There are many ways to create depth and show space on a two-dimensional surface. Students in grades 4 through 6 learned how to use one-point perspective and highlights/shadows to make shapes look like they are going back into space. As a fun touch, students used fluorescent colored paints to splash and create an abstract outer space looking background. This is a fun lesson that the kids loved and almost all the results were out of this world!

Optical Illusions

These optical illusions were designed by the artists in 7th and 8th grades. We began with a lesson on perspective so students would understand how to use lines to make their drawing go back and forth in space. I then showed the class how to draw several different types of optical illusions step by step. Students could choose which optical illusion they wanted to draw for the project. Once a sketch was completed and done accurately, students drew a larger version. We then talked about atmospheric perspective and how colors appear brighter up close and duller as they get farther away. Students used this in the coloring to enhance the illusion. 

Penguins in Perspective

Students in grades 1-3 created these winter landscapes. We began by learning how to make tints of blue and purple. Students painted the background in a pattern of tints in a way that would show movement. Next, students tore paper to create the ground lines. We looked at different examples of aerial perspective and noticed how the colors are darker in the foreground and get lighter as you go back in space. Students then created trees and penguins that are larger in the foreground and get smaller as they go back into the middle and background. This fun winter lesson taught students perspective, how to mix colors and also how to show movement in an artwork.