Time Duration: 1 class period

Unit Title: Drawing/Painting

Lesson Title: Contrast

Objectives of Lesson

Upon completion of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Identify value contrast, color intensity, texture, shape, and warm and cool color contrast.

2. Demonstrate an understanding of contrast by successfully completing activities.

Materials Needed

1. Sketchbook, drawing pencil, and eraser.

2. Watercolor, pastels, construction paper, glue sticks, scissors, and color pencils.

3. Newspaper.

Instructional Procedure with Approximate Time Line

1. Anticipatory Set (5 minutes)

Contrast refers to differences in values, colors, textures, shapes, and other elements. Contrasts create visual excitement and add interest to the work. If all the art elements &emdash; value, for example &emdash; are the same, the result is monotonous and unexciting.

Value contrast is most evident when black is next to white, and when light values from one end of the gray scale are next to dark values from the other end. A black and white photograph is readable because of gray value contrasts.

Simultaneous contrast occurs when two pure complimentary colors are placed side by side. Each will appear brighter than when placed next to any other hues. Visual vibration might occur.

Contrast in color intensity occurs when a pure, fully intense color is next to a muted or grayed color mixture. The pure color’s strength and intensity seem to cause it to glow.

Shape contrast occurs when organic shapes are placed in a geometric environment. Or in an opposite way, a building in a landscape will produce shape contrast, as will a person in a city street.

Temperature contrast refers to the contrast of warm and cool colors. If small warm areas are placed in a dominantly cool painting, temperature contrast is evident.

Textural contrast is easily noted when artists use heavy textures to contrast with smoother areas in painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, or any of the crafts. Textural contrasts are found abundantly in nature.

2. Activities (35 minutes)

Activities should be done on separate sketchbook pages, not back to back.

• Make a chart with two columns. Using watercolor, color pencils, pastels, or construction paper, show side-by-side intense color and neutralized color; dark value and light value; soft edges and hard edges; plain square of color and patterned square; warm color square and cool color square; plain square and square with texture; geometric shape and organic shape; and a large shape and small, confetti-like shapes. This chart illustrates all the kinds of contrast we see in work of art, architecture, and nature. Title the page "Contrast in Art, Architecture, and Nature". Label each of the different types of contrast examples.
• Select two photos from newspaper that illustrate "Strong Black, Gray, and White Contrasts" (title). Or, make two drawings that emphasizes these contrasts.
• Cut out a variety of shapes in different sizes from different colored paper. Arrange them in a collage to show how "Contrasting Shapes and Colors" (title) create an interesting work of art. Glue the pieces down.

3. Assessment

0 points = Activity not done or not found. Activity done incorrectly or no title.

5 points = Activity done partly correct. Improve and turn in again.

10 points = Activity done correctly. Student demonstrates an understanding of the concepts.

Lesson taken from Elements and Principles of Design Posters, Teacher’s Guide, by Crystal Productions.