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)

Tints & Shades, Two Ways

Recently, 5th grade artists explored tints and shades through color mixing. A tint is a color mixed with white and shades are made by mixing in black. Students experimented with creating tints and shades of three different colors to help them decide which color they ultimately wanted to use in their artwork.

The following class, students were given two different options for painting tints and shades. The first option involved a technique called masking, where students used masking tape to seal off different areas of the paper to create separated areas for their tints and shades. 

Students who chose this option placed the pieces of masking tape on their clothing first, to make it a little less sticky so that it would not rip the paper when removed. Then students mixed tints and shades of once color, painting each section with a different tint or shade. After the painting dried, students gently removed the tape to reveal the paper underneath, which created white lines that neatly separated their tints and shades.

The second option involved repeating a shape, like a circle, starting with the lightest tint in the center and adding concentric rings of gradually darker tints and shades. Below are examples of both options for our tints and shades paintings. Some of them are also on display in the connector hallway!

Ani, 5th Grade (Psychoghios)

Anna Julia, 5th Grade (Domermuth)

Bella, 5th Grade (Twomey)

Cyrus, 5th Grade (Bellis)

Danial, 5th Grade (Twomey)

Jaydon, 5th Grade (Psychoghios)

Joe, 5th Grade (Psychoghios)

Leanne, 5th Grade (Psychoghios)

Sevag, 5th Grade (Twomey)

Sidney, 5th Grade (Twomey)

Elena, 5th Grade (Bellis)

Molly, 5th Grade (Bellis)

Roy, 5th Grade (Domermuth)

Wellington, 5th Grade (Domermuth)