Nighttime Owl Paintings

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Nighttime Owl Paintings use drawing techniques learned in class
• Use color combinations (analogous, complementary, monochromatic), shape variation (geometric, organic, free form), and texture (actual, visual implied) inspired by Inuit Artist (1991-Present) Ooloosie Saila
• Use painting techniques (impasto, glazing, dry brush, alla prima) and design principles (composition, balance, variation) based on Indigenous Art
•  Define Inuit Art (the creative work made by the Inuit, the indigenous people of the Arctic regions in Canada, Alaska, and Greenland)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Festival Owl (2026) Oolosie Saila

2. Read Owl Babies by Marin Waddell 

3. Discussion Questions "Is the owl sleeping, peeking out, or waking up? What does the weather feel like outside of the tree? What will happen when an animal's habitat changes with the seasons? What visual textures can make the feathers look soft and the bark look rough? How do the choices of an artist give an animal a specific personality? What can the tilt of the head or the size of the eyes tell us about an owl's mood? How does light create shadows that make a flat owl look three dimensional? What roles do daytime and nighttime play in the colors an artist chooses? How do artists and authors show big feelings like worry or relief in a character? How are owls a symbol of thoughtful perspective, wisdom, and quick wit? Have you ever seen any owl? What do you like about owls? What would you do if you had your own owl?" 

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 12" X 15" Drawing Paper

2. Use line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) to draw the foreground (bird), middle ground (feathers), and background (tree branches) of the Nighttime Owl Paintings

3. Use drawing techniques (blending, smudging, smearing) to add layers to subject matter (foreground, middle ground, bird) of the Nighttime Owl Paintings

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Nighttime Owl Paintings for Assigned Tables 

2. Ornamental Owl (2017) Ooloosie Saila 

3. Discussion Questions "What factors influenced the artist as a child that impacted her career? What are some characteristics from this artwork that sets it apart from other artists work? What is the symbolism found within this artwork? What are some indicators that prove this artist is important? What are some different types of art produced at different stages in her life? What makes you think this artist is a great artist? How did the artist become interested in birds? Does her artwork change your view of the world? How did the artist fill the composition? Did the artist take time and effort to make the color vibrant? What is the reason that some birds are colorful?"      

Lesson Activities

1. Add thin layers of pastels to the foreground (bird), middle ground (feathers), and background (tree) of the Nighttime Owl Paintings 

2. Use drawing techniques (blending, smudging, smearing) to add details (beak, eyes, eyelashes) to the Nighttime Owl Paintings

3. Use drawing techniques (blending, smudging, smearing) to add texture (actual, visual, implied) to the Nighttime Owl Paintings 

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Nighttime Owl Paintings for Assigned Tables

2. Set Up Studio Area (glue sticks, oil pastels, brown construction paper, sharpie markers)

Lesson Activities

1. Use color combinations (analogous, complementary, monochromatic) to fill in the positive space (bird) of the Nighttime Owl Paintings

2. Use color combinations (analogous, complementary, monochromatic) to fill in the negative space (background) of the Nighttime Owl Paintings

3. Use tint (white) and shade (black) to add the illusion of depth within the positive space (bird) of the Nighttime Owl Paintings 

Artist Examples

Student Examples 

 Australian Aboriginals

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Australian Aboriginal using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal), shape variation (geometric, organic), and value (tints, shades) inspired by Australian Artist (1926-1998) Rover Thomas
• Use painting techniques (pigment, pointillism, layering) and design principles (gradation, proportion, composition) based on Indigenous Art
• Define Dot Painting (produced by repeated imprints of paint covered brushes, dotting sticks, or instruments onto a surface)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Dumbun Owls (1987) Rover Thomas

2. Read Roads Cross: The Paintings of Rover Thomas by National Gallery of Australia

3. Discussion Questions "Who are Australian Aborigines? What styles of storytelling do Australian Aborigines practice? What is the Rainbow Serpent? Do Indigenous people own their own land? Have Indigenous people always owned their own land? Have Indigenous children always been brought up by their families? What kinds of food are available to Indigenous people? What is life-like for Indigenous people today? What is a Monotreme animal? Which two animals are Monotremes? What is a Marsupial mammal? Which three animals are Marsupials? What is a Placental mammal? Which of the following is a Placental mammal? Which Australian bird has a bird head and kills snakes? Which Australian bird is the second largest bird in the world?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 8 X 12 Drawing Paper

2. Add line types (contour, outline, perspective) to positive space (animal) of animal drawings 

3. Outline line types (contour, outline, perspective) with neutral colors (black, brown, grey) for the Australian Aboriginals

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Australian Aboriginals for Assigned Table

2. Marlu- Kangaroo Dreaming (1995) Rover Thomas

3. Discussion Questions "What two species of Crocodile live in Australia? Which of the two crocodile species is bigger? How many species of snakes are there in Australia? Which Australian snake is considered the most poisonous? Which is the largest Shark in Australian Waters? Does the artist paint in long brushstrokes? Are the lines curved, straight, thick, or thin? Does the artist use a variety of shapes? What types of shapes do you see? What are the colors that the artist uses? What do you think the black cone is? What do you think the red and yellow shapes around the cone are? What are similarities in the story behind this painting and the ones you have heard before?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use warm colors (red orange yellow) to fill in the positive space (animal) of the animal paintings

2. Use cool colors (green blue purple) to fill in the negative space (background) of the animal paintings

3. Use embellishments (plastic eyes, bubble wrap, brown paper) to fill in the positive space (animal) of the Australian Aboriginals 

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Australian Aboriginals for Assigned Table

2. Set Up Studio Area (tempera paint, popsicle sticks, paint brushes)

Lesson Activities

1. Add highlights (reflective light, light source) to fill in the positive space (animal) of the animal drawings 

2. Add shadow (cast shadow, reflective shadow) to fill in the negative space (background) of the animal drawings

3. Add details (whiskers, spots, eyelashes) to the positive space (animal) of the Australian Aboriginals

Artist Examples

Student Examples