First, students had to understand and recognize a simple phenomenon called atmospheric perspective that was first discovered by Leonardo da Vinci. We went outside and took a look at the mountains. I asked them what color they were. Students answered blue. But are the mountains actually blue? Students answered no, of course not! The atmosphere (the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet) makes it so that things far away from us appear blue and more washed out. An easy way to create depth in a landscape is to use cool colors (blue, purple, green, etc.) to show that things are further away. Students also used other methods like overlapping shapes to create depth. I also reviewed their understand of perspective (that things closer to us appear larger than things further away).
We concluded this unit, with a watercolor landscape of this beautiful Sonoran desert right outside our doors! Take a look at the lovely work these students created. You should be very proud!
