2nd Grade
SNOWMAN USING FOREGROUND, MID GROUND AND BACKGROUND
Let's study these two pieces of art:
Why is the snowman in the foreground so big? What is in the midground? Why is the stuff in the background so small? Do you see anything that's too big for where it's at in the picture?
When you study these two pictures, you will notice that the snowman is in the Foreground. That means, it's in the front of the picture. The things that are closest to us are drawn bigger in the picture, because that is what our eyes actually see. Our brain processes that information and tells us that it's closer to us because it's bigger. You can try measuring some things around you. Try closing one eye, hold your hand (straight arm) out in front of you and "pinch" something you are looking at between your fingers. See how big it is? Now, measure something that is far away from you (holding your arm out and "pinch" something). Can you see how small that far away thing is? It's amazing that our eyes are seeing and processing this information, but we haven't really thought about what's happening.
Did you notice in the picture on the right that there is something that looks out of place? Something that looks bigger than it really should be? Yes, it's the moon!!! It's in the background, so it really should be a lot smaller than it's drawn right now.
I want you to really pay attention to the sizes of the things you are about to draw. Make sure the foreground has things that are really big, as they are close to you. And, your midground things are smaller than the foreground. And, the background has only small things.
Use the video below to help guide you through a picture using Foreground, Mid Ground, and Background. You can change things up some, if you would like. Just make sure you are making everything the right sizes.
When you color (or paint) your snow. I want you to add shadow too. By adding shadows to your snowballs and snow hills, it will make it look like it has more depth and change a flat circle into a sphere. Now, normally when you "color" shadows, you probably use black or gray. When you add shadows to snow, however, it's actually BLUE! You see, snow is made up of water, right? So, your eye actually see blue in the shadows of snow.... NOT BLACK (or gray)!!! Isn't that amazing?!?!?
Did you notice in the picture on the right that there is something that looks out of place? Something that looks bigger than it really should be? Yes, it's the moon!!! It's in the background, so it really should be a lot smaller than it's drawn right now.
I want you to really pay attention to the sizes of the things you are about to draw. Make sure the foreground has things that are really big, as they are close to you. And, your midground things are smaller than the foreground. And, the background has only small things.
Use the video below to help guide you through a picture using Foreground, Mid Ground, and Background. You can change things up some, if you would like. Just make sure you are making everything the right sizes.
When you color (or paint) your snow. I want you to add shadow too. By adding shadows to your snowballs and snow hills, it will make it look like it has more depth and change a flat circle into a sphere. Now, normally when you "color" shadows, you probably use black or gray. When you add shadows to snow, however, it's actually BLUE! You see, snow is made up of water, right? So, your eye actually see blue in the shadows of snow.... NOT BLACK (or gray)!!! Isn't that amazing?!?!?
A book: If Picasso Painted a Snowman
Just so you know... most kids ask me why he's wearing a black and white shirt like he's in jail? It's actually not a black and white shirt. He's wearing a blue and white shirt. He loved this shirt and is shown wearing it in many pictures. This is a black and white photograph, which makes it look like he's in jail! ha!
Pablo Picasso was from Spain, but spent most of his adult life in France. He was born on October 25, 1881 and died April 8, 1973. He is regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, he is known for co-founding the Cubist movement.
This is one of his famous "Cubism" paintings. It's called "Weeping Woman" and was painted in 1937. |
Pablo Picasso is a famous artist. He was one of the inventors of abstract art. And, he's the one that invented a art history movement called "Cubism". That's when everything in the picture had angles and looked squared off. And, also looked very weird, different angles in one picture and features that were jumbled up. He is one of the most widely known artist in history because of this. Isn't it amazing that his brain could think of making things look all crazy like this? |
Assignment: Create a picture using Foreground, Midground and Background like this video:
If you are a remote learner and want to try watercolors on your picture, feel free to!