Line and Color to Express Feelings

by Kanani Miyamoto

Line and color are important elements in art. Sometimes these elements are the only part of the artwork! Experiment with creative ways to express ideas and feelings with line and color. Art is a way to communicate.

Learning Target

● I can look at abstract art and find meaning in line and color.
● I can use different kinds of line and color to express and explain my feelings

Materials

Paint Pad and a black sharpie or marker.
Paint Brushes, Water colors and a plastic container with water

Emotion word bank: silly, shy, scared, sad, proud, nervous, happy, mad, excited, embarrassed, disappointed, curious, confused, bored, angry, loving, amused, surprised, confident, pleased, frustrated, creative, focused

Instructions

As you learn about this art remember: These are your own ideas and thoughts. There is no right or wrong way to make this artwork!

 

1. Practice: Using one sheet of painting paper, practice using lines to express some ideas and feelings.
● With your sharpie draw some strong, bold, powerful lines. Now try and draw some nervous, anxious lines.
● Next try your smaller fineline pen. Draw some lines that make you feel excited, happy or comfortable.

2. Create: Okay, it’s your turn, think of a recent event or memory and on a new sheet of painting paper use your pens to express and explain your word with just lines.

3. Practice: Now add color to your lines with your watercolors. Look closely at your lines. What color/s can you use to make the meaning stronger or more clear?
● Try using different brushes for different kinds of line.
● Use different energy and motion in your brush stroke too. Add color next to or on top of your black lines.

4. Create: Let’s finish by taking a minute to think about the recent event or memory you drew about in step 2.
● Look closely at the lines you chose to express this experience.
● Use your watercolors to help express and explain your feelings better.

Reflection

Write in your journal or sketchbook
● We’re using our creativity and imagination to bring mindfulness, understanding, and compassion to ourselves. How did you feel doing this exercise? Can you imagine how art can help move past hard life events? Have you ever felt calm looking at a specific artwork? What do you remember about the line and color in that work?
● Use just line and color to create an abstract work of art that tells a story about your feelings and emotions from the start of the pandemic up to the current times. How have your feelings changed through time?
● Sometimes art is a way people think and deal with feelings and emotions. How did you feel doing this activity?

Extra

● Look at Sol Lewitt and Julie Mehretu’s work. What do you notice? What kinds of feelings do they make you think of?
● Paint one of your best memories, use just line and color.
● Try using art: line and color to get you through different situations when you are bored or when you are nervous or unsure.