ARTISTS WILL use color, line, and shape to communicate a subject/mood in an abstract way with acrylic paint.

—9"x12" Canvas Boards (we used Blick)
—Acrylic Paint (Primaries + Black & White)
—Brushes (we used flat brushes)
—Round Palettes

Need these materials? Visit Blick!

—Students select a subject (person, place, experience, etc.)
—Students choose a mood word that they associate with chosen subject (consider working with language teachers here)
—Students select colors (we used 2 primaries + B&W) that they think best represent this mood (this may require some discussion about color associations)
—Students give their canvas a background fade/wash, using paintbrushes, excess water, paper towel dabbing, etc. (this gives them a chance to paint and blend freely on the canvas)
—Once the background is dry, students begin to play with tape overlays and "zips" (Barnett Newman term) to mask their background and to add shapes, lines and colors.
—Layer, layer, layer

Students are assessed on a rubric that is given out before the project. They are graded on a scale of 0-3 for categories including: Craft, Use of Materials and Technique, and Use of Class Time.

MoMA Barnett Newman technique video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GacKM9yxiw4

MoMA Franz Kline technique video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xQTlp0hscs

MoMA Jackson Pollock technique video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EncR_T0faKM

MoMA Mark Rothko technique video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSiu8qzHV6c

Make sure paint is dry before laying tape!
Make sure edges of tape are pressed firm to canvas (so the paint doesn't sneak under)

Helen Frankenthaler, Arschille Gorky, Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Kline, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko

Color Field, Abstract Expressionism, Abstract Art

Color/Value, Line, Shape, Texture, Unity/Harmony

Acrylic, Canvas