Layers of the Sea
Project Objective
Students will explore the layers and movement of the ocean using painted paper, bright colors, and simple shapes. This project focuses on color blending, collage, and environmental awareness. Students will build a mixed media seascape in layers, beginning with the sky and water, and adding coral, seaweed, and vibrant fish. The final artwork highlights the ocean’s beauty and inspires students to think about why keeping our oceans clean and colorful is important.
Required Materials
Age Group
Resources
| Step One
Students will create two types of painted paper—one using cool blues, whites, and indigos for the ocean, and another with browns for sand—by scraping paint with cardboard. |
| Step Two
Students will divide their background into four parts. In the top section, they’ll draw thick neon pastel lines to represent wind. Then, they’ll tear their blue painted paper into strips and glue them down to create ocean layers. |
| Step Three
Students will cut 3×5 inch pieces of brightly painted paper to create coral and use oil pastels to draw coral and seaweed on contrasting colors. They will cut and glue everything onto the layered ocean background. |
| Step Four
Students will cut small rectangles of construction paper into fish shapes, decorate them with patterns, and glue 7–10 fish into their collage to complete their ocean scene. |
