Monochromatic Bubble Lettered Cursive Name Painting

Right now my 6th grade students are creating a Monochromatic Bubble Lettered Cursive Name Painting.  How's that for a title?! They learned about Tints, Shades and Monochromatic Color Schemes. 

Each student created his/her name in cursive bubble letters and then outlined the name in Sharpie Marker.  Next, we begin painting.  Starting in the center of the name we paint the color without any white or black.  Then, going to the right we gradually start to add white to the paint to create a TINT of the color.  Paint a letter, add more white, paint a letter, add more white, etc.  On the left we use the SHADE of the color.  So gradually add black to the color and paint the letters.  Once the painting is done we use sharpie to create a checkerboard background.  The black sharpie helps keep with the Monochromatic theme!