Drawing Instructions

The Overlap Project: Lesson 1 about Space Element of Art

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Overlap is an important way to create an understanding of how space is created on a 2-dimensional art surface. Overlapping helps create an illusion of depth on a 2-dimensional surface. Overlap is the concept where you have an understanding that the object in the front will disrupt the view of an object that’s at the back or in other words the object at the back can hide behind the object at the front so that a part of the object is not visible.

In this project, we will create some fishes in the overlap. We will create 3-5 fishes on our art paper, making sure that at least one pair is in the overlap. We do this by making sure that 1 of the fish is hiding partly behind another fish. We will create a fish stencil using an index card or a 3×5 inch size card stock paper. Then we will use this stencil to create 3-5 fishes on drawing paper. We will create Line designs on these fishes using colorful oil pastels. Then we will paint the background or the negative space using watercolors.

Follow along step-by-step to make this Art Project.

Things Required:

  1. Drawing paper ( at least 8×10 inches Size)
  2. Card stock or index card 3×5 inches
  3. Scissors
  4. Black permanent marker
  5. Oil Pastels
  6. Watercolors

Steps to follow:

  • On the Index card draw the contour( Outline ) of a fish in such a way that it covers most of the paper. Check out the picture below to see how the drawing should look.
  • The next step is to carefully cut out the fish using your scissors. You have created your fish Stencil.
  • Use your Fish stencil and trace around on the drawing paper. You can place your fish anywhere you like. After drawing your first fish, draw the next fish in a way that part of it is hiding behind the first fish. This is called an overlap. Keep in mind that you do not need the trace the parts that will be hidden behind the first fish.
  • Keep adding more fish; make your composition interesting by making the fish going in different directions! You could also add a fish in a way that half of it is going out of your drawing paper!
  • Use a Black Permanent markerto outline your drawing. Then using Oil Pastels or crayons make some Colorful Patterns on your fishes. You can color the rest of the area using Watercolors

If you would like to watch this lesson as a video follow the link below:

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