Harmony or Contrast Macaw: Fifth Grade

My fifth grade students are studying the principles of Harmony/Unity and Contrast.  We went through several examples of harmony in colors, in texture,in value and in shapes.  Then we went through the same elements, this time with an example for contrast.  This is a four day project to complete.

For this project, students will learn how to properly draw a macaw, and will paint it using harmonious colors or contrasting colors.  We talked about harmonious colors being neighbors (and that they are analogous colors) and how contrasting colors are opposites (or complementary colors).  On day one, we created a rough draft for both harmony and contrast and selected our favorite one.

The final painting is 8" x 18" (I cut a piece of 24" x 18" paper in threes).  On day 2, I gave the students a template of the macaw's head to get them started.  I have found that if they have a first shape to guide them in the right direction, it helps!  We used visualization skills to picture where the wing belongs before drawing it.  I also went over the strategy of drawing with your eraser, or drawing lightly with your pencil to get you started.


On day three, we painted our macaws.  I gave students tempera cakes in the six basic colors of the rainbow.  I also gave them a Styrofoam plate for mixing colors.  The students who chose harmonious colors needed to mix the intermediate color for their birds.  The paintings looked beautiful drying on the rack, all of the younger students were in awe!


The last day of this project is for oil pastel details and an artist reflection about harmony vs. contrast.  Which principle do you prefer?  Why?  Other than color, list one other way to show harmony? To show contrast?