WC - Watercolor Collage Module Overview

Watercolor Collage Module Overview

Introduction

View the following presentation to get an overview of what you will be learning in this module.

Key Terms

    1. Color - Reflected light.
    2. Texture - How something feels or looks as if it feels.
    3. Space - The area around, between, above, below or within objects.
    4. Movement - Create the look or feeling of action; guide the viewer’s eye.
    5. Balance - Equalizing visual elements.
    6. Variety - Different and contrasting elements.
    7. Saturation (Pure) - Concentrated and vivid watercolor.
    8. Preserve White - In watercolor, the only white is the white of your paper. You can save areas that you want to remain white by preserving the areas using resists like frisket, rubber cement, glue, or color pencils.
    9. Light Value - In watercolor, lighter values are made by adding more water.
    10. Wet on Wet - Watercolor technique where water or very wet color is applied to paper and wet watercolor is dropped in. The mixing of colors happens organically.
    11. Dry Brush - Activate your watercolor first and then apply color with a dry brush. This techniques gives greater control and is good for details.
    12. Masking - Preserving an area of white or lighter value through resists media (see Preserve White).
    13. Lifting - In watercolor, you can remove values of color by applying clean water and then gently blotting away the excess color.
    14. Transparency - Having the ability to see through a layer. Watercolor is more transparent with lighter values.
    15. Landscape - A genre of painting where the focus is the appreciation of nature for its own sake; its choice as a specific subject for art is a relatively resent phenomenon.
    16. Watercolor - Watercolor paint consists of fine pigment particles suspended in a water-soluble binder (adhesive substance). It is usually used on paper. As watercolor is semi-transparent, the white of the paper gives a natural luminosity to the washes of color.
    17. Binder - Ingredients that provide a binding effect that holds the pigments together to create a dry film on the surface. Most types of paint are known by the binder that holds the pigments to the painting surface. However watercolor is the exception and the binder in watercolor is gum Arabic.
    18. Pigments - In painting, dry coloring matter, usually a powder, is mixed with water, oil, or another base to produce paint and similar products.
    19. Background - The "part of the composition in the pictorial arts that appears to be farthest from the viewer."
    20. Middleground - That portion of an artwork between the foreground and background. 
    21. Foreground - It is the part of the composition that appears to be closest to the viewer.
    22. Underdrawing - The drawing preliminary to other layered work. In watercolor, this should be done in very light pencil since the medium is transparent.
    23. Underpainting - A layer of color or tone applied to the painting surface before the painting itself is begun, to establish the general compositional masses, the lights and darks (values) in the composition.
    24. Rule of Thirds - A compositional tool used primarily in photography where the picture plane is divided into 1/3s both vertically and horizontally. The intersection of these lines creates power points and helps to guide the artist in placing the focal point on these points rather than placing it in the dead center.

Module Lessons Preview

In this module, we will study the following topics:

Artist Focus: Following in the Asian tradition of watercolor landscapes, we will learn about the woodblock master, Hokusai.

History of Watercolor Painting: It is important to study the history of watercolor paintings so you can understand the potential of this media that is often seen as a children's medium.

Explore Watercolor Techniques: Since you will be creating a watercolor collage in a variety of values, colors, and textures, it is important to investigate the different ways you can alter and apply watercolor.

Introduction of the Module Project and Composition: Since you are recreating a collage from a photo reference, you will need to understand the compositional technique of "Rule of Thirds."

Techniques and Composition Journal: The journal for this module will help you execute the module project by investigating watercolor techniques and by completing a planning thumbnail.

Building the Collage Project: This project requires you to create watercolor pages made with at least four of the watercolor techniques. You will learn how to cut or tear these techniques to build your collage.

Watercolor Collage Project: Submit your completed module project following the objectives. Make sure you submit all the required work.

Upload Watercolor Collage Project to Online Portfolio: Add your work from this module to your online portfolio. 

Watercolor Collage Quiz: Show your knowledge and you learned during this module.

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