Mixed Media Landscapes

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    "Adopt the pace of nature, 
    her secret is patience."

     

    - Ralph Waldo Emerson

     

    Facebook reminded me that this time last year the girls and I were farm sitting for friends in Helvetia, Oregon.  Oh, take me back to wide open spaces, big blue sky, and green as far as the eye can see. Take me back to  air so lush and fresh (unless you are standing in the chicken coop) that you get a little heady when you breathe it in. Take me back to the place where the grass grows green and lichen and moss hang from every tree. 

     
    landscape with red barn Helvetia, Oregon

    landscape with red barn Helvetia, Oregon

     
    rusty red cows Helvetia, Oregon

    rusty red cows Helvetia, Oregon

     
    white barn and a white horse on the ridge Helvetia, Oregon

    white barn and a white horse on the ridge Helvetia, Oregon

     
    lichen and moss covered trees

    lichen and moss covered trees

     

    If I can't click my heels and land in the Emerald Forest I am going to "go there" in an art lesson. This week's mixed media project is an homage to the art of primitive pastoral landscapes and a study in color.  Are you ready? These little artists made some big, bold art. 

     
    materials sorted by color: greens, blues, purples, reds

    materials sorted by color: greens, blues, purples, reds

     

    Materials:

     

    Sort your materials in color families. We had 4 tables: blue table, green table, purple table, and red table. 

     
    A bird's eye view of Mixed Media Landscape materials in different tints of blue.  There are tempera cakes, oil pastels and craft paper.

    blue table - tempera cakes, oil pastels, craft paper

     
    A bird's eye view of Mixed Media Landscape materials in different tints of green and yellow.  There are tempera cakes, oil pastels and craft paper. - tempera cakes, oil pastel, craft paper

    green table - tempera cakes, oil pastel, craft paper

     
    A bird's eye view of Mixed Media Landscape materials in shapes of purple.  There are tempera cakes, oil pastels and craft paper.

    purple table - tempera cakes, oil pastels, craft paper

     
    A student's hand holds a paint brush, laying tempera over her pencil sketched landscape

    student laying tempera over her pencil sketch

     

    We started our landscapes by sketching out our underpainting in pencil. For this project our foreground (pastures, rivers, animals) took up most of the page. Our middle ground (houses, trees, shrubs) started 3-4 inches from the top of the paper. Our background (mountain range and sky) was 1-2 inches from the top of the paper. This is not your average landscape composition but we had so much fun with it! After we sketched we explored a monochrome color scheme with tempera paint and water.

     
    A students hand, adding oil pastel to landscape. You can see the tempera wash and first collage element have already been added here.

    student adding oil pastel to landscape. You can see the tempera wash and first collage element have already been added here.

     

    Let's talk color. What is a monochrome color scheme? Monochromatic color schemes are derived from a single base hue and extended using shades, tones, and tints. What is a complementary color scheme? Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel (example: red and green). The high contrast of complementary colors creates a vibrant look, especially when used at full saturation. We achieved this high contrast with cut paper. The student work below is a gorgeous example of both of these color schemes combined. 

     
    this student from the green table chose to use collage paper from the red table to make those tiny red houses pop.

    this student from the green table chose to use collage paper from the red table to make those tiny houses pop

     
    This student from the red table chose paper from the blue table to make a cypress tree. I love the loose and expressive brush work in this piece.

    This student from the red table chose paper from the blue table to make a cypress tree. I love the loose and expressive brush work in this piece.

     
    This student from the green table chose paper from the blue table and a pop of red from the red table. Look at the balance and harmony they achieved by repeating the blue paper in the foreground and the background. The student added a final layer wi…

    This student from the green table chose paper from the blue table and a pop of red from the red table. Look at the balance and harmony they achieved by repeating the blue paper in the foreground and the background. The student added a final layer with oil pastel. How cute are those carrots and corn stalks?

     
    This student wanted to make "a village". I love the contrast of the washy foreground and the bold background.

    This student wanted to make "a village". I love the contrast of the washy foreground and the bold background.

     
    this student from the blue table decided to play it cool and then knock our socks off with a single red cloud

    this student from the blue table decided to play it cool and then knock our socks off with a single red cloud

     
    Still udent artwork with lots of green and blue.  "a river runs through this town"

    "a river runs through this town" Swoooooon.

     
    This student artwork has a purple color punch with a gorgeous cut paper river

    purple color punch with a gorgeous cut paper river

     
    A student described this cool colored work and told me "there's a storm blowing through" The movement and the symbols in this piece make my heart so happy.

    "there's a storm blowing through" The movement and the symbols in this piece make my heart so happy.

     
    Two student examples of the mixed media landscape, side by side.  On the left the primary color is purple.  On the right, yellow. and green

    These besties decided to create a collaborative piece. Pretty cool, eh?

     
     
     


    ART CAMP Pro

    Are you a private studio owner, art educator, or kids art business?

    We are building an online community that offers ongoing professional training and project licensing for commercial use.

    This new platform will allow us to serve our Pro community members at a more accessible price point.

    Your sign-up will give you access to all the first come first serve perks. Exclusive content, Live sessions, Q+A opportunities, and you will be at the front of the line when doors open for enrollment!


      We won't send you spam. Just the good stuff!