Painting and mixed media: World in watercolour
Exploring artists' use of watercolour, developing watercolour techniques through sketchbook studies and applying these skills in an abstract final painting.
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Painting and mixed media: World in watercolour
Important update
This Year 6 Painting and mixed media unit has been updated for 2026–2027 to provide a clearer progression of painting skills and knowledge.
The current Art, Year 6, Painting and mixed media: Artist study unit will move to the Content archive area in August 2026, where it will remain permanently available.
Explore the Art and design, Long-term plan for 2026–2027.
Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Give examples of how artists use sketchbooks to record, explore and develop ideas.
- Identify and compare how artists use colour, materials and techniques to represent the natural world.
- Use wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry techniques to create different effects.
- Control the amount of water used to change the intensity of colour.
- Select and use a range of watercolour techniques to achieve intended effects.
- Use studies and sketchbook work to develop and inform a final composition.
- Create and develop painted studies to explore ideas before producing a final piece.
- Evaluate a final piece, identifying strengths and areas for development.
Suggested prior learning
Coming soon! Art and design, Year 5, Painting and mixed media: Expressive portraitsLessons
Lesson 1: The natural world
Lesson 2: Watercolour
Lesson 3: Experimental techniques
Lesson 4: Abstract studies
Lesson 5: From study to final piece
Key skills
Key knowledge
Related content
Unit resources
Knowledge organiser – Art and design Y6: Painting and mixed media: World in watercolour
Aimed at pupils, a double-page that gives key facts and definitions from the unit 'World in watercolour'.
Vocabulary display – Art and design Y6: Painting and mixed media: World in watercolour
A display version of the vocabulary from the unit 'World in watercolour'.
Cross-curricular opportunities
Geography: Human and physical geography.