Laundry Lines
Learning Targets
I can...
- Create an original Laundry Lines using painting techniques learned in class
- Use line types (horizontal vertical diagonal), complementary colors (red green; blue orange; yellow purple), and space (positive negative) inspired by American Folk Artist (1860-1961) Grandma Moses
- Use drawing techniques (horizon line landscapes perspective) and design principles (balance proportion composition) based on Naive Art
- Define Narrative (a story or description of actual or fictional events)
Lesson One
Day One, Art Start
1. Taking In The Laundry (1951) Grandma Moses
2. Read Grandma Moses by Alexandra Wallner
3. Discussion Questions "Did you know she didn't start painting until she was seventy? Why did the artist like to draw happy, colorful scenes? How does Grandma Moses stitches contribute to the unity of this work? Where did Grandma Moses use diminishing perspective in this painting? Where can you find a pattern that repeats? How did Grandma Moses use stack perspective here? Could you figure out he story of this painting if you didn't know the title? Where did Grandma Moses use tints of color in this painting? What color repeats to move your eye around the painting?"
Lesson Activities
1. Use a ruler, compass, or straightedge to draw the scenery of the landscape drawings
2. Add details (trees, buildings, animals) within the background of the landscape paintings
3. Use colored sharpies to outline the foreground, middle ground, and background of the Laundry Lines
Day Two, Art Start
1. Retrieve Laundry Lines for Assigned Table
2. Wash Day (1945) Grandma Moses
3. Discussion Questions "What color repeats to move your eye around the painting? Where did Grandma Moses use tints? How do we know that the light green fields are farther way from us than the darker green ones? Where did Grandma Moses create atmospheric perspective? What repeating elements can you find in this painting? How does the color green contribute to the unity? Do you think it is easier to paint on a stretched canvas or on a board? How many different tints of green do you think Grandma Moses had to mix to paint this scene? What do you think Grandma Moses was trying to say with this painting? Does this little town look like some place where you would like to love or just visit? How is unity achieved in this painting?"
Lesson Activities
1. Add patterns (stars stripes swirls) to the positive space (clothing) of the landscape paintings
2. Use complementary colors (red green; blue orange; yellow purple) to fill in the negative space (background) of the landscape paintings
3. Use complementary colors (red green; blue orange; yellow purple) to fill in the positive space (foreground) of the Laundry Lines
Day Three, Art Start
1. Retrieve Laundry Lines for Assigned Table
2. Set Up Studio Area (watercolor, oil pastels, paint brushes)
Lesson Activities
1. Add highlights (sunlight, reflective light) within the scenery of the landscape paintings
2. Add shadows (cast shadow, reflective shadow) within the scenery of the landscape paintings
3. Add details (snowflakes, tractors, animals) within the positive space (foreground) of the Laundry Lines
Artist Examples
Student Examples
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