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

 Futurism Figures

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Futurism Figure using drawing techniques learning in class
• Use line types (thick, thin), shape variation (geometric, organic), and space (positive, negative) inspired by Italian Painter (1871-1958) Giacomo Balla
• Use drawing techniques (contour line, outline) and design principles (repetition, emphasis, movement) based on Futurism Art
• Define Movement (using art elements to create an action or guide the viewer through a composition)

Lesson One
Day One Art Start

1. Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash (1912) Giacomo Balla 

2. Read The Blocks Come Out at Night by Javier Garay 

3. Discussion Questions "How is possible to create movement with non-moving object? How and why can a movement from 1909-1943 be considered and described as futuristic? How might technological society affect artistic styles? How might moving forward affect the history of yesterday? What might be the cause and effect? How might not moving forward affect our future? Can you imagine being so enthusiastic about technology that you name your daughter Propeller? What was memorable to you when watching these? What stood out in the artwork? Is the whole image repeated?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 12" by 15" Drawing Paper
2. Draw three outlines of figures using drawing techniques (contour line, outline) for figure drawing
3. Add vibrant colors (yellow, green, pink) to the line types (thick, thin) of the figures for the Futurism Figures 

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Futurism Figures for Assigned Table

2. Speed of a Motorcycle (1913) Giacomo Balla

3. Discussion Questions "What did you notice first when looking at this artwork? What was your first reaction to this artwork? Does your opinion about the artwork change the longer you look at it? What type of lines do you see in this artwork? What type of colors do you see in this artwork? Which area of the artwork is emphasized by the artist? What elements of this artwork seem real? How does your eye move through the artwork? What choices did the artist make to make that happen? How does the artist use proportion? How does the artist use proportion? What could be improved about this artwork?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use drawing techniques (contour line, outline) to add basic shapes (geometric, organic) to positive space (figure) of Futurism Figures 
2. Use drawing techniques (contour line, outline) to add basic shapes (geometric, organic) to negative space (background) of Futurism Figures
3. Use drawing techniques (contour line, outline) to add details (movement lines, repetition) to figure drawings

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Futurism Figures for Assigned Table
2. Set Up Studio Area (markers, erasers, pencils)

Lesson Activities

1. Use vibrant colors (yellow, green, pink) to fill in the positive space (figures) of the figure drawings
2. Use vibrant colors (yellow, green, pink) to fill in the negative space (background) of the figure drawings
3. Add design details (movement lines, geometric shapes) to the positive space (foreground) of the Futurism Figures

Artist Examples

Student Examples