Firefly Jar Paintings
Learning Targets
I can...
- Create an original Firefly Jar Paintings using drawing techniques learned in class
- Use color combinations (metallic, glow in the dark, secondary), shape variation (geometric, organic, freeform), and space (positive, negative) inspired by Edo, Meiji, And Tashio Period
- Use painting techniques (underpainting, dry brush, blending, layering) and design principles (composition, proportion, repetition) based on Asian Art
- Define Luminosity (the illusion of light from within the painting)
Lesson One
Day One, Art Start
1. Searching For Fireflies (1768) Suzuki Harunobu
2. Read The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle
3. Discussion Questions "When do fireflies come out? What do we see in the summer night? What happens when you try to catch a firefly? Why do fireflies light up? What do fireflies eat? Do you call them fireflies or lightning bugs? Why do fireflies only appear on hot summer nights? Why do some people call the insects fireflies bugs or lightning bugs? How many fireflies did you find? When did they start to show up before or after dusk? Were the fireflies flying or sitting on something? Which area of the artwork is emphasized by the artist? What is the story being told, if any? How might you feel differently about the world after looking at this artwork? What dose this artwork say about the culture in which it was produced? What does this artwork tell us about the past?"
Lesson Activities
1. Use drawing techniques (layering overlapping cropping) to make a composition for the fireflies paintings
2. Use drawing techniques (layering overlapping cropping to add parts (wings, legs, lightbulb) to the positive space (fireflies) of the fireflies paintings
3. Add design details (eyes, patterns, wings) to the positive space (fireflies) of the Firefly Jar Paintings
Day Two, Art Start
1. Retrieve Firefly Jar Paintings for Assigned Tables
2. Woman And Child Catching Fireflies (1793) Eishosai Choki
3. Discussion Questions "What was happening in history when this artwork was made? How does this change your understanding of the artwork? What are the values and beliefs of the culture in which this artwork was made? How might your interpretation of this artwork be different from someone in another culture? If you could ask this artwork a question, what would you ask it? What does this artwork teach us about the future? How can you connect this artwork to your own life? How does this title contribute to your understanding of the meaning? How did the artist use line, shape, and color to contribute to the mood or meaning of the artwork? What do you think happened before this scene? What do you think happened next? What do you think the artist is trying to say in this artwork? What is the meaning or message? How does your eye move through the artwork? What choices did the artist make to make that happen?"
Lesson Activities
1. Use value (highlights, reflective light, cast shadow) to add contrast to the positive space (foreground) of the fireflies paintings
2. Use value (cast shadow, shadow, highlights) to add contrast to the negative space (background) of the fireflies paintings
3. Use texture (actual, visual, implied) to add details (wings, legs, lightbulb) to the positive space (fireflies) of the Firefly Jar Paintings
Day Three, Art Start
1. Retrieve Firefly Jar Paintings for Assigned Tables
2. Set Up Studio Area (tempera paint, paint brushes, water buckets)
Lesson Activities
1. Use color combinations (glow in the dark, metallic, secondary) to fill in the positive space (fireflies) of the fireflies paintings
2. Use color combinations (glow in the dark, metallic, secondary) to fill in the negative space (background) of the fireflies paintings
3. Use metallic colors (gold, silver, bronze) to outline the line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) of the positive space (fireflies) of the Firefly Jar Paintings
Artist Examples
Student Examples
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