LESSON PLANS SUMMER TERM 2023 (1st half) Lesson 5, Oranges in watercolour.

In this lesson we look at colour mixes. I shall be asking my students to use mixes of colours. They'll begin by mixing specific colours to see what the results are, and then using those mixes in their paintings.

Summer Term 1st half 2023 – lesson 5: Cool colours and warm colours. Oranges in watercolour.

· These are the colours you’ll need (or as close as possible). Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Red, Lemon Yellow, Alizarin Crimson, Cerulean Blue, French Ultramarine (blue).

· As my example shows, show the pairs of individual colours and then the mix of the two. Beside each sample, make a written note of the colours used.

· Cadmium Yellow and Cadmium Red ~ Lemon Yellow and Alizarin Crimson

· French Ultramarine and Alizarin Crimson ~ Cerulean Blue and Cadmium Red

· Lemon Yellow and Cerulean Blue ~ Cadmium Yellow and French Ultramarine.

· You’re going to make a watercolour painting of your oranges but only using the various colour mixes of which you’ve made samples (not using the pure unmixed colours).

· Begin with an orange wash. This will eliminate all areas of your page which you don’t intend to leave white.

· Into that wash, blend, paint, drop one of the other of your colour mixes (I used the Cerulean Blue ~ Cadmium Red mix. I then dropped more bright orange mix into it, Cadmium Red ~ Cadmium Yellow).

· Let the oranges and their shadows all melt together! You can find lost edges later!

· As your initial layers dry you can find some hard-edged shapes. Remember that watercolour is a medium of shape and not line…you’ll paint shapes which have hard edges. You’ll retain the hard edges you want to keep but soften any other hard edges with a halo of clean water.

· Find some of your last edges. Don’t worry if some of your paint goes into wet or damp layers – let the colour run and sort out any lost edges later.

Next lesson (last lesson before half term break): Add a colourful cloth or tea towel to your ‘oranges’ still life and make a lovely watercolour or watercolour/mixed media painting. (You could add collage or colour pencils – bringing in some of the ideas we’ve worked with this half term).