I have organized PJ’s art notebook with visually exciting Art Elements and Principles of Design reference sheets and skill set practice sheets. I have given him the task of looking through those sheets as review and to sharpen his skills on the practice sheets. He can work on those at his own pace, but I want him to try to do a few exercises on each sheet or in his sketchbook.

He selected the design principle contrast and started working on a design in his sketchbook. I encouraged him to look at the color wheel and asked him what complementary colors are. He did not know. We reviewed what they are, and I asked him to choose two complementary colors for his contrast exercise. Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel, and when next to each other, they pop! Then his dad came to pick him up early. I asked PJ if he would like to continue working on his design over the weekend, but he said no.

PJ is thinking about his next project for Visual Arts 2.