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:

Student work - 2016

Student work - 2016

Student artwork - 2011

Student artwork - 2013

Picasso-Inspired Cubist Portraits

After an introduction to the life and artwork of 20th century artist Pablo Picasso, students will create a work of art that showcases texture through collage, as well as demonstrates an understanding of the fundamentals of the Cubist aesthetic. 

Pablo Picasso.  "Portrait of Dora Maar", 1937.  Musee Picasso, Paris.

Picasso's original image is reproduced here for educational purposes only.

Using Picasso's artwork as inspiration, this culminating project asks student to integrate the art elements of line, shape, color, texture, and value to create their own Cubist portrait.

Using a photograph for inspiration, students create a portrait that incorporates Cubist attributes. 

Student artworks - Q2 2012