Create a "grid"
Use lines to divide an area into many small adjacent shapes. You may create an illusion of three dimensions using perspective and overlap.  Or keep it flat, emphasizing a regular geometry.  On the other hand, feel free to make it organic, basing your design on plumage or marine life. Take this opportunity to explore the possibilties and develop several ideas before you settle on one. Then refine that one until you are satisfied that you have a pattern that will hold your interest until your finished.

Plan a color scheme.
Create an overall plan for how the colors will work in your design.  Limit the hues you use.  Consider adopting one of the tradition color schemes such as Analogous, Complementary, Triad, or Warm/Cool Contrasts.  Let one hue dominate.  Use neutral colors to support intense ones.
A requirement of this assignment is that you paint adjacent areas in related color sequences .  Some sequences must extend in two dimensions.  The variables in the sequences may be hue, value or intensity or some combination of these.

Next assignment (Modules)
Pallas' First Day Handout.
Macomb Community College.