Alma Thomas loved to explore color—which she did as an artist and art teacher, teaching in Washington, DC, public schools for over thirty-five years. Many of her paintings include only one color or a few colors. Her paintings show her love of nature and music.

What colors stand out to you?

What shape do you see repeated in this painting? Can you count the number of times it appears?

Step back and look at the painting from far away. Does it look like anything to you? Step forward and take a look at the painting when you’re very close to it. What does it look like now?

Imagine you could step inside the painting. What would it feel like?

What one word would you use to describe the painting? What do you see that makes you say that?

You will need:

• Paint sticks
• Heavyweight paper cut into 8 × 8 inch squares

Choose one color from your paint sticks. Use it to make different shapes and lines within your paper square. Use just one color, like Alma Thomas, to make small blocks of color that build a larger painting. Try experimenting—turn the square or hold the paint stick differently—to create new marks and patterns! With a friend or a group, try combining your color squares in different ways to make one larger, multicolored square. 

VOCAB BANK

• bold
  
• experiment