Course: Advanced Art

Leave It To Chance

Leave It To Chance

Medium: Watercolor & Ink

Durations: 4 Class Periods

National Objective
n

Students will individually and

collaboratively formulate new
creative problems based on
their existing artwork.
(VA:Cr1.1.IIa)

Students will engage in

constructive critique with
peers, then reflect on, revise,
and refine a work of art in
response to personal artistic
vision. (VA:Cr3.1.IIa)

State Objectives
n

Students will demonstrate

multiple watercolor techniques
(wet-on wet, chemical
additives, masking, etc.) while
engaging in experimentation.

Materials
Watercolors
India Ink
Gouache
Sea Salt
Alcohol
Saran Wrap
Straws
6x9 Bristol/Watercolor Paper
Variety of bristle brushes
Large foam brush

Vocabulary
Pareidolia: the imagined
perception of a pattern or
meaning where it does not
actually exist. (Think:inksplotchtests
andlookingatclouds)

Art History/Resources

Essential Questions

Jackson Pollock

What factors prevent or

encourage people to take creative
risks?

Justin Lietner
http://www.leitnerstudios.com/

How does collaboration in critique

expand the creative process?

Art Production
Day 1
(Show Pareidolia.ppt) Similar to
the concept of finding images
within clouds, but in this case
within shapes and patterns
found within the abstract
surface of paintings. Pareidolia
can help us understand our
seemingly random stimuli and
how we relate to the rest of
society.
Demonstrate various watercolor
techniques including how
masking, salt, and alcohol can
be used. Also demonstrate ways
to use ink by dripping, tilting the
paper, or blowing with a straw.
Students will tape 9 pieces of 6x9

Leave It To Chance

Pol Ledent
http://www.dailypainters.com/artis
ts/artist_gallery/1735/ledentpol#custom_category_id_607

Modifications/Notes
Extensions
Abstract Extractionism Lesson
-Using pareidolia, extract images
out of watercolor chance painting.
Combine an illustrative style with
the watercolor images using pen
and ink, colored pencil or graphite.

Bristol/watercolor paper to a
Masonite board. Using a variety
of brushes, watercolors, ink, and
manipulative substances,
students should begin working
on their watercolor pieces.
Day 2
Continue work on the 9 watercolor
images.
Discuss pareidolia again looking at
a demo piece from the previous
class. Ask what students see in
the piece and demonstrate how
you could go about working back
into a piece with watercolor and
ink to enhance or create an
image.
Day 3
Class critique: Display all 9 pieces
for each student. Have students
discuss what they see in each
students pieces. What pieces
stand out most and why.
Have students select 2 of the
pieces they find most interesting
and work to enhance a shape or
pattern found within the abstract
watercolor surface.
Day 4
Final Class Critique: Discuss the
Essential Questions. Talk with
the class about the process:
What did they enjoyed or not
enjoy? What was challenging
about the process? What pieces
do they think were most
successful and why?

Evaluation Criteria

CONTENT
Student engaged
in constructive
critique with
peers, then
reflected on,
revised, and
refined their
pieces.
Student used the
concept of
Leave It To Chance
pareidolia
TOTAL: __ /to20 pts.
discover images
COMMENTS:
and patterns

CREATIVITY

CRAFTSMANSHIP

COMPLETION:

Student
experimented
with multiple
watercolor
techniques (weton wet, chemical
additives,
masking, etc.)

Student
consciously
applied color and
techniques with
purpose to create
interesting
patterns and
compositions.

Student
completed each
step of the project
within designated
class periods.

Student enhanced
a shape or
pattern found
within the
abstract

Student added
watercolor and/or
ink to define the
image and
composition.

Student
completed all
assigned tasks for
this project
including critique.