Lesson 3: Letting Go Bird- Background
Duration of Days: 2
Lesson Objective
Students will design a Contextual Background using color theory to communicate a specific mood associated with "letting go."
Where does your energy go once it is free? How does the "weather" of your background (colors/textures) reflect your current state of mind?
Negative Space: The area around and between the subjects of an image. Atmospheric Perspective: Creating the illusion of depth by modulating color and clarity.
VA:Re7.2.HS: Evaluate the effectiveness of an image to influence ideas, feelings, and behaviors of specific audiences.
Context Clues: Just as words around a term define its meaning, the background of an image defines the "story" of the subject.
Description: Painting/drawing the background. Purpose: Understanding environment and mood. DOK Level 4: Extended thinking through narrative building and self-reflection.
Color Psychology: How different cultures view "peaceful" colors (e.g., white as mourning in some cultures vs. blue as peace in others).
"The background is just 'extra' work." Correction: The background is the destination; it tells us where the bird is going and if the journey is calm or stormy.
Use sponges or "resist" techniques (wax crayons) for students with limited brush control to create beautiful textures easily.
Composition, Intentionality, and the Artist Statement.
Watercolors, acrylics, sponges, salt (for texture), or soft pastels. Text: Artist statement template provided by the teacher.