Grades: intermediate
Before your visit:

Using some of the books below, show the students several examples of water color
flower paintings. Examples can also be found on the Internet or actual paintings can be
used.
Books About Flowers and Watercolor Painting:
The Encyclopedia of Water Color Techniques by Hazel Harrison, Flowers (Plant Parts) by Melanie Waldron,
How to Draw Flowers by Barbara Soloff Levy, How to Paint Flowers in Water Colors Step by Step Lessons by
Fatima Usman, Painting Flowers in Watercolour (30 Minute Artist) by Fiona Peart, The Watercolor Flower
Artist’s Bible: As Essential Reference for the Practicing Artist by Claire Waite Brown, Wendy Tait’s
Watercolour Flowers by Wendy Taite, Wet-on-Wet Flowers by Lowell Speers

Show the students a box of watercolor paints. Explain that the term “watercolor” refers
to both the medium (actual paints) and the resulting artwork.

Introduce the students to a color wheel and have the students make their own color
wheels with crayons using a paper plate and crayons or colored pencils
The FairKids Field Trips are a program of The Learning Centers at Fairplex, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization.
Grades: intermediate
Share and discuss the following watercolor art terms and have students
write them down to make a reference glossary:
o analogous or adjacent colors - colors that are close on the color wheel
o charging – a technique that involves mixing two or more colors directly on the
paper instead of on a palette or another mixing surface
o complementary colors - colors that are directly across from each other on a color
wheel
o drybrush technique – brushwork done on the dry surface of paper
o flat wash – brushing successive strokes with each stroke placed next to the
previous stroke creating an even layer of color
o hue – the pure state of a color that has not had any white or black pigment
added to it
o intensity – a color’s saturation, brightness or strength
o layering – applying premixed colors over another wash to change its value or
intensity
o mixability – the quality with which two colors can be combined to create a third
o palette – a surface where watercolors can be mixed
o pigment – a dry coloring matter or powder that is mixed with water to create
paint colors
o primary colors – the three basic colors (red, yellow, and blue) which are the basis
of all color combinations
o scrubbing – a dry-brush technique used to lift or add color to an area of the
surface
o secondary colors – one of three colors created by mixing equal parts of two
primary colors (red, yellow, blue.) The secondary colors are violet (red and blue
mixed), orange (red and yellow mixed), and green (blue and yellow mixed.)
o tertiary colors – the resulting colors formed when an equal amount of a primary
color is mixed with an
equal amount of a secondary color which are
beside each other on a color wheel
o tint – created by adding more water to the original color (the more water added,
the weaker the intensity)
o tone – a hue with gray added
o value – the lightness or darkness of tones or colors (white has the lightest value,
black has darkest, and middle gray is exactly half way between)
o wash – a thin translucent layer of pigment

Using tempra paint, have the students make a color wheel of primary, secondary, and
tertiary colors
The FairKids Field Trips are a program of The Learning Centers at Fairplex, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization.
Grades: intermediate

Provide each table or groups of 4 with a flower for them to observe and make
observations. Have them note what they see, smell, and touch. Have them use
their color wheels to identify the colors of the leaves, the stem, the flower petals,
the sepal, and the filaments and anthers. Have the students sketch the flower using
colored pencils to make a realistic model of the true flower on their desk.

Using their sketch and the actual flower as models, have the students paint it using
watercolor paints. Remind students to mix color on a separate surface or palette and
not to mix in the watercolor paint trays.

There are many examples of art lessons using watercolor paints available on Pinterest.
Simply search “watercolor flowers in ________ grade” for ideas.
During your visit:

Observe the many types of flowers in the Flower & Garden Pavilion. Notice how the real
flowers are arranged. Do they remind you of your sketch or your painting?

As you walk around the Flower & Garden Pavilion, think about which exhibit you like the
best. After you have seen all the displays, go back to your favorite one and look at it
again. Why did you choose this one? If you have a camera or a phone, take a picture of
your favorite display so that you can try to re-create it later. Write down specific
observations about your favorite display. Describe the colors of the leaves, stem, petals,
sepal, filaments, and anthers.

Examine the flowers and the drawings and note the various colors from the color wheel.
Do you see examples of complementary colors being used by the artists? Do you see
examples of layering to change the value of its intensity? Do you see examples of
changes in tones or the value? Do you see where drybrush techniques being used by
the artists in the display?
The FairKids Field Trips are a program of The Learning Centers at Fairplex, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization.
Grades: intermediate
After your visit:

Discuss the flowers and paintings you saw at the Flower and Garden Pavilion.

Share your favorite display photograph with a partner and state three supporting details
as to why it was your favorite.

Using your photograph and your observation notes, paint a watercolor picture of your
favorite flower on display in the Flower and Garden Pavilion. Concentrate on using the
watercolor techniques that were discussed prior to your visit. Try to vary the intensity
of the colors by using layering and drybrush techniques. Use analogous and
complementary colors to make your painting better.

Evaluate your painting. Is your new painting much better that the one you did before
visiting the Flower and Garden Pavilion?

Use artistic terms to critique your painting and the painting of a partner. Remember to
be positive so you don’t hurt anyone’s feelings.
The FairKids Field Trips are a program of The Learning Centers at Fairplex, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization.