Lesson Plan: Hand Camouflage

Submitted by Jan Hillmer
Grade Level: 3rd (elementary - middle school)
UNIT: Color - Painting
PROJECT: Camouflage (Interdisciplinary Science and Art)
Lesson credit: Melissa Speelman

Objectives:

Students will create large painting of camouflaged animal skin or fur, then paint their own hand, camouflaged with the painted fur. Students will explore color mixing and enlarging from a photograph.

Materials:

12x18 (30.5 x 46 cm) Tag Board, assorted colors Acrylic Paint, Paint Brushes, water, Smocks, hand lotion

Instructional Resources:

http://www2.sycamoreschools.org/jh/Art/speelmanm/patternsgal/index.htm
Photographs of various animal patterns.

See other camouflage lessons on IAD:

Vocabulary:

Camouflage, endangered species, pattern, repetition, rhythm, warm/cool colors

Instruction/Motivation:

Students have been discussing endangered animals and camouflage in class. Ask them questions about camouflage – how, why, what does it look like.

Procedures:

Have students find close-up of animal skins/fur.
Students enlarge/copy skin/fur pattern onto tagboard
Demonstrate mixing some anticipated colors necessary for skin/fur
Students paint skin/fur - allow to dry
Students place hand on top of painting
Put on hand lotion
Paint hand to be camouflaged on painting
Photograph hand on top of painting.
Closure: Review warm and cool colors. Discuss success of each

An interesting form of art is hand painting (painting on hands). Artist Guido Daniele from Milan, Italy began his style of super-realism as an illustrator with various advertising companies. In 1990 he began using body painting for his advertising. He paints models' bodies for commercials fashion events and exhibitions. Enjoy the video below of a series of his excellent hand paintings.