Materials:

• watercolor paints
• watercolor brushes
• black paper for silhouettes
• cotainers for water
• paper towels
• white construction paper
• newspaper for covering work space
• scissors
• glue

Directions:

1. Cover your work space with newspapers. Pour water into containers until they are about half-full. Fold a paper towel in half for blotting paint. Set out watercolor paints. Soften your paints by squeezing two or three drops of water into each color.
2. Plan the color "family" you are going to use. Some suggestions are listed below. Choose three or four similar colors for a "family". Remember you can use the paint tray to mix your own colors. Try some of these combinations.
   • warm colors (reds, oranges, and yellows)
   • cool colors (blues and greens)
   • try blending two colors like purples and pinks
   • the colors of a sunset or midnight sky

   Tip: Black, brown and other very dark colors don't work well for silhouettes.

3. Wet a paper towel and squeeze out about half of the excess water. Then, use the paper towel to wash your white paper with water. Be sure to wipe horizontally across your paper. Next, dip your paintbrush into the paint and make brush strokes horizontally across the paper. Rinse your brush and change colors as frequently as you like. The paint will "spread" on the wet paper blending together with the next color. Continue making brush strokes across the entire paper with the paints in your color "family". If the colors are not spreading as much as you would like, wipe more water across the paper with your paper towel. If you want more color, add more paint to your brush and go over that area. If you have too much water on you paper, blot it with a dry paper towel. After your paper is filled with blended colors, allow it to dry. Clean up the watercolors and your work space.
4. Using black construction paper, cut out the figure of a wolf and other figures or shapes you would like to use in your silhouette. When your watercolors have dried, glue on your figures and shapes. Trim off any overlapping pieces. If your picture has not dried flat, place some heavy books on top of it overnight. Display your finished watercolor scene.