Watercolour Ground Fish

In this lesson, students will create a layered watercolour artwork on transparency film using watercolour ground. They will explore a variety of watercolour techniques and incorporate paper shapes to create a layered artwork representing a school of fish.

Lesson 1

Students explore the material of watercolour ground and how it can be applied to plastic. Discuss how to create layers in an artwork and the different ways in which an artist may choose to present their work and why. Students apply watercolour paint onto the watercolour ground to create a background resembling the ocean. They can experiment with different watercolour painting techniques such as wet on wet, blending colours, and dabbing with a tissue.

Lesson 2

Students can work back into their watercolour layer or begin painting their fish. Students apply a thick layer of watercolour paint onto their background to create their fish shapes. Students create a variety of different-sized and coloured fish in their work.

Lesson 3

Students add more details and patterns into their fish paintings using paint markers. Students can then cut out different fish shapes from black paper and paste them to the back of their transparency film. Students present their work on a window for display.

Reflection:

Students can identify and assess different ways in which their work can be presented and the impact this may have on a viewer.

Extension:

Students can create the designs of their fish based on native sea creatures from their local area. Students can reflect the shapes and colours of these creatures in their own work.

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