Peter H.

Reynolds : Creatriology
Grades: 4th & 5th

SKY COLOR
Kansas State Standard VA:Basic:1.1.1

Medium:
Durations: 2- 30minute, 1- 1hour

Materials

Students will observe that the iconic colors of objects are not the only
colors available when painting a picture.

6X10in 60# Paper

4X8in Drawing Paper
(Scrap from The Dot paper)
Tempera Cakes / Watercolors
Paintbrushes
Colored Pencils
Scissors
Glue
8x12in Yellow Construction Paper
(Scrap from The Dot Mats)
9x12in Drawing Paper

Students will apply watercolor paint to wet paper allowing the colors to
mix and bleed (wet-on-wet technique).

Elements of Art

Students will experiment with various watercolor techniques to create a

sky without using the color blue.

Standard 1: Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes

Benchmark 1: The student explores a variety of art media, techniques, and
processes.
Indicator 1: manipulates a variety of media, such as paint, dough, clay, crayons,
paper, and fibers.

Objectives

Color

Principles of Design
Art Production
30 Minutes Read Sky Color & Discuss
1 Hour Create Sky Color Paintings, Draw Flying Self-Portraits
30 Minutes Read Sky Color & Discuss
Anticipatory Set: What color is an apple? (Take a couple of answers, students will
probably say red and green) Those are some good ideas; lets see what other ideas
we can come up with after we read our book today.
State Objective: Today were going read Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds. It is a
book about a girl named Marisol, who is getting ready to paint a picture of the sky
but she cant find the color she thinks she needs. What color is the sky (take one
answer- blue)? Marisol thought so too, lets see what she learns
Input & Guided Practice: Read the book Sky Color written & illustrated by
Peter H. Reynolds. Ask questions as you read (Listed in Art Criticism/Analysis
Questions)
(SKYCOLOR.PPT) Show the students some work by Claude Monet & Andre
Derain. Discuss how sometimes you have to really look at what youre painting
and not just paint what you think you know, like the Impressionist, Claude Monet.
And sometimes artists just make up the colors, like the Fauve artists, Andre Derain.

SKY COLOR

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Vocabulary
Wet-on-wet Technique wet paint
applied to wet paper.

Art History/Resources
Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds
SKYCOLOR.PPT (Google Drive)
Claude Monet, Impression: Sunrise, 1872
Claude Monet, San Giorgio Maggiore at
Dusk,1908-1912
Claude Monet, Wheatstacks (End of
Summer), 1890-1891
Andre Derain, Landscape Near Chatou,
1904
Andre Derain, Charing Cross Bridge,
London, 1906

Claude Monet The critic got the word "impression" from one of Monet's works.
It is called Impression: Sunrise. This painting was a great example of the new
style. The lighting gives the viewer the feeling or "impression" that the sun is just
rising. Monet's use of light was unique. An interesting fact about this picture is the
brightness of the sun. It is the same as the sky. If you turn this picture into a black
and white picture, the sun virtually disappears.
Andre Derain Derain uses what we call arbitrary colors. Arbitrary colors are
colors chosen by the artists that dont necessarily represent the real objects.

Modifications/Notes
If time remains after painting or after
reading and discussion, read Peter H.
Reynoldss other books, The Dot & Ish.

Demonstrate: Show exemplars. Talk about the wet-on-wet technique we will be

using to create our skies.
Check for Understanding: Lets go back to the question I asked you at the
beginning of class, what color is an apple? If students again say Red & Green,
quietly wait a few seconds with eyebrows raised and a smile. Students will
gradually launch into a much more expansive list of colors: yellow, greenspeckled, and so on.
Closure: Before you come in for your hour time, I want you to look at the sky and
see what colors you see. Look in the morning on your way to school, in the
evening when the sun sets, and maybe even at night when the sun is down. When
you come in for your hour time well paint our own sky colors. I cant wait to see
what types of colors you all come up with next time!
1 Hour Create Sky Color Artwork (20min. Sky Color, 30min. flying self)
Anticipatory Set: Raise your hand if you can tell me the Element of Art we talked
about was. COLOR. What colors have you seen in the sky since we read Sky
Color? (Take 3 answers)
State Objective: Today were going to what is called a wet-on-wet technique to
paint a sky color of our own; just like Marisol, you cannot use any blue for your
sky. Then well draw a self-portraits with colored pencils to fly through our sky
color like Marisol did in our book.
Demonstrate: Show exemplars. Quickly demonstrate the process for using weton-wet technique to create a sky. Paper should be Landscape Orientation. Before
you begin, put your name on the back of your paper (first name, space, last name,
class name underneath). Using a wet brush lightly dampen the entire paper. Using a
watery mix of tempera paint, brush one color lightly over the 6x10in paper. Rinse
paintbrush and pick up a second color. Paint on paper again, if you touch another
color it might bleed a little, that is okay! Be gentle when painting, when the paper
is wet, it will tear easily. Once finished place the whole painting mat on the drying
rack and get a piece of 4x8in paper to draw and color your self-portrait with
colored pencils. Make sure to draw yourself as if you were flying, your portrait
should not look like it is standing.
Check for Understanding: What color should you paint your sky? What do we do
first? Put name on back of paper (First name, Last name, Class name) Wet Paper
Add Color Rinse Paintbrush and Repeat Once Your Sky Is Finished Place It
On Drying Rack Get 4x8in Paper Draw and Color Self-Portrait.
Guided Practice:. Before you begin, put your name on the back of your paper
(first name, space, last name, class name underneath). Using a wet brush lightly

SKY COLOR

dampen the entire paper. Using a watery mix of tempera paint, brush one color
lightly over the 6x10in paper. Rinse paintbrush and pick up a second color. Paint
on paper again, if you touch another color it might bleed a little, that is okay! Be
gentle when painting, when the paper is wet, it will tear easily. Once finished,
place the whole painting mat with paper on the drying rack, put paintbrush in soapy
water jug. Get a piece of 4x8in paper to draw and color your self-portrait with
colored pencils (Dont forget to write your name on this paper as well! Make sure
to draw yourself as if you were flying, your portrait should not look like it is
standing.
Closure: Students should place their finished sky color paintings on the drying
rack; collect self-portraits (make sure they all have names). Final questions: What
is the Element of Art we focused on for this project? COLOR! Are skies always
blue? NO! Are apples always red? NO! Once our sky color paintings have had a
chance to dry and flatten out, we will cut out our self-portraits and glue them to the
sky.
30 Minutes Cut out Portrait & Glue to Sky Color
Have students carefully cut out their self portraits and neatly glue them to their sky
color sheet. Students who are finished by free draw on a piece of 9x12 paper.

Aesthetic Questions
Is the sky always blue?
Can an artist change the color of something when they paint it?

Art Criticism/Analysis Questions

Before Reading:
-What color is an apple?
-Have you ever wanted to draw something but couldnt find the right color?
-What color is the sky?
While Reading:
- What is a mural?
- What colors do you think Marisol could use if she doesnt have blue?
- Could a sky have spots and swirls like in Marisols dream?
- What color is the sky while Marisol is waiting in the rain?
After Reading:
-Does Marisols painting still look like the sky, even though there is no blue?
-Would the mural have been as unique and pretty if the sky was blue just like
the ocean water?
- Why do you think the author wrote this book? What did he want us to learn?
- What color is an apple?

SKY COLOR