Monochromatic Tints Landscapes

Continuing with our study of value, 5th grade artists explored tints, which are made by adding white to a color. Students mixed white to a primary color, secondary color and tertiary color (which they also practiced mixing). The following class, they selected just one color to use for their tints gradient. Each student painted a piece of paper folded into 4 sections with tints of that chosen color. 

We then learned about the concept of atmospheric or aerial perspective, which can be seen in many landscapes. Basically, colors get lighter as things get further away from you. In addition, you can see more detail in the foreground and less detail in the background. 

We looked at some examples of photographs and paintings that demonstrate this concept.

Albert Bierstadt, The Rock Mountains, Lander's Peak (1863)

Students then sketched out their own landscape, deciding between a rural landscape and an urban landscape. The landscape included 4 layers, going from dark to light, with more detail in the foreground than background. After sketching, students drew their landscape on the back of each painted section of paper and cut them out before assembling and gluing them down as a collage. 

Many students went back and added more details by cutting out shapes from the leftover painted scraps of paper to make their landscapes more interesting. 

Lastly, students mixed their lightest tint and painted the remaining background. We learned that when an artist makes an artwork using different tints and shades of one color, this is called monochrome. We had a gallery walk of our finished monochromatic landscapes to see everyone's work. Here are some examples:

Taylor, 5th Grade

Alex, 5th Grade

Daniella, 5th Grade

Malcolm, 5th Grade

Lameh, 5th Grade

Ariana, 5th Grade