O-riginal Art Activities: - Ogden Museum of Southern Art

In this O-riginal Art Activity create a watercolor painting that represents your horoscope sign.

Henry Lawrence Faulkner, Gemini, Oil on board. 1968.

Henry Lawrence Faulkner was born on January 9, 1924 in Kentucky. He is best known for his wildly colorful, surreal oil paintings. He created art during the colorist movement.

Supplies

Watercolor paint, Brush, Paper towels, Cup of water, White paper.

Instructions

Step 1: Take a look at Henry Lawrence Faulkner’s GEMINI. The Gemini painting contains two figures back to back with a green background, and white flowers and with lily pads. This painting symbolizes the birth sign Gemini or “the twins”. Let’s create a watercolor painting of your horoscope sign.

Step 2: Listed below the vocabulary are the dates of each horoscope sign. Look through each group of dates and find your birthday. For example, my birthday is October 21, so my birth sign would be Libra.

Step 3: With the help of a parent or guardian, look up images of your horoscope sign on the web or in books to use as an example.

Step 4: After seeing an example of what your horoscope sign looks like, think of how you will make your painting. Does your sign have any people or animals in the imagery? What type of plants or creatures will you include in your painting? What colors and shapes will you include in your painting?

Step 5: After deciding what the subject of your painting will be, gather your supplies and find an area where you can freely paint.

Step 6: Pick a color to start with and think about the design you will paint with this color. Dip the brush in water, wipe off the excess water on the edge of the cup. Add the water from the brush in the color that you want to use. Remember to wash off your brush when changing colors. Repeat Step 5 with a different design and color until you have completed your painting.

Step 7: Once you have finished your painting let your work dry.

Step 8: Congratulations! You’ve created a watercolor painting of your horoscope sign. Show your artwork to your family and friends. Can they guess what your horoscope sign is? Ask their birthdays and figure out their horoscope signs from the chart below.

Vocabulary

Colorist movement – is dedicated to the use of many colors, that cause the main focus of a painting to be about colors than the details.

Watercolor Painting – is a painting technique where paint pigments are combined with water.

Horoscope Dates

Aries: March 21-April 19, Taurus: April 20-May 20, Gemini: May 21-June 20, Cancer: June 21-July 22, Leo: July 23-Aug. 22, Virgo D: Aug. 23-Sept. 22, Libra: Sept. 23-Oct. 22, Scorpio: Oct. 23-Nov. 21, Sagittarius: Nov. 22-Dec. 21, Capricorn: Dec. 21-Jan. 20, Aquarius: Jan. 21-Feb. 18, Pisces: Feb. 19-March 20