3-Paint
brush 4-Two wet rags per table 5-One red,
yellow, and blue paint 6-Three big containers of
water for the table.
-On board write two columnsprimary and
secondary colors, warm and cool colors
define!
-Ask students to fill columns in
-Demo how to:
--paint neatly with even brushstrokes
--not dirty the original colors (using palette
knife)
--mixing (using less of light colorgetting ok
from me before painting)
--mix orange and paint in color wheel
--discuss clean up procedures. Assign the
following roles:
1. Pre-clean all brushes in water at table
2. Do final clean of all brushes in sink with
warm water and soap
3. Dump dirty water in big white bucket
4. Clean all palette knives in sink with scrub
brush & warm water
5. Help table mates cover palettes with
plastic wrap and put in drawers
6. Fold up table covering and put in bin
under table
-Students should work in pairs and paint right
out of palette for primaries.
--Then mix warm secondaries and tertiaries in
pairs
-If finished early gesso a piece of paper for
tomorrows painting

THURS OCT 29
TargetStudents will learn about
the history of abstract art and will
know this after watching a
documentary.

Watch The Rules of Abstract Art with Matthew

Collings

FRI OCT 30
TargetStudents will learn about
the history of abstract art and will
know this after watching a
documentary.
MON NOV 2
Learning Target- TSW learn how to
use gesso and about cool
secondary colors and tertiary
colors and how to mix them. TSW
know this when he/she has
painted the cool colored
secondary and tertiary colors on
the color wheel.

Finish watching The Rules of Abstract Art with

Matthew Collings

Do NowFirst, cover table with fabric. Then, at

the front next to sink get 1-A palette and
container of water to share with one other
person 2-A small paint brush and a large one,
3-A few paper towels, 4-A piece of paper and
WRITE YOUR NAME ON THE BACK NOW!!!!
-What is a secondary color? Name one. How do
you mix it?
-Demonstrate/explain purpose of gesso
--Slide show of abstract paintings
-Show my website
TodayFirst write your name on the back and
then gesso paper if you didnt do it yesterday.
-- Then, paint the cool colored primary and
secondary colorsblue, green, purple, etc.
*If time is left I will show students my website

TUES NOV 3
TargetTSW learn about mixing
tints and shades, and will learn
how various artists have used
color in abstract art. TSW know
this when he/she uses at least one
tint/shade in his/her original
painting.

Do NowFirst, cover table with fabric. Then, at

the front next to sink get 1-A palette person 2-A
few different sized brushes, 3-Two wet rages
per table 4-One red, yellow, and blue paint 5Three big containers of water for the table, 6
A palette knife, 7Your gesssoed piece of
paper
-What is the purpose of using gesso?

-Name a tertiary color

-Slide show of abstract paintings
-Show my website
-Demo various acrylic painting techniques
Painting with palette knife
Dry/wet brush
Blending in place
Painting with rags/wiping/layering
Varying types of mark-making
Varying color & creating contrast
-Abstract Painting assignment:
You must use mostly tertiary colors (a
few secondaries ok)
You should have at least one tint or
shade
Think about having contrast in your
painting in terms of brushstrokes and
color
WED
Learning TargetTSW learn how
to do a group painting using
either paint, charcoal, sharpie, or
collage. TSW know this when
he/she has added an artistic
contribution to each painting at
his/her table.
FRIDAY OCT 6
TargetTSW learn how to
participate effectively in a
critique. He/she will know this
when he/she makes several
strong constructive comments.

Do NowYou will see 4 different materials at

your table. Choose one to work with today. If
you choose paint, get brushes, palette knife,
water, and rag.
--Discuss group painting
--4 minutes per rotation
--Start group painting
Critiques!
ORif group painting isnt finished work on
that.