Stylized Portrait of a Single-Cell OrganismAn Oil Pastel, Watercolor, and Pencil Project

copyright ©2012 Leslie Kutz

Materials: 15x22 Watercolor paper 6x9 White drawing paper Pencils and Erasers 3D adhesive spacers (does not stick to oil pastel) Oil Pastels Scissors Watercolors Adhesive – Elmer’s glue, rubber cement, or gluestick Paintbrushes Optional – Black rollerball ink pen 6x9 tag board/poster board Water bowls/cups and paper towels/rags

Objective: Students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of cell structure, single-cell organisms, warm/cool color schemes, watercolor and oil pastel techniques through the creation of an original artwork.

Subject Preparation: Begin by reviewing and checking for understanding of the simple structure of animal and plant cells. Observe diagrams of both taking time to name each component – nucleus, vacuole, cytoplasm, etc.

Included with the review, students should also view several images of various single-cell organisms such as, viruses, parasites, bacteria, algae, etc. Discuss what a single-cell organism is: an organism that has a single cell wall surrounding its entire structure no matter how simple or complicated that structure may be.

Also discuss single-cell reproduction through cell-division using visuals that could be incorporated into their artwork.

copyright ©2012 Leslie Kutz

Students could choose from a provided image bank, or research single-cell organisms on their own or in groups to find one that interests them and sparks their creativity.

Rough Draft: After researching single-cell organisms, students will create several thumbnail sketches to help them determine which type of cell they would like to work with. They will choose their favorite from the thumbnail sketches and begin their final rough draft process. Stylization comes through in the colors and textural techniques they choose to give their composition. Each cell represented should be true to the structure of a single-cell organism. Encourage them to develop the depth of their composition through the placement of repeated organisms ranging from background to middle-ground to foreground on the picture plane. The student will use the rough draft as a reference for their final artwork.

The students will begin sketching their single-cell organism design on their watercolor paper.

Oil Pastel Organisms & Warm/Cool colors (*extended oil pastel practice recommended)Once all organisms have been drawn on the picture plane, students will be given a short demonstration of oil pastel techniques including single and multi-color layering, blending techniques, smudging and subtractive techniques.

In addition, students will now be checked for understanding of warm/cool color schemes. If needed provide a short re-teach of these concepts.

Students must now choose whether they will use warm or cool colors for their single-cell organisms. Their background will be completed in the opposite color scheme. The single-cell organisms will be completed using oil pastels.

Watercolor background (extended wet-on-wet and float technique practice recommended)Once students have completed the oil pastel portion of their project, they will be introduced to the wet-on-wet and float techniques of watercolor painting. Students will choose which technique they want to use on their background. The background colors must be the opposite color scheme of the organisms (warm or cool). First, using masking tape, secure the paper to the table (or painting board) creating an even border around the periphery of their composition. This will keep the paper flat as it dries and reduce warping. When oil pastel has been applied thick enough (no white paper showing through), the watercolor will not stick to the oil pastel resulting in a crisp outline of the organisms against the contrasting background color.

Once the watercolor has dried, students may choose to fill in their border with oil pastel to complement their single-cell organisms or leave the border white.

Project Steps Part 2 – Portrait drawing of single-cell organism: With the watercolor and oil pastel portion of their project completed, students will now create a pencil drawing of their single-cell organism. This serves as a more realistic “portrait” of their organism. This drawing will be accompanied by pencil shading technique demonstrations. Students will be encouraged to emphasize the components of a cell in this “portrait” of a single cell. Labeling is optional, but the student should be able to point out each part of a cell in their drawing.

Once this drawing is completed, students will cut out the image they have drawn, leaving a small amount of space around the organism. Now students will trace that outline shape on a piece of tag board or poster board. The drawing will be glued down to the board to help make it sturdy. Students choose a strategic place to stick the “portrait” drawing to the oil pastel/watercolor work using 3-dimensional adhesive spacers. This allows the drawing of the single-cell organism to “float” above the stylized background.

Science concepts used: animal and plant cell structure, single-cell organisms and behaviors, single-cell organism reproduction. Science Extensions/additional concepts: Specific types of cells or organisms, viruses, bacteria phases, parasites, breakdown of parts of a cell (plant or animal).

Art concepts used: Oil pastel technique, composition, picture plane, Watercolor technique, Pencil techniques, stylized subject matter, realistic subject matter, warm and cool colors. Art Extensions/additional concepts: Various color schemes (primary/secondary, complementary, monochrome/neutral, analogous, etc.), organic/geometric shape.

copyright ©2012 Leslie KutzAny and all use must be accompanied by link to www.braintobrush.wordpress.com

mail to: ruesreign@gmail.com