Aspen Trees

This lesson incorporated abstract art and pointillism.  We looked at images from artist, George Seurat, and discussed his technique of using tiny dots of color to create his paintings.  I asked the students to use a similar technique while making the foreground of their pictures with oil pastels.  After we laid down our masking tape trees, we pulled out fall colors from the boxes of oil pastels.  We used reds, oranges, yellows, browns, and greens, and began making tiny motions to full in the ground with dots as if all the leaves had fallen off the trees.  To get the "smudged" appearance, students used baby oil with q-tips to blend all the colors.

Step #1 - Laying down the tape trees

Step #2 - Adding a pointillism foreground 

After completing the foreground, students then worked on the sky.  Dramatic skies were the focus, making sure to incorporate more than one color.  We looked at images of dramatic sun sets and stormy skies to help with their ideas.  We used watercolors to paint in the skies and I love how they all have a different personality.

Step #3 - Adding a dramatic sky

The final step was rip off the tape and add the details of the Aspen trees to each trunk and branch.  Students were given black crayons to add shadow and details with.  Well done!