Iceland Illustrated - Georgia O’Keeffe
Learning Sequence 2
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Intro with Gavin
Begin the lesson by asking students to watch Jordan’s video carefully. Encourage them to look for how he explains atmospheric effect and demonstrates the use of washes to show distance. After the video, guide a discussion to check their understanding before they begin.
Support students as they paint, reminding them to use more water and lighter washes for the background and stronger colour with detail in the foreground. Focus on developing the skills of creating depth with watercolour and showing distance through colour change.
In today’s lesson we are going to explore the amazing landscapes of Iceland once again, but this time we are focusing on something called atmospheric effect. Imagine standing on top of a volcano and looking out at mountains in the distance. The further away they are, the more blue they appear, and the less detail you can see.
First, watch the video where we will learn how to show this in our art by using watercolour washes. With more water and less paint, you can make the faraway mountains look soft and blue. As you move forward in your painting, use stronger colour and more detail so the closer mountains stand out.
When you finish your artwork, you can share it with younger students and explain what you have learned about atmospheric effect. In this way, you become both an artist and a teacher, passing knowledge on to other
Your Weekly Keywords
Begin by asking students to watch Jordan’s video and then work in pairs to define the weekly keywords linked to atmospheric effect and depth. Encourage them to describe each word in their own language first, without looking up a dictionary.
After this, bring pairs together to compare their ideas, noticing where they match and where they differ. Focus on developing the skills of collaborative definition and using art vocabulary in context, so students can confidently talk about how they show distance and depth in their paintings.
This week you will be given ten important words that connect to the idea of atmospheric effect and how artists show distance in a landscape. These words will help you talk about the techniques you are practising and grow your artistic vocabulary.
Look at the task card and, with a partner, try to explain each word as simply as you can without using a dictionary. When you have finished, compare your definitions with another pair. You might discover that you share the same ideas or that you have described the word in a new way.
By practising this together, you will understand the art technique more clearly and feel more confident when explaining how you created depth and distance in your own painting.
Quote of the Week – Georgia O’Keeffe
Ask a student to read the weekly quote aloud, then invite the class to share what they think it means in their own simple words. Encourage open discussion so students can compare and build on each other’s ideas.
Link the quote to Georgia O’Keeffe’s art, showing how she took time to notice details in flowers and landscapes. Focus on the skills of interpreting meaning and connecting words to artwork, helping students see how careful observation makes both art and life richer.
This week’s quote is from Georgia O’Keeffe, an artist who loved painting nature, especially flowers and wide open landscapes. She said, “To see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.”
Think about what this means. How does slowing down and really looking at nature help us become better artists? Talk about it with a partner and share your ideas.
If you like this quote, explore O’Keeffe’s paintings to see how carefully she noticed the shapes and colours in the world around her. Collect each weekly quote to keep yourself inspired.
Art History – Who was Georgia O’Keeffe?
Guide students to read the book on Georgia O’Keeffe carefully and highlight key moments in her life and art style. Support them in choosing the most important facts to include in their infographic or poster, and encourage them to use creativity in both content and design.
Remind students that they may use digital tools like Canva or traditional materials. Focus on developing the skills of identifying key information and presenting knowledge visually, so their posters can inspire and inform others.
Georgia O’Keeffe was an American artist who became famous for her beautiful paintings of flowers, shells, and wide open landscapes. She loved nature and believed that if you really slowed down to look carefully, you could find endless shapes and colours to inspire art.
Read the book about her life and notice the key moments that made her such an important artist. Look at how her paintings are simple but powerful, and how she used colour to show both beauty and emotion.
Next, use the blank template to create an infographic or poster that tells her story. You can make it on Canva or use pencils and paper.
When you are finished, share your poster with a classmate, your teacher, or your family. By teaching others, you will remember more about what you have learned.
Make an Information Report
Guide students to recall key information from the video and story before they begin their infographic. Encourage them to organise their ideas into short, clear bullet points and use titles to separate sections such as “Early Life,” “Famous Paintings,” and “Life in New Mexico.”
Support them in adding simple illustrations or diagrams to make their report more visual and engaging. Remind them that infographics should be colourful, easy to read, and fun to look at. Focus on developing the skills of summarising key facts and presenting information visually so students can communicate what they have learned about Georgia O’Keeffe in a creative and memorable way.
After watching the video and reading the story about Georgia O’Keeffe’s life, it is time to show what you have learned in a fun and creative way.
Use the template provided to make a colourful infographic. Remember to include:
Titles – clear headings for each section
Bullet points – short, simple facts about her life and art
Illustrations – small drawings of flowers, landscape in s, or even Georgia herself
Diagrams – you might show a timeline of her life or how her art style changed
Make it bright, clear, and exciting so anyone who looks at your infographic will understand why Georgia O’Keeffe is such an important artist.
Create With Jordan – Full Video
Encourage students to watch the video carefully and pause when needed so they can notice each technique Jordan demonstrates. Draw their attention to how he uses more water and less paint to create light blue washes for distant mountains, then adds stronger colour and more detail for the ones in front.
Highlight how this layering shows atmospheric effect and helps to build depth in the landscape. Focus on developing the skills of using watercolour washes and showing distance through colour and detail.
This week Jordan shows you how to create atmospheric effect in an Icelandic mountain scene using watercolour. Watch closely as he explains why distant mountains look softer and more blue, and how this helps us show depth.
Notice how he makes light blue washes for the background by using more water and less paint. See how each new layer comes forward with stronger colour and a little more detail, so the nearest shapes look clearer and less blue.
Take your time with the video. When you finish, you will be ready to paint your own landscape.
Create With Jordan – Teaching a Lesson With Your Art
Teacher Notes - Guide students to watch Jordan’s video carefully and then create their own Icelandic landscape, showing atmospheric effect by making distant mountains lighter and more blue, and closer mountains stronger in colour and detail.
Support them in turning their finished painting into a colouring sheet. Encourage students to share this with a kindergarten or Year 1 class, using it to explain how things change as they move further into the background.
Focus on building the skills of using watercolour washes to show depth and teaching others through art, helping students see themselves as both creators and educators.
Today you will be artists and teachers, just like Jordan. Begin by watching his video carefully. Notice how he paints the mountains of Iceland, showing that the ones far away look softer and more blue, while the ones close to us are brighter and more detailed. This is called atmospheric effect.
Just like my example opposite, once you have seen how he does it, create your own Icelandic landscape. Use watercolour washes to show the distant mountains, and add stronger colours and details for the ones in front.
When you finish your artwork, turn it into a colouring sheet. You will take this to a kindergarten or Year 1 class and use it to teach younger children about atmospheric effect. Show them how things become more blue as they move into the background.
Your painting will not just be art — it will become a lesson that helps others learn and see the world in a new way.
Sketch With Jordan – The Landscapes of Iceland
This activity encourages students to draw inspiration from Jordan’s video of the Icelandic mountains to create their own landscape scene. Guide them to notice how the distant mountains are lighter and more blue, while the closer ones appear stronger in colour and detail.
Support students in applying these techniques in their own work, reminding them that their landscapes do not need to look exactly like Jordan’s. Emphasise individuality and creativity.
Focus on building the skills of showing depth through atmospheric effect and using watercolour washes effectively, helping students grow in confidence as landscape artists.
At the beginning of this week’s class, we showed you the breathtaking view from the top of an Icelandic volcano, looking out across mountains that fade into the distance. It is now your turn to use that video as inspiration to create your very own mountain scene, just like Jordan.
Watch the video provided and follow the steps explained. Notice how Jordan uses washes of blue to show the faraway mountains and adds more detail and colour to the ones closer to us.
When you are ready, create your own landscape using these techniques. Remember, your mountains do not have to look exactly the same as Jordan’s—your imagination and creativity are what make your art unique.
Quiz and Certificate
Remind students that completing the creative task is only the first step. Now they will show their understanding through a short quiz. Encourage them to think carefully about each question and reflect on the skills they practised, especially how atmospheric effect makes distant landscapes appear more blue and less detailed.
Celebrate their success when they earn a certificate and motivate them to aim for the full set. Focus on developing the skills of recalling key concepts and reflecting on their learning.
Now that you have finished this week’s creative task, it is time to collect your certificate. This one celebrates your learning about atmospheric effect and how distant mountains look more blue and less detailed than the ones closer to us.
Click the button below to take a short and fun quiz. Once you complete it, your certificate will be ready for you.
Remember, there are ten certificates to collect in this course—see how many you can achieve. Good luck!
