Watercolor Flowers Inspired by Georgia O'Keefe

I begin this class with my students observing flowers and leaves.  When possible I take the class out to look at live plants although dry or silk flowers can be used instead. They look for similarities and differences and art elements.

After making two or three practice drawings the students pick one to transfer onto watercolor paper.  The finished design should be a simple line drawing.  Black glue is used to trace over the pencil lines and left to dry before painting.  Black or white oil pastels may be used instead of the black glue.

Before the students begin drawing
I introduce them to the flower paintings of Georgia O'Keefe and  we discuss how cropping can be used to create a dramatic, abstracted design.

Before the students begin painting I demo how to use watercolors.  Most of the students need to be reminded that they need to keep the paint very fluid.  I usually teach this class after a unit on color so the students already have a basic understanding of how colors blend.  The hardest part is keeping them from over blending and making the colors "muddy".

Older Student Work

Younger Student Work

Learning objectives: color, line, shape, cropping, abstraction

Abstract Flowers (first/second grade)