6 sessions; 40 minutes per session

1. SWBAT create a composition that fills the page.
2. SWBAT apply the influence of macro nature photography.
3. SWBAT draw and paint plants, flowers, and/or vegetables in a realistic way.
4. SWBAT mix and paint the same colors that they photographed.

1. Ipads or cameras for photographing.
2. Garden area, wooded area, or plants.
3. Canvases (9"x12" was what we used)
4. Acrylic paints
5. Acrylic retarder
6. Acrylic gel medium
7. Paper and pencils for preliminary drawings.
8. Variety of brushes
9. Palette knives for mixing
10. Plastic plates for paint palettes

Need these materials? Visit Blick!

Class 1:
1. Show examples of macro photography or have students look for examples on their own.
2. Students take 5-10 photographs with their ipads or cameras making sure to fill the frame and zoom in.
3. Students select and crop the image they will paint.
4. Students make a preliminary drawing on practice paper.
Class 2:
5. Students draw with pencil on the canvas.
6. Students paint the background (typically it was the dirt or grass).
7. Students paint the largest shapes and forms, making sure to completely cover the canvas with an opaque layer of paint.
Class 3:
8. Show students and discuss examples of work by Rousseau and O'Keeffe.
9. Students paint the closer and smaller shapes and forms. Encourage students to consider value and putting lights against darks to create dimension.
Class 4-6:
10. Students add additional transparent and/or opaque layers of paint and small details.
11. Students paint the edges of the canvas.

Students complete a self-grading sheet that I then score as well.
Students complete a 3-5 sentence reflection and artist statement.

Georgia O’Keeffe, Henri Rousseau

Realism, Post-Impressionism, Modernism

Proportion/Size, Form, Color/Value

Acrylic, Canvas, Painting

Science

acrylicgardenpaintings.selfgradingsheet.pdf