Tint and Pattern Circles, a Lesson in Color and Negative Space

Tint and Pattern Circles

Medium:  Tempera Paint

Reason for Lesson:  Lesson was designed to create an understanding of color, tint and negative space.

Prep Time:  20 mins, need to make a paint tray for each child.  A half dollar size drop of paint of each of the 3 primary colors, red, yellow and blue and a drop of white which will be used to tint the colors.

Preparation prior to lesson:  Collect circles for the students to trace.  I’m planning on using some small plastic cups.

Class Time: 1 hour.

Materials: 

• 1 - 8x11 piece of white construction paper for each student, 
• a paint tray plate for each student, 
• a water cup for each student, 
• two paper towels for wiping the students brushes, 
• paint brush for each student, 
• tempera paint - red, yellow, blue and white, 
• Pencil and 
• plastic lids or cups

Instructions to Lead Lesson: Have a brief reminder discussion on how we mix colors and how every color comes from our 3 primary colors.  Introduce white as a tinting color.  Discuss how white is actually and absent of color and it make the colors lighter. Finally talk about negative space, it is the space in the background.  

Step One: Trace Circles on a Paper

Using a plastic lid, trace circles around paper. Encourage overlapping and going “off” the edge of the paper. Of course, you don’t have to use this method of drawing circles, but it’s an efficient way to get to the good stuff.

Step Two:  Paint Negative space

Mix one primary color and white together on the tray. This color will be the background color or negative space. Sticking to one color is pretty hard for this age group but reassure them that the opportunity to mix more colors with the white will be coming up. Paint all areas of background.  Go over proper painting techenique, a little goes a long way, a glob will take a long time to dry.

Step Three: Paint the Circles

Have the students paint each of the circles in a different color.  Making sure they have one circle each of a Primary Color, and then have them mix the colors to fill in the rest.  Encouraging them to use the white to tint the color.

Credit:  http://www.deepspacesparkle.com/2010/10/11/tint-and-pattern-circles/