Introduction

Changing the Typical Picture is a creative visual arts activity that encourages artists and students to think beyond traditional ways of seeing and representing objects, people, and scenes. Instead of copying reality exactly as it appears, artists experiment with different shapes, colors, perspectives, patterns, and imaginative ideas to create unique and original artworks. This process helps develop creativity, critical thinking, and artistic expression while allowing individuals to present familiar subjects in new and exciting ways. By changing the typical picture, artists can communicate emotions, ideas, and personal interpretations, making their artwork more engaging and meaningful.

The chapter “Changing the Typical Picture” encourages students to engage with nature creatively through various activities. Key activities include:

• Nature Walk: Observing colors, textures, and patterns in the environment.
• Field Trips: Visiting artistic spaces to explore different visual art forms and materials.
• Making Natural Colours: Using fruits, vegetables, and flowers to create colors for artwork.
• Creating Artwork: Experimenting with tints and shades to express emotions and moods through art.
  This chapter aims to foster creativity and artistic expression by allowing students to connect with their surroundings and inspire their own artistic creations. ¹

1. Nature Walk

How do you feel when you are surrounded by trees, plants, hills, streams, sea and sand? Spend two to three minutes imagining that you are surrounded by nature. What all do you see? How do different things feel when you touch them? What do you feel under your feet? How far can you see? Is anything moving?
What do you hear?

Make small groups of four to five students and share your imaginations with one another. Take your drawing book and a pencil, and step outdoors to explore your surroundings.

1. Look up at the sky and feel its vastness. Make a note of the colours you see or the form of the clouds.
2. Look at the ground. Observe the colour of the soil, the different kinds of stones, pebbles and small rocks. Touch and feel their texture. Are they smooth, Reprint 2026-27 rough, bumpy, grainy or of
   some other texture?
3. Find a spot where there are some plants and trees. Gently touch the plant and feel the texture of its leaves, stems, barks, flowers, seed pods and anything else that you see. Try to draw those textures or make a note of them through words.
4. Closely observe the shapes of leaves, and the lines and patterns you see. Draw three leaves which have different shapes, lines and patterns. Make a note of their colours.
5. Closely observe any animals, birds or insects. Are they sitting, sleeping, standing or moving? Try to draw their form. Gather in a group, and share your drawings and observations. Continue: Start a visual journal and make drawings every day of the different things you see.

2. Field Trip

Visit a museum, an artist’s studio or any place where artists work. Note down your observations based on these questions:

1. What kind of visual artworks do you see?
2. What are the materials used in making the artwork?
3. Who are the artists? What tools and techniques do they use?
4. How is the space arranged for making or displaying artwork?
5. What new ideas or experiences did you get? Draw from your own experience or you can use these images as a reference.

Field trips allow students to explore subjects in a practical context, connect classroom learning to real-world experiences, and develop social and observational skills. They can also introduce students to new environments, cultures, or professions that they might not encounter otherwise. Field trips often enhance engagement, motivation, and retention of knowledge.

Types of Field Trips

• Educational Visits: Museums, science centers, historical sites, and libraries help students learn about history, science, and culture in an interactive way.
• Nature and Outdoor Experiences: Parks, farms, and national parks provide opportunities to study ecology, agriculture, and environmental science.
• Community and Service Trips: Visits to nursing homes, animal shelters, or local businesses teach empathy, civic responsibility, and practical life skills.
• Specialized Programs: Some organizations, like Attractions Ontario, offer curriculum-based programs tailored for student groups, ensuring alignment with learning objectives.

3. Make Natural Colours

Have you ever wondered where colours come from? How are they made? What did artists use before we had colour pencils, crayons and paints in ready-made boxes?

Think of the food you eat. When dal is cooked at home, what is added to make it more yellow?

Turmeric! What do you call it at home in your language?

Now, think of other food that you have eaten. Some of their colour stain your fingers, your tongue and even your clothes if you spill.

Similarly, flowers can also be used to extract colour.

Apart from plants, colours can also be made from soil, stones and mineral deposits. These processes have been used by people to prepare colours for various artistic purposes.

Natural Colors are colors obtained from natural sources such as plants, flowers, fruits, vegetables, minerals, insects, and other materials found in nature. These colors are extracted and used for painting, dyeing, printing, and various artistic activities. Natural colors are eco-friendly, non-toxic, and have been used by people for centuries in art, textiles, and traditional crafts.

Examples of natural colors include turmeric for yellow, beetroot for red, spinach leaves for green, and indigo plants for blue. Natural colors help create beautiful artworks while promoting environmental sustainability and a connection with nature.

To make natural colors, you can follow these methods:

• Extracting colors from Flowers : Use flowers like marigolds, hibiscus, and sunflowers. Wash the flowers, separate the petals, and crush them. Use water, alcohol, or oil as an etraction medium to extract the colors.

• Using Plants Based Pigments:  Many Plants, fruits, and flowers can be used to create vibrant pigments. For example, red cabbage can produce a range of colors, while berries can create colored water stains.

• Natural Dyes :   You can create natural dyes from various plants, such as raspberries, hibiscus, and calendula. These dyes are eco-friendly and can be used for crafts and decorative purposes.

• Basic Dyes:  Naturaldyes can be sorted into three categories: obtained from plants, animals, and minerals. Each has its unique properties and uses.

These methods allow you to create vibrant colors using natural resources, promoting sustainability and reducing environmental impact.

4. Make an Artwork with Natural Colours

Step 1: Source some materials from the Earth or plants.

Step 2: Discuss the process of preparing colour with your teacher and peers, and prepare your colours together.

Step 3: Plan and experiment with different colour combinations from the colours you have prepared.

Step 4: Think about a colour that can be used in your artwork.

Step 5: Create your artwork using the natural colours. After everyone has completed their artwork, have a classroom display of the artwork. Label your artwork with a title and details of the material you have used. You can also display and share some of your preparatory sketches or experiments that show the process of your work. Discuss the process and colours that are seen in everyone’s artwork.

5.Creating Colour Tints and Shades

Do colours also change like our moods?

Have you observed how your moods change throughout the day? Spend five minutes recollecting your moods and talking about them:

1. What is your mood when you go home after school?

2. What is your mood at dinner time?

3. What is your mood before going to bed?

4. What is your mood when you wake up in the morning?

5. What is your mood now?

Moods and feelings last for some time and gradually change. They might feel strong and intense, or mild. Colours are like that too. We can make them vibrant, intense, dark, pale, light, mild … and so on. Think of how colours change in the sky during a sunrise or sunset.

Have you observed the colours of your clothes fade over time due to sunlight and repeated washing? They change from bright to dull or dark to light. In art, these variations in colour are called tints and shades. We create colour tints by adding white to any colour. We create colour shades by adding black to any colour. Colour + White = Colour Tints , Colour + Black = Colour Shades.

Extension — Mapping Tints and Shades Use the colour tints and shades you have created as a reference. Find pictures of artworks from a museum website or illustrated books that also have the same colour tints and shades in the pictures. Observe how the tints or shades are enhancing the moods and emotions of the artwork. Repeat this exercise with four to five different colours, and their tints and shades. Note down a short description of the moods and emotions you have experienced with the colour tints and shades.

6. Surfaces and Materials Used by Artists

You have learnt that colours can be made from nature. Before the invention of paper, artists used to paint on natural surfaces like rocks, walls of caves, mud plaster, palm leaves, wood and cloth.

They also used terracotta, stone, animal bone, leather, wood, metal and fibre to craft a variety of three dimensional objects and sculptures.

They invented special tools and developed techniques for working with each material and surface.

If you did not have paper, which surfaces and materials would you choose for your artwork? Carry out your own experiments and make your artwork.

Look at the examples on the page below. You can learn about the variety of materials and surfaces that artists have used since prehistoric times.

7. My Inspirations from Nature

Now, you know that artists observe their environment closely and capture the finer details. Each artist has their own imagination and makes their own choices in the material, tools and techniques they use. This is what makes their work unique.

Like an artist, you can also use your own imagination. You can choose materials and tools that are suitable for your own ideas. Nature is your inspiration and you are the creator. Include your own experiences and observations.

It doesn’t have to be a mountain or a river, or the sun. You decide what represents nature for you. It could be something much closer from your immediate surroundings. Remember, the picture should be through your eyes!

Conclusion

Changing the Typical Picture is an important concept in visual arts that encourages creativity, imagination, and innovative thinking. It allows artists and students to move beyond conventional representations and explore new ways of expressing ideas through different colors, shapes, perspectives, and artistic techniques. By transforming ordinary images into unique visual creations, learners develop observation skills, artistic confidence, and personal expression. This creative process not only makes artwork more engaging and meaningful but also helps individuals appreciate the limitless possibilities of visual arts. Ultimately, Changing the Typical Picture inspires artists to view the world from fresh perspectives and communicate their ideas in original and imaginative ways.