This document provides instructions for an art project where students will draw an extinct animal using line variation and watercolor techniques. Students are asked to first research an extinct animal of their choosing, such as a dinosaur or dodo bird. They will then create a watercolor wash background before using fine lines to draw the contour of the animal on top. Details and line variation are important elements. Examples of past student work demonstrating techniques like wet on dry, wet on wet, and salt on watercolor are provided.

1. EXTINCT MYSTERIES
A study in line variation and watercolor washes

2. • In our last project we
examined line through
pattern and color and its
property to symbolize:
Being Family.
• The resulting image was
expressionistic and
metaphorical.
LINE AND VARIATION

3. This project will be on representing an extinct animal
through contour line (outline) and patterns.
PROJECT #2: EXTINCT ANIMAL
LINE DRAWING

4. • An animal that is extinct is
no longer in existence on
the planet.
• The most common
example of these for us to
think of are dinosaurs.
• These are feathered
dinosaurs believed to be
transitional animals to the
common day bird.
EXTINCT ANIMALS

5. • But people often forget the
prehistoric mammals of the
Ice Age.
• After the world became
colder and hostile to dinos,
mammals had a chance to
explode in size!
EXTINCT ANIMALS CONT…

6. • There are many
animals that have
become extinct in
recent history.
• The Dodo is just
such an example.
It became extinct
in the 1600’s due
to humans over
hunting it.
RECENT EXTINCTIONS…

7. ARTIST FEATURE: CLAIRE SCULLY
-LINE & PATTERNS REPRESENTING ANIMALS

8. • Claire Scully is a
contemporary artist
who employs delicate
line variation to her
series of work called:
the Quiet Revolusion.
• Here animals are
depicted as almost
beaded creatures.
Fox >

9. MORE EXAMPLES

10. MORE EXAMPLES

14. http://www.50birds.com/extan/gextanimals1.htm
This is good resource for extinct animals.
http://www.search4dinosaurs.com/
This is a good resource for dinosaurs
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Mammal/by/prehistoric
This has some prehistoric mammals
Always use google imaages too!
RESOURCES

15. • In this assignment you will also be experimenting with watercolor paint
and the different techniques:
• You will create a background for your extinct animal using different
watercolor techniques.
WET ON DRY
This refers to painting on a dry surface like paper directly with your paint
WATERCOLOR TECHNIQUES

16. WET ON WET
This is when you apply wet paint to an already wet surface.
WATERCOLOR TECHNIQUES

17. WATERCOLOR TECHNIQUES
Salt on Watercolor
This is when you sprinkle salt on wet watercolor pigment.

18. • Excellent line variation and watercolor technique.
PAST STUDENT WORK EXAMPLES

19. MORE EXAMPLES…
Mythical Creature by Alison Lander, 2011
• Can you find
the name of
the extinct
animal on the
right?

20. CREATIVE WATERCOLOR
PLACEMENT

21. DRAWING JUST THE HEAD
OR USING THE ENVIRONMENT?

22. MORE THAN 1 ANIMAL

23. RULE OF THIRDS!
DON’T PLACE AN OBJECT DIRECTLY IN CENTER!

24. RULE OF THIRDS? DID THEY USE IT?

25. CONTINUED…

26. 1. First you will create a watercolor wash background of colors of your
choosing.
2. After the watercolor has dried you will draw your extinct creature in
pencil on top of the watercolor background.
3. You will use a fine-lined black pen to fill your animal with fantastical line
variations. REMEMBER LINE VARIETY!!!!! Not just straight or curly
but all.
4. Detail matters!!!
YOUR TASK:

27. REMEMBER!
• EXTINCT = An animal that is extinct is no longer in existence on the planet.
• Pokemon is not extinct since it never existed in the REAL world!
• TODAY! (See class website for instructions for your sketchbook)
• & items due by next class,)
• 1. Research your extinct animal of choice.
• 2. Draw an example in your sketchbook.
• 3. Practice which patterns you will use.
FIRST! RESEARCH YOUR
EXTINCT ANIMAL!

28. 1. DRAW THE
OUTLINE!!!
DO NOT
WORRY About
details yet!
FOCUS ON CONTOUR LINE-
OUTLINE YOUR ANIMAL FIRST!

29. YOU DON’T HAVE TO DRAW THE
WHOLE ANIMAL!