Monochromatic Tints & Shades Landscapes

Continuing our study of value, 5th grade artists explored tints and shades of colors. Tints are made by adding white to a color and shades are made by mixing black with the color. We began by practicing mixing our shade and tints, choosing three different colors to explore. 

We also learned about the concept of atmospheric perspective, which can be seen in many landscape photographs and paintings. Atmospheric perspective describes the effect of objects being lighter in color as they get further away from you, and darker in color when they are closer. 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. 

We discussed how landscapes can be organized with a foreground in the front, middle ground, and background. We looked at different examples of landscapes, including rural or countryside landscapes, urban cityscapes, and even fantasy landscapes inspired by books and video games. Students sketched a landscape of their own creation, including more details in the foreground, and numbering their layers to match the tints and shades gradients they painted earlier. 

The following class, students chose just one color to use for their tints and shades in their artwork, based on their explorations. When artists use shades and tints of the same color in their artwork, it is called monochromatic. 

Students began painting the background or the lightest layer first, and then painted each layer a darker tint until they arrived to their color and their shade. We discussed keeping the details as silhouettes, or outlines of the shapes. Here are some examples:

Bella, 5th Grade (Psychoghios)

Aiden, 5th Grade (Twomey)

Nolan, 5th Grade (Twomey)

Anna, 5th Grade (Twomey)

Sona, 5th Grade (Twomey)

Aliana, 5th Grade (Twomey)

Jack, 5th Grade (Twomey)

Emily, 5th Grade (Twomey)

Cammy, 5th Grade (Twomey)

Domenic, 5th Grade (Domermuth Fantasia)

Miah, 5th Grade (Domermuth Fantasia)

Yazmin, 5th Grade (Bellis)

Sila, 5th Grade (Bellis)

LiaLah, 5th Grade (Bellis)

Kate S., 5th Grade (Bellis)

Tristan, 5th Grade (Bellis)

One Point Perspective Cityscapes

Last month, 5th grade artists learned about one point perspective, which is a form of linear perspective that allows us to represent 3D objects and space on a 2D surface. Using intersecting lines that are drawn vertically and horizontally and that come from one point on a horizon line, one point perspective shows how things appear to get smaller as they get further away. It is a way to create depth in a scene. 

The horizon line divides the “ground” from the “sky” or determines the viewer’s angle. The vanishing point is the dot on the horizon where the receding diagonal lines converge or meet. The receding or orthogonal lines connect the corners of each object to the vanishing point. These define the edges of objects and shapes in the scene. In one point perspective, all vertical lines meet at one point, which is called the vanishing point, while the horizontal lines are parallel.

To begin this project, students were asked to create the illusion of 3D space on their paper without learning about one point perspective, to see how they might approach this task. Many students thought about how to show depth by representing objects that are closer to the viewer as larger, and objects that were further away as smaller. 

The following class, we learned about the rules of one point perspective and began our cityscapes. Students began by drawing the horizon line and placing the vanishing point on that line, using a ruler. Then they added two lines that started at the vanishing point and ended at the bottom of the paper. Then they began to draw shapes for buildings, connecting the corners to the vanishing point. Students planned out a cityscape, adding buildings of different shape and size. 

The following class, students added details to their buildings, such as signs, windows and doors. Students got very creative with their details, including logos of different companies and brands, and cars on the road. They outlined their pencil lines using Sharpie marker during the next class, and added color by using crayon. It took us several classes to finish our drawings, but students were very proud afterwards of how they were able to create the illusion of 3D space! 

We finished this project with a written self assessment and compared our finished drawing with the first practice drawing we did. Many students were shocked at how different the two drawings looked, and it was exciting to see the growth. Below are examples of our one point perspective cityscape drawings, which were also on display at the recent Art & Music Extravaganza:

Betzaida, 5th grade (Domermuth & Fantasia)

Eden, 5th grade (Bellis)

Saleena, 5th grade (Psychoghios)

Anthony, 5th grade (Domermuth & Fantasia)

Anita, 5th grade (Domermuth & Fantasia)

Greg, 5th grade (Psychoghios)

Robert, 5th grade (Bellis)

Jirat, 5th grade (Psychoghios)