Monochromatic Image

Materials:
Acrylic paint: black, white, and one color
7h pencil, Tape, Velum, Paint brushes
Container for water, Glass, ceramic or plastic
(flat) palette, Palette knife.

Overview:
Students will create a 9-step value scale and a
monochromatic image using one color mixed
with white and black on a 13"x13" paper.
Students may mix their own color (a secondary
or tertiary) or work with a primary color.

Value Scale
1. Center a 2" x 9" or 2” x 7” rectangle on
a 13” x 13” sheet of paper, and tape around the exterior edge.
2. Establish the ​lightest value (value 1)​, white and the ​darkest value (value 9), ​black.
3. The next step is to establish the ​middle value (value 5), h​ ue.
4. To mix your tints, you will mix white with your hue, beginning with 3 and then working on
2 and 4. Be careful, work to find the halfway points and remember that paint dries darker
than when it is wet.
5. To mix your shades, you will add black to your hue beginning with 7 and then working
with 5 and 6. Again, be sure to look for halfway points, do not let your paint get too dark
too quickly.
6. Be sure to lay the paint on in thin, flat layers.

Painting the Image:

1. Center and transfer your image on a 13” x 13” sheet of paper, and tape around the
exterior edge.
2. Take a few minutes to draw random shapes and practice work edges with your different
brushes.
3. Begin to paint your image, starting with your darkest value.
4. Be careful not to let the charcoal from the transfer muddy your colors, erase as you go if
necessary.
5. Be sure to paint clean flat shapes, no blending.