Project Description
This life science intersected art class will take students across land, air, and sea as they visualize and paint animals and the places they call home.
In this interdisciplinary art program students will be introduced to both the basics techniques of watercolor painting and the relationships between animals and the environments where they live. Discussing 3 different animals (sea turtle, parrot, fox) and their habitats allows students to learn what each of the animals need to live in their particular environment, what plants and trees grow there, and how to express them in each painting. Using quality watercolor paper and paints, students try different watercolor painting techniques to see how to show distinct differences in light and rich values of color and different textures in fur, grass, water, tree bark and others.
Final Product
Students will create and complete three different watercolor paintings in this residency: a sea turtle in the ocean, a parrot in the air above the rainforest, and a fox in the woods
Learning Outcomes
- Students will learn to paint animals by connecting each of the shapes of the head, neck, body, legs and tail.
- Students will learn how the use of water lightens the values of the colors in the wet-on-wet technique and how the use of less water increases the value of the colors in the dry brush technique.
- The students’ paintings will demonstrate their understanding of the 3 different habitats of the animals we study, what grows there, and what the animal needs to live.
Suggested Grades
Kindergarten-5th grade
Pricing Breakdown
- 4 visits at 45 minutes each
- Prep hours: 2 hours/classroom
- Materials: $2.50/student
- Travel from Eugene
Meet the Artist
Why I teach art:
“Their enthusiasm! I love colors, and it’s so exciting to see the young artists use their paintbrushes with all the colors boldly. Kids have a fresh zest and are not afraid to try new things. The words “I can’t” are not in the way of their creating art and painting.”
—Merideth Ferrell
