Monochromatic images use one colour and add shades of grey or white to show variations of that colour. Notice how the pinks in the picture to the right start dark at the bottom and get lighter by the top.

Let’s make a monochromatic heart.

Draw a large heart onto a piece of paper. Choose one colour in a crayon, pencil crayon, pastel, or paint. If you choose paint, you need black and white as well.

Horizontally, across the bottom of the heart, push hard and colour darkly. If using paint, add a bit of black to your colour. Colour some of the bottom. As you work upwards, create shades in layers as you see in the picture to the right. For example, press a little lighter as you colour above the darkest shade or add less black if using paint. When painting, the last layer can have white added to it. Continue this until your heart is fully coloured with a very light shade filling the top of the heart.

a large black outline of a heart shape

Click the image to expand.

If you want, write a “kindness” message below and share it with a special friend or family member or try creating a combination piece using several shapes and colours. Use a different shape and colour. You could repeat this and then cut each shape out and glue them on a piece of paper as a collage.