Luna Moth 6

What You’ll Need

Luna moth

6

Topics Covered Value, Color & Proportion

Time Needed 2 Sessions at 50 Minutes

© DEEP SPACE SPARKLE & THE SPARKLERS CLUB 2

ABOUT LUNA MOTHS LUNA MOTHS are a large type of nocturnal moth, meaning that they

are most active at night. Luna moths are one of the largest moths and

are typically a bright green with several eye spots on the wings. The eye

spots are a defense mechanism meant to scare

away predators. A luna moth’s life cycle is

similar to a butterfly’s, from egg to larva to

pupae in a silk cocoon, then emerging as a

winged moth. However, unlike butterflies,

adult luna moths lack mouths and digestive

systems because they don’t eat in their moth

stage. Instead, they use the food stored as a

larva to live during their week-long life as an

adult moth.

This lesson, inspired by the beautifully delicate luna moth, is a

beautiful exploration of drawing from observation and color

usage. Using one of the three included handouts, students will

draw their luna moth from a source image, with an emphasis

on using correct proportions. They will then use a white oil

pastel to mark areas with light values. Students will add color

slowly, layer by layer with chalk pastel, blending to build up

the richly colored wings of the moth as well as the light areas

and darker shadows. Finished off with

some glowing stars, this lesson is a

testament to the

beauty of night

time. Beauty the

Luna by Julia

Welch is a great

companion to

this lesson.

What You’ll Need: 12” x 18” black sulphite paper

White oil pastel

Chalk pastels

Luna moth

Drawing the moth• This lesson features three different source

images for students to use on pages 6 - 8. Each

handout is the luna moth from a different

perspective.

• You can allow students to

choose which they’d like to

use. The view that is head on

will be simpler to draw than

the side view, which is what

I’m using in my example.

• Using white oil pastel, begin drawing the luna

moth from OBSERVATION on a 12” x18” piece

of black sulphite paper. Depending on the

handout you choose, your paper might be

horizontal or vertical.

• Draw lightly at first to get the PROPORTIONS

of the luna moth correct. Proportion is the size of

one part of the image in relation to the other

areas in the image.

• For example, to draw the side view, the

furthest wing will have to be much smaller

than the closest wing to be drawn in

proportion.

• Once you are satisfied with your

drawing, you can use the white oil

pastel to start coloring in light areas

to EMPHASIZE them. Draw with

harder pressure for these light areas.

Handouts on pages 6-8


Layering color• One of the most beautiful aspects of working

with chalk pastels is that you can LAYER subtle

colors to create lots of DEPTH in your COLORS.

• Looking at your source image, decide which

color you’d like to use as a base color first.

Typically you’d choose a light color.

• For my luna moth, even though it was very

green, I could see that it also had a yellow

undertone, so that was the color that I chose to

start with.

• Color lightly with your first color, then BLEND

out with one finger. Since the paper is black, it’s

likely the color will be very transparent after

blending and that’s okay. You can always add

another layer to punch up the undertone a bit.

• Next, layer the next lightest color on top of your

base. For me, that was a lime green. Blend out.

• Continue building up the colors like this until

you have a nice base color.

• NOTE: You don’t have to color the entire luna

moth as you build up the color; if there are lighter

spots that match the base color you’ve created,

you can leave those alone and focus on building

up darker colors.

• One of the other advantages of using chalk

pastels is that they will draw on top of a base color

crisply, so once your base color is built up, you can

start adding sharper details with the chalk.


Finishing touches• You’ll notice as you continue to build up color and

blend that you can feel the white oil pastel marks

and that they allow chalk to be deposited on top of

them. One of the reasons that we started with light

colors first is so those can soak into the oil pastel

and leave those areas lighter.

• Begin adding darker accent colors to the edges of

the wings and in the eyespots.

• Pay attention in your source image where

SHADOWS lie and use darker colors to slowly build

up those areas.

• In contrast, also add some pure white to areas that

are HIGHLIGHTS in the moth.

• Adding both highlights and shadows will give a

sense of FORM to your moth.

• You can use black to outline the entire moth if

you’d like, just use a soft touch to keep the delicate

feel of the moth.

• For the background, you can add some glowing

stars with white oil pastel, since luna moths are

nocturnal.

• To get the glowing effect, color in a small circle

white, then continued to spiral out from the circle

using lighter pressure as you go.

• Use yellow chalk to color on top and blend with a

circular motion.

• Add a few plain white stars with a white oil pastel

to finish off the starlit sky.



Luna

mot

hH

A N

D O

U T

Luna moth© DEEP SPACE SPARKLE & THE SPARKLERS CLUB 8

H A N D O U T


National Core Arts Standards - 6th GradeL U N A M O T H

C R E AT I N G

Common Core StandardsCCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed

through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from

personal opinions or judgments.

Have students describe the main idea of any of the book suggested

for this lesson verbally to assess their understanding of the text. This

is a great way to introduce students to luna moths while checking

their comprehension.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.1 Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.

As students complete an artist statement (located in Teacher Aids), they are supporting claims

about what their artwork means. This requires them to build their answer based on how they

created the work as evidence pointing toward the composition’s meaning.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when

writing or speaking.

You can emphasize to students the importance of using conventions of standard English

grammar when writing their answers to the artist statement worksheet. This is a wonderful way

to help students see cross-curricular connections between subjects!

VA:Cr1.1.6a - Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - Combine concepts collaboratively to generate innovative ideas for creating art.

VA:Cr2.1.6a - Organize and develop artistic ideas and work - Demonstrate openness in trying new ideas, materials, methods, and approaches in making works of art and design.

VA:Cr3.1.6a - Refine and complete artistic work - Reflect on whether personal artwork conveys the intended meaning and revise accordingly.

I Can StatementsL U N A M O T H


Today I will learn about OBSERVATION

DRAWING so that I CAN use a source image

to help draw a LUNA MOTH with accurate PROPORTIONS.

Today I will learn about LAYERING and BLENDING with chalk

pastels so that I CAN create rich colors with DEPTH.

Today I will learn about VALUE so that I CAN add SHADOWS and

HIGHLIGHTS to my luna moth to create the illusion of FORM.

Time to evaluate your work! Review your project and check the box with your answer.

Criteria

Craftsmanship

Effort

Composition

Did you follow all steps?

Were you satisfied with the end result?

Did you use the supplies correctly?

Did you do your best?

Excellent Needs WorkSuccessful Progressing

© DEEP SPACE SPARKLE & THE SPARKLERS CLUB

© DEEP SPACE SPARKLE & THE SPARKLERS CLUB

Student Name:__________________ Class:__________ Project: Luna Moth

Student Name:__________________ Class:__________ Project: Luna Moth

TEACHER ASSESSMENT

STUDENT ASSESSMENT

5-75-7

5-7 5-7

Did the student draw a luna moth from observation with correct proportions?

Did the student layer and blend which chalk pastels to create depth in their colors?

Did the student add shadows and highlights to create the illusion of form?

Blend

Depth

Layer

L U N A M O T H V O C A B U L A R Y


Luna moth

Observation

L U N A M O T H V O C A B U L A R Y


Luna Moth 6

Documents

Transcript of Luna Moth 6