Subject: ArtGrade Level: Secondary, grades 9-12Project:

Painting mandalas using hidden, four-letter words (positive, meaningful) while studying color and value.

Rain Love Jazz

Essential Questions to discuss during the process:How can painters who use strong color make their paintings attract and hold your attention even more?Is color more important than value?

Learning Targets: Use tempera to paint mandalas. Identify four-letter words that are positive and meaningful. Use a positive four-letter word to create a circular composition. Use various combinations of colors being aware of each color’s grayscale value so that the mandala has a full range of values to create contrast and interest.

Materials:12”x12” watercolor or heavy white papertempera paint6”x6” glazed white tiles or other palettesSize 10 round watercolor brushes¼” flat brushesnewsprintscissorsglue sticksrulerspencils and erasers

Procedure:1. Document camera use #1

Show students examples of art work with strong colors such as Henri Matisse, Joan Miro, or Jacob Lawrence. After discussing the use of color for contrast, turn the document camera to the black and white mode and look at the same painting for values and contrast. Analyze how clarity and impact come from contrast which comes from both color and value.

2. Document camera use #2Show examples of cultural and personal mandalas from sources such as Mandala, Journey to the Center by Bailey Cunningham. The mandala shape is related to

biological forms. Discuss students’ responses to the images. Add your observations about shapes, colors, values, repetition and contrast.

3. Propose a project of painting personal mandalas based on four-letter words. That will get their attention. As students know, offensive four letter words have a lot of power. On the board, brainstorm other four-letter words that have power and meaning for the students, good, talk, snow, cars, and kiss. ESL students can write in their languages and alphabets. Students with special needs can do four section “snowflakes” with single letters or their initials. Show how the word will be hidden in the mandala pattern even though it will be totally visible.

4. Make the pattern for the mandala, by folding a 10” square of newsprint into an eight-section “snowflake.” Measure 5” inches from the point to mark a curve on the outer edge to end up with a circle when it is unfolded. Write your word in either block letters or cursive from the outer edge toward the point paying attention to the negative space shapes around the letters. Be sure the letters touch the folded edges, or it all falls apart when you cut. You can cut out the center of letters by cutting through with scissors rather than use an Exacto knife.

5. Open the “snowflake” and place the circle of words in the center of the 12”x12” square of watercolor paper. Use a few light, strategic dabs of glue stick to keep it from moving on the water color paper. Use your fingers to hold sections in position while you lightly trace around the words with pencil. Peel off the glued places and remove any of the residual glue with an eraser.

6. Document camera use #3Make color choices and start painting. First demonstrate how to use the document camera set on the color mode to analyze color choices for contrast. Then show how to use the black and white mode to see if they have a full range of values and where to add different values for better contrast. After the demonstration, students

can walk up to use the camera individually throughout the period. Students will be much more intentional and satisfied with their color choices with this process. They all love the fact there are hidden words in the mandalas and enjoy trying to find them.

Variations: Water color Colored pencil texture over water color washes. Fluorescent tempera paint Metallic paints Simpler, use a four-section “snowflake” with a numeral or a symbol. Use a four-section with botanical shapes or animal silhouettes. Use a cut paper snowflake for a kaleidoscope design. Have students use their names, but more than 5 letters are tedious to paint. Instead of hard edge, go painterly with soft edges like Jasper Johns’ Flag series.

Love in silver metallic

Snowflake pattern