Human Emotions and Art

1. Human Emotions and Art Allen Harchak and Becky Conner

2. The Big Idea • Human Emotions and the Arts

3. Enduring Understanding • Music and color are contributors to human emotion =

4. Essential Question • What can we understand about the relationship between music, color, and our emotions?

5. Activity • Students will use watercolors to display their emotions while listening to different “moods” of music.

6. Plan for Activity • Set up work area with large sheets of white paper and bowls of water. • Direct students to put their things in a specified location and sit around the paper for instructions. • Teacher will tell students that they will be listening to music and to use their watercolors to paint how the music makes them feel. • Start music and let the creativity begin!

7. Mid-Activity Demo • At some point in the activity split the class into two groups (while the music continues) and show them some watercolor techniques that they can use to enhance their art. • This can include (but not limited to) using straws to blow the paint around the page; using salt to absorb the water out of the watercolor wash; blotting with different textures (paper towel, sponge etc); rubbing alcohol effect; plastic wrap overlay; etc. • Make materials used in the demo available for the rest of the activity and allow the students to continue painting.

8. Putting it all Together • Discuss what the students painted and why they painted the way that they did. • Talk about which colors evoke which emotions (blue/sad, red/anger or love, etc.) • Discuss major vs. minor music and how that affects mood (minor/sad and angry, major/happy energetic)

9. Resources • www.waterolorpainting.com • http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-meaning.html • http://www.colormatters.com/brain.html • http://www.creativebehavior.com/index.php?PID=42