Tag: art lesson

1st Grade – Recreating Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night

1st Grade – Recreating Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night

Description of the Unit – Students observed and discussed Vincent van Gogh’s famous painting, Starry Night, and, using what they noticed in the painting regarding color, texture and movement, attempted to recreate it in oil pastel.

Vincent van Gogh's original painting of Starry Night, painted in 1889, and using heavily textured brush strokes to express the swirling of wind and twinking of stars.
Starry Night, Vincent van Gogh, 1889
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8th Grade – Linoleum Block Printmaking

8th Grade – Linoleum Block Printmaking

Description of the Unit –

This is one of my favorite art units to teach, because it involves one of my favorite art forms to practice: linoleum block printmaking. There is something so satisfying about carving through that soft linoleum block, watching the shavings curl off the blade. Students love this art form, too, and always request it every year (I offer it as an elective).

A snapshot of some necessary supplies for linoleum block printmaking: linoleum block, bone folder, carving tools, Xacto knife, brayer, paint, paint tray, self-healing craft mat, non-slip carving tray.
A snapshot of some necessary supplies for linoleum block printmaking
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3rd Grade – Taking Inspiration from Bridget Riley’s Op Art

3rd Grade – Taking Inspiration from Bridget Riley’s Op Art

Description of the Unit – This delightful unit introduces students to optical illusion art. Students will observe and discuss different examples of optical illusion art, focusing particularly on the work of Bridget Riley. Using basic measurement skills, students will create their own two-color optical illusion design.

A photo of Op Art painter Bridget Riley in her studio, some time in the 60's.
Bridget Riley in her studio
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5th Grade – Franz Marc and his Kaleidoscopic Animal Paintings

5th Grade – Franz Marc and his Kaleidoscopic Animal Paintings

Description of the Unit – Students will explore the kaleidoscopic, expressionistic animal-centered paintings of Modern artist Franz Marc, applying the same concepts to their own compositions in oil pastel.

Deer in a Monastery Garden, 1912, Franz Marc. A very abstracted painting of a deer surrounded by a garden
Deer in a Monastery Garden, 1912, Franz Marc
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6th Grade – Self-Portrait inspired by the art of George Littlechild

6th Grade – Self-Portrait inspired by the art of George Littlechild

Description of the Unit – Students will create fantastical, energetic self-portraits inspired by the portraits of George Littlechild. Students will use a mix of sharpie markers, colored pencils, watercolor and acrylic paint for their portraits.

Vibrant and colorful self-portrait by the artist George Littlechild.
Self-portrait by George Littlechild. ©George Littlechild, https://georgelittlechild.com
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Kindergarten – Simple Watercolor Resist

Kindergarten – Simple Watercolor Resist

Description of the Unit – Students will learn about oil’s resistance to water both in nature and through the media of watercolor and crayon, and explore this resistance via playful experimentation and one finished composition.

Kindergarten watercolor & crayon resist, finished composition. This shows a blue cat with purple stripes, a flower and a sun on a blue background.
Kindergarten watercolor & crayon resist, finished composition

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7th Grade – Joseph Cornell’s Memory Boxes

7th Grade – Joseph Cornell’s Memory Boxes

Description of the Unit – Students will observe and discuss Joseph Cornell’s memory boxes, and, gathering their own personal objects, found objects and other materials, students will thoughtfully create their own memory boxes.

One of Joseph Cornell's found object assemblages, also known as memory boxes, titled Celestial Navigation and made in 1956.
Joseph Cornell – Untitled (Celestial Navigation) – 1956-58 © The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation
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2nd Grade: Henri Matisse & Rex Ray: Cut-outs & Collage

2nd Grade: Henri Matisse & Rex Ray: Cut-outs & Collage

Description of the Unit – Students will explore the famous cut-outs that Henri Matisse innovated in the 1940’s, as well as Rex Ray’s inventive contemporary collages. Throughout their exploration students will note the use of color, line, shape, texture and positive and negative space in the creation of a dynamic yet balanced composition.

2nd grade student example of Matisse-Ray "style" Cut-out Collage with painted paper, books, magazines and other diverse stationary.
2nd grade student example of a Matisse-Ray “style” Cut-out Collage
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