Lesson Date: August 27 & September 3

Assigned Teachers: TBD

Intro

Decide on a topic you want the mural to be about. Let’s imagine the theme of our mural will be ANIMAL themed. How will you represent the animals? How will you put other details like leaves, trees, water etc in? What message will your art give? Today’s lesson is about planning, ideation, discussion and collaboration, as painting a mural is a big group effort.

As inspiration for the animal theme, let’s look at depictions of animals by Senaka Senanayake

You will need:

-many sheets of large paper

-tape

-pencils

-eraser

Guide

Step 1: Clear the art class tables and join them. Then cover the entire table with a4 or a3 paper and tape them together to combine. Then, turn the paper around so you get one large smooth sheet to draw on.

step 1.1. look at samples of murals and plan your design as a whole group. decide which elements you want to show(animals, trees, flowers or other elements) and how you would like to arrange all of them.each of you should have some elements to be in charge of (think of dividing the work equally and everyone takes responsibility of a part of the mural, based on skills, favors and detailing)

Step 2: Use the whiteboard first to draw a sketch of the entire mural then progress to the white paper canvas. Plan your overall design and organise each kid's responsibility. think of the fact that you will be drawing tjat later on the wall. so ypunger kids should select simpler elements and potentially on tje lower part of canvas/wall so that they later can work on tjat as well, that they do not need to climb chairs to reach.(maybe beetles, bushes, flowers, lizzards, snakes or anything living at ground level.

Step 3: Start sketching your mural as a team effort but for excecution arrange that everyone has enough space to draw and detail.

Step 4: now start on the white sheet. Decide on a colors and style. Remember, the whole canvas should look like ONE mural. Try to achieve a unified look. so you must work together on this and plan well that all of you can bring in your ideas and skills.

step 4.1 make sure you stick to the sletched plan. For easier planning you can also plan with grid lines, however keep in mind that this possbly might also block the overall unfied result, depending on how you apply it. Start drawing the main or big elements first. start with outlines, then add more details to each element. Later connect all elements to ONE amazing mural. fill gaps.with this step you are completing the concept.

5. Fill in with color. Remember this is only a draft, so if you make a mistake you can paste another white sheet of paper over the area and start again.

5.1. add more color shades, step back look at the result and then continue the process. Often it looks different from far than when you see it close up. Continue the process until you are happy with the overall result including details.

5.2 when you are done, carefully pin the canvas on a wall and add in more details where you feel it needs more attention when you look from a distance of about 3 m.

For more ideas on how art can share a message, let’s look at this video about the ‘We are from here’ project at Slave Island:

More inspiration: Annette’s photos from Berlin!