FANCY FLAMINGOS

 Fancy Flamingos 

Learning Targets

 I can...

• Create an original Fancy Flamingo using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use mixing colors (pink, grey, purple), shape variation (geometric organic), and value (lightness, darkness) inspired by American Artist (1936-2015) Don Featherstone
• Use repetitive patterns (dots, waves, stripes) and design principles (contrast, movement, gradation) based on Plastic Sculptures
• Define Tone (degree of lightness or darkness of a color)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Bookmingo (2010) Don Feathersome

2. Read "Sylvie: The Colorful Flamingo" by Jennifer Sattler

3. Discussion Questions "What shape is a flamingo's body? If you were a flamingo, what would you want to eat? Which colors or patterns are your favorite for a flamingo? Have you ever wondered why Flamingos are pink? What happens if she nibbles items of other colors? What types of bird is Sylvie? Why are Sylvie and her family pink? What types of colors of food did Sylvia try to eat? What is your favorite food Sylvia ate? What is your favorite color? What color is your favorite type of food? Why did Sylvie go back to eating little pink shrimp, like her family ate?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 12" by 15" Drawing Paper

2. Draw three thumbnail sketches of the Pink Flamingo using line types (contour, outline, continuous) for the flamingo compositions

3. Add details (jungle background, food, wildlife) to the negative space (background) of the Fancy Flamingos

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Fancy Flamingo for Assigned Table

2.  A Pair of Original Donald Featherstone Pink Flamingos (2021) Donald Featherstone

3. Discussion Questions "What do you notice about Sylvie's family? What does she see when she looks all around the beach? When she finds out her family eats only shrimp, what do you think she may do? What colors may she turn after each item she eats? What color is scarlet? What does a whole bouquet look like? What is paisley? Where might we see this pattern? What could Sylvie do to feel better? Have you ever seen a baby flamingo? What do they look like? What did you look like when you were born? If you could change the way you look, what would you change? Why? Do you look like anyone in your family?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use drawing techniques (blending, smudging, smearing) to fill in the facial features (beak, webbed feet, rises) of the flamingo compositions

2. Use design principles (composition, balance gradation) to draw in the negative space (background) of the flamingo compositions

3. Use drawing techniques (blending, smudging, smearing) to fill in the negative space (background) of the Fancy Flamingos

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Fancy Flamingo for Assigned Table

2. Set Up Studio Area (painting paper, water bucket, paint brush)

Lesson Activities

1. Use mixing colors (grey, pink, purple) to fill in the positive space (foreground) of the flamingo compositions 

2. Use mixing colors (grey, pink, purple) to fill in the negative space (background) of the flamingo compositions

3. Add design details (cropping, enlarging, overlapping) to the negative space (background) of the Fancy Flamingos

Artist Examples

Student Examples