art zone: Oil Pastel Pointillism Landscape

Another assignment passed down from the art teacher before me.

The emphasis for students in this assignment is COLOR, value, texture, and shape. They select a colorful background/backdrop/environment from an animated (preferred) television show or movie they like (minimal characters/figures unless they want a challenge) and replicate it using pointillism in the medium of oil pastels. Concept Art is also very acceptable.

In my experience, unless there's proper preparation (in IB education, we call them Formatives), this is a very frustrating assignment for students. Especially if they are impatient or are not good with menial tasks. It's a lesson in patience and finding one's zen. Below, you'll find examples of past students' work as well as the training/pre-work that I recommend in order to have a successful result.

One of the best ones done last semester (Fall 2023). Look at that optical mixing!!

I prep my scholars by reviewing what Pointillism is, which for us, they learned the year before in 7th grade ART I.

I find the biggest issue with optical mixing is that students expect for it to create a perfect, 1:1 replica of what the color would be like if it was physically (additive) mixed. It's very difficult to explain the concept of style and implication to them, because most of them have been educated with "it has to look EXACTLY the same as your reference and if it doesn't you lose points", and it's a nightmare trying to get them out of that habit.

I recommend that each circle be 2.5 inches in diameter. A lot of students like to do them way too small :/

ONLY have the red, yellow, and blue oil pastels out, because they WILL try to use the secondary colors to cheat on the violet, green, and orange. Either because "they forgot", "misunderstood", or they think they're being sneaky. Over the years, I've found that we go through the primary colors the most, so I always make sure to order extra.

As for types of red/blue/yellow, we have a variety. Lemon yellow, ochre, pale yellow/cream. Sky blue, ultramarine, Prussian blue, etc. It's most difficult to get different reds, especially in bulk. If any of you can direct me to a company that can sell me cool red RELIABLY, I owe you big.

If your students are like mine and have no concept of how to shade a sphere (which astounds me, they shaded spheres last year using various techniques), I like to emphasize that they are shading something ROUND, so the shadow should be round too--It curves like a crescent moon.

Also most important: MIDTONE!! I don't know why my kids apparently never know what I mean by "changes in value", but make sure they know you expect at least three different values: Shadow, mid-tone, and highlight.

After this, they do value scales.

Each "step" should be 1x1 inches. I tell them if they do not make their measurements correctly, I will not grade their work. A lot of kids will not even use a ruler or straight edge and expect full credit...

Once they have shown they are able to mix optically AND control their values, I allow them to pick out their background from a binder (I've collected and pre-printed out references in advance) and lightly sketch an outline in their sketchbook. It's their test page, where they can swatch oil pastel colors and plan their layout.

Once I see their layout, I hand them their oil pastel paper and ONLY allow them use of the primary colors (at first), so that they are forced to mix colors instead of relying on the many teals, pinks, and oranges I have. The result is rich color, and since doing this, even the students who lack technique have given wonderful results.

Ghibli movies are excellent sources for this assignment, and it gets the kids curious about animation and art from other countries!

I never allow them a black or grey oil pastel, so a lot of students are going to be panicking about HOW to do whatever greys or blacks are in their reference. Again: it's not about matching 1:1 what color is in the reference. It's about interpretation. They're allowed Artistic License!!

In the above piece, my student (Abner) made the white house light blue because I wouldn't allow white to be used until the very end. The result is something both beautiful and uniquely his own.

Steven Universe is also a highly recommended show for this project: the colors are GORGEOUS and vibrant.

Be careful that students don't mush and physically blend the colors together. It should still be clear that DOTS are the star of the show here. There is such a thing as too many dots. Below are some of the highlights from this last semester: