Lesson Plan

• Describe the four stages of the artistic process (intention, research, realisation, reflection) and their inter‑relationships.
• Explain how each stage influences decisions about composition, material, and technique in a painting.
• Apply the cycle to plan a personal artwork, produce a finished piece, and evaluate it through a written reflection.
• Demonstrate the ability to document research and process steps using a journal and visual mood board.

• Projector or interactive screen
• Printed handout of the artistic‑process diagram
• Sketchbooks / research journals
• Colour swatches and reference images (printed or digital)
• Acrylic paints, brushes, canvas or board
• Pencils, erasers, pens
• Digital camera or phone for process photography

Begin by showing a completed painting and ask students to infer the steps the artist took to create it. Connect this to their prior experience planning a drawing or sketch. Explain that today they will learn a structured cycle—intention, research, realisation, reflection—and will use it to plan, produce, and evaluate their own artwork. Success criteria are posted: clear intention statement, researched mood board, documented process, and reflective journal entry.

1. Do‑Now (5'): Students list observable stages in the opening artwork.
2. Mini‑lecture (10'): Introduce the cyclical process with the diagram; highlight key questions for each stage.
3. Intention activity (15'): Students write a 1‑2 sentence intention statement for a personal theme and share with a partner.
4. Research & Mood‑board (20'): Using books or tablets, gather visual references, note relevant artists, and create a quick mood board in their journals.
5. Realisation planning (15'): Sketch thumbnail compositions and decide on media; record material choices.
6. Technique trial (10'): In sketchbooks, experiment with one chosen technique (e.g., glazing or impasto) and photograph results.
7. Reflection discussion (10'): Compare original intention with the plan and trial work; note adjustments.
8. Wrap‑up (5'): Collect journals for quick check; outline next steps for completing the final artwork.

Recap the four‑stage cycle and how it guided today’s decisions. For the exit ticket, each student writes one improvement they will make in the next stage of their artwork. Homework: finish the painting, document the final stages with photos, and complete a reflective journal entry linking back to their original intention.