An experience with

watercolors
For a third grade class
By Mia Murray
ITE326

What are watercolors? And watercolor history

Artists' paint made with a water-soluble binder such as gum arabic, and thinned
with water rather than oil, giving a transparent color
Watercolors were probably used as far back as the Paleolithic era in caves as well
as during Egyptian times.
Watercolors really became a hit and claimed their place as a favored medium
during the Renaissance.
Watercolors were generally used by Baroque easel painters only for sketches,
copies or cartoons (full-scale design drawings).

Chart Title
Series 1

Series 2

Series 3

Dawning Day
Artist unknown

C at e g o r y 1

C at e g o r y 2

Categor y 3

C at e g o r y 4

Sunset from
Platanillo
Kate Yorke Arts

Group A

Group B

Class 1

82

95

Class 2

76

88

Class 3

84

90

Task 1
Task 5

Task 2

Abstract
watercolor
By Chibianne

Task 4

Task 3

Cheetah
brothers
By Alison Nicholls

Creature
By Chloe Yingst

Questions to consider
What did you see in each of the images?
How did they make you feel?
Did they remind you of anything?
What do you think the artist was feeling? Why?
What would you have titled each image? Why?
What elements of art were used?
Would you have done something different on any of the images?
Which did you like best? Why?
What are the artists trying to communicate?

Big ideas
We can use watercolor art to express our feelings
We can use watercolor art to communicate
We each bring our own experiences into how we interpret an image
We can use the different elements of art to help us communicate through our art.
We can look to our surroundings for inspiration
An art piece will speak to everyone in a different way.

 Salt station: Students will paint an image with watercolor, they will
then experiment with adding different salts to the wet image and
observing the changes once it dries.
Sponge station: Students will wet paper and then paint with
sponges and watercolor.
Watercolor pencil station: Students will draw an image with
watercolor pencils and then paint with wet brush.

Art experiences
Students will explore watercolor
art and how to create texture
using a variety of methods

Bubble station: This process involves a paint/dish soap/water

mixture that the students will blow into bubbles to then run their
papers across. It does not contain watercolors, but gives a similar
look.
Saran wrap station: Students will create an image with watercolors
and then cover with wrinkled saran wrap or plastic grocery bags
until dry.
We will discuss the different images and processes that we
experimented with. The students will then brainstorm and create a
final image that they write an artist statement for and share with
the class.

References
Chibianne.deviantart.com,. (2015). Abstract Watercolor. Retrieved 15 June 2015, from
http://chibianne.deviantart.com/art/Abstract-Watercolor-31668267
Designs Next,. (2013). Beautiful Watercolor Paintings of Landscape. Retrieved 15 June
2015, from http://www.designsnext.com/beautiful-watercolor-paintingslandscape/
H2ocolor.com,. (2015). Cheetah Brothers by Alison Nicholls in Port Chester, NY..
Retrieved 15 June 2015, from http://h2ocolor.com/gallery/3096/cheetah-brothersby-alison-nicholls-in-port
Kateyorkearts.com,. (2015). Sunset from Platanillo Painting Print Kate York. Retrieved
15 June 2015, from http://kateyorkearts.com/wc_sunset.html
Wikipedia,. (2015). Watercolor painting. Retrieved 15 June 2015, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watercolor_painting