Lewis & Clark Exploratory Art: VanGogh-Inspired Still-Life

Once students have learned about all seven elements of art, they are ready to see how master artists incorporate them into their work. This lesson is the first exposure 6th grade students have to art history. They learn about the stylistic characteristics of Post-Impressionist painter, Vincent Van Gogh; including his use of short, dashed brush strokes, and his use of complementary color schemes as seen below in his quintessential masterpiece, "A Starry Night".

Vincent Van Gogh. "A Starry Night", 1889. Museum of Modern Art, NYC.

Using Van Gogh's still-life compositions as inspiration, students will create a still-life contour drawing of a vase of sunflowers, or a simple wooden chair. They will then add complementary color to their drawings in a style that is similar to the master artist.

This art work focuses on both new and continuing skill development. Specifically, contour line, dynamic composition through space relationships, subtractive color theory, as well as the art elements of value and texture.

Van Gogh's Inpirational Masterpieces:

(left) Vincent Van Gogh. "Van Gogh's Chair" 1888. The National Gallery, London.
(right) Vincent Van Gogh. "Three Sunfowers in a Vase" 1888. Private Collection, United States.

Van Gogh's images are reproduced here for educational purposes only.

LCMS Student art work: