Sol Lewitt Abstract Art

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Sol Lewitt Abstract Art using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use complementary colors (red green; orange blue; purple yellow), line variation (contour, continuous, outline) and space (positive, negative) inspired by American Artist (1928-2007) Sol LeWitt
• Use drawing techniques (contour, outline, continuous line) and design principles (composition, balance, repetition) based on Abstract Art
• Define Non-Objective (geometric art that conveys a sense of simplicity and purity)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1.  Wall Drawing #681 (1928-2007) Sol LeWitt

2. Read Strict Beauty: Sol LeWitt Prints by David S. Areford

3.  Discussion Questions "What is abstract art? What do you think abstract means? Can you recognize anything in this painting? What emotion is being conveyed in this painting? Which artwork is abstract? Which work is abstract? What makes these paintings alike? Is art the idea or is art the final product? Should we call Sol Lewitt the artist since he didn't physically make the piece? Should the people who constructed the piece be given equal credit for its creation? Who is the artist when someone comes up with an idea for a work but has others make or construct it? Must an artist create a work with his or her own hand to produce a valid work of art?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 12" by 15" Drawing Paper
2. Draw three line types (contour, continuous, outline) as a design for the abstract art
3. Outline the three line types (contour, continuous, outline) with white oil pastel for the Sol Lewitt Abstract Art

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Sol Lewitt Abstract Art for Assigned Table

2. Wall Drawing #1136 (2004) Sol LeWitt

3. Discussion Questions "What do you see? What does this work of art remind you of? What do you think this work of art is made of? Where would you display this work of art? Why? Does this work follow any mathematical principles? What types of math tools- geometry, permutations, etc.- do you think were used? Are both of these artworks three-dimensional solids? Does Sol Lewitt use monochromatic colors? what geometric structures are they based on? How would you describe the pattern? How many faces do it have? What is the space of each face? How many vertices does it have? How many edges does it have? Did his plan come out as expected? How would you rewrite the plan? Who gets the artist credit for this wall drawing, LeWitt or his assistants?" 

Lesson Activities

1. Use drawing techniques (contour line, outline) to add basic shapes (geometric, organic) to the positive space (foreground) of the abstract art

2. Use drawing techniques (contour line, outline) to add basic shapes (geometric, organic) to the negative space (background) of the abstract art

3. Use drawing techniques (contour line, outline) to add details (pattern, repetition) to the Sol Lewitt Abstract Art

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Sol Lewitt Abstract Art for Assigned Table
2. Set Up Studio Area (chalk, oil pastel, ruler)

Lesson Activities

Artist Examples

Student Examples