Surreal Dreamscapes Slides
6th & 7th Grade Art Studio
Creative Dreamscapes
Beyond Everyday Reality
SURREAL DREAMSCAPES
Explore impossible ideas, vibrant tissue color bleeds, and powerful patterns in negative space.
Big Question for Today: How can unexpected images and colors express ideas that words cannot say?
Let's Dive In →
Our Roadmap
Today's 4 "I Can" Targets
1
Explain Surrealism
I can explain how Surrealism shows wild, impossible ideas and feelings to people.
2
Brainstorm Images & Patterns
I can brainstorm mash-up ideas for unexpected images and rhythm patterns.
3
Color-Bleed Background
I can choose tissue paper colors to craft an atmospheric bleeding background.
4
Fill Negative Space
I can use bold lines, textures, and patterns to energize negative space.
By the end of this project, you will demonstrate all four skills in your final art piece!
Target 1 • The Art Movement
What is Surrealism?
"Sur" = Beyond Reality
Surrealism is an art style where artists paint dream-like scenes that defy the laws of gravity, logic, and physics!
Juxtaposition
Placing two unrelated objects side-by-side that never belong together.
Ex: An umbrella made of feathers
Metamorphosis
Transforming one object smoothly into another living thing.
Ex: Tree branches turning into hands
Dislocation
Taking a familiar object completely out of its normal environment.
Ex: A train bursting from a fireplace
Famous Surrealists: Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, Frida Kahlo No rules in the dream world!
Target 1 • Symbolism & Meaning
How Surrealism Shows Ideas
Surrealist art isn't just "weird for the sake of being weird." Every impossible object is a visual metaphor for a feeling, memory, or big idea!
Melting Clock
Shows how time feels bendable—it drags in a dull class, but slips away in seconds during summer break!
Idea: Time is an illusion
Cloud Inside a Room
Shows feeling trapped inside your mind or bringing the freedom of nature indoors.
Idea: Daydreaming anywhere
Keyhole in an Apple
Shows that ordinary things hold hidden secrets and curiosity waiting to be unlocked.
Idea: Secrets in plain sight
Think & Share: If you turned your current mood into an impossible object, what would it look like?
Target 2 • Creative Invention
Brainstorming Mash-Ups & Patterns
The Surreal Formula
Combine 2 Unlikely Things
1. Everyday Tool + Living Creature
→ A lightbulb with glowing jellyfish tentacles
2. Architecture + Nature Element
→ A spiral staircase rising into storm clouds
Sketch 3 quick mash-up ideas in your sketchbook first!
Visual Rhythms
Choose 2-3 Dynamic Patterns
Echo Contours Rippling waves tracing outer shapes
Checkerboards Warped optical grid squares
Zentangle Swirls Flowing organic spirals & vines
Stipple Stars Dense dot clusters and bursts
Patterns create movement and lock the viewer's eye into the art!
Pro Artist Tip: Contrast smooth, blended areas with sharp, patterned ink lines! Contrast = Eye Candy
Target 3 • Studio Technique
Tissue Color-Bleed Backgrounds
How It Works: Special bleeding tissue paper holds concentrated dye. When misted with clean water from your spray bottle, the colors seep into heavy paper like vibrant watercolors!
1
Pick Palette
Tear 4 tissue paper colors of your choice into expressive shapes.
Tear 4 colors!
2
Spray Water
Mist an even layer of water across your heavy paper with your spray bottle.
Mist, don't flood!
3
Layer & Mist
Place tissue shapes down and spray a fine mist directly over the top!
Overlap & saturate!
4
Peel Reveal
Let soak for 3-5 minutes, then peel tissue away to reveal your luminous dreamscape!
Pure magic!
Spray Tip: Keep your spray bottle nozzle on gentle mist mode so it doesn't blast tissue papers off the table! Avoid puddle flooding.
Target 4 • Composition & Space
Conquering Negative Space
Positive Space
The main subject or focal point of your artwork (your surreal mash-up creature, flying teacup, or floating eye).
This is what people look at first! Keep its silhouette bold and defined.
Negative Space
The empty background area that surrounds and weaves between your main subjects.
Never leave it empty or forgotten—activate it with rhythm and ink!
3 Ways to Energize Your Background with Lines & Patterns:
1. Contour Ripples Draw concentric lines expanding away like soundwaves.
2. Geometric Fields Tuck floating checkerboards or optical zigzags in corners.
3. Dream Constellations Connect ink dots and stars across color gradients.
Golden Art Rule: Negative space is just as important as the subject! Balance = Masterpiece
Studio Blueprint
Your 3-Phase Project Workflow
Phase 1 • 15 Mins
Dream Brainstorm
- • Pull ideas from your real dreams: imagery, symbols & words.
- • Identify the feelings and mood of the dream.
- • Sketch thumbnail plans for your dream drawing!
Goal: Translate dream memories into art ideas!
Phase 2 • 20 Mins
Color-Bleed
- • Tear 4 tissue colors of your choice.
- • Mist paper evenly using your spray bottle.
- • Layer tissue, mist to saturate, and peel to dry!
Goal: Vibrant, fluid background sheet!
Phase 3 • 25 Mins
Draw & Ink
- • Draw your dream drawing in positive space.
- • Outline with bold waterproof black pens.
- • Fill negative space with rhythmic lines!
Goal: Complete contrast & visual harmony!
Peeled wet tissue goes directly in the scrap bin—it will stain clothes and tables! Keep work zones clean
Studio Reflection
Check Your Artist Targets
Target 1: Surreal Ideas
Can you explain what mood, thought, or story your surreal piece shares?
Target 2: Brainstormed Imagery & Patterns
Did you pull ideas from your dreams and test unique repeating patterns?
Target 3: Color-Bleed Technique
Are your 4 chosen tissue colors blended smoothly without becoming muddy?
Target 4: Negative Space Patterns
Did you use lines, textures, and patterns to energize the space around your subject?
Exit Ticket Prompt: Share one detail in your artwork where negative space transforms into an active pattern!
Ready to Create!
Surreal Dreamscape Rubric
SURREAL DREAMSCAPE RUBRIC
6th & 7th Grade Visual Art Studio • 4 Learning Targets
Total Score ____ / 16 pts
Artist Name:
Period:
Date:
Directions: Rate your work on each of the 4 targets (1 to 4 pts each). Write your self-scores before handing in!
4 = Master | 3 = On Target | 2 = Getting There | 1 = Starting Out
| Learning Target | 4 - Dream Master | 3 - On Target | 2 - Getting There | 1 - Starting Out | Score |
|---|
| 1. Surreal Idea "I can explain how Surrealism shows ideas." | Powerful dream idea or feeling; impossible imagery tells a clear, creative story. | Combines dream ideas to express a clear feeling, mood, or thought. | Some dream elements, but the mood or idea is unclear or hard to understand. | Looks like a regular drawing; no surreal dream idea is expressed. | |
| Self: __ | | | | | |
T: __
|
| 2. Dream Brainstorm "I can brainstorm images & symbols." | Inventive mash-up combining 2+ unexpected dream symbols with rich imagination. | Combines 2 unlikely objects or living things pulled from dream ideas. | Simple mash-up or copied from examples; needs more originality. | Only 1 ordinary object drawn; no mash-up or dream symbols used. |
Self: __
T: __
|
| 3. Color-Bleed "I can choose 4 colors & spray bottle." | Tore 4 colors; misted with spray bottle for glowing, smooth blends with zero brown mud. | Tore 4 colors and used spray bottle evenly; colors blend nicely across paper. | Used fewer than 4 colors, or areas got flooded and turned muddy/brown. | Not enough water to bleed, or colors became completely dark and muddy. |
Self: __
T: __
|
| 4. Negative Space "I can fill negative space with patterns." | Negative space is filled with 2+ dynamic patterns (waves, grids, swirls) with bold rhythm! | Uses lines, textures, and repeating patterns to actively fill empty negative space. | Only a few lines or tiny patterns; large blank areas left around subject. | No patterns or lines added in the negative space; background is left empty. |
Self: __
T: __
|
Studio Craftsmanship Expectation: Inked with clean, bold outlines; handled paper gently; and cleaned up table and spray area.
Art Studio Standard
Artist Reflection (Answer in Complete Sentences)
1. What dream idea, memory, or feeling does your surreal artwork express?