Margaret Preston Inspired Flowers
Learning Targets
I can...
- Create an original Margaret Preston Inspired Flowers using drawing techniques learned in class
- Use line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal), shape variation (geometric, organic, free form), and value (lightness, darkness, highlights, shadows) inspired by Australian Painter (1875-1963) Margaret Preston
- Use drawing styles (gesture, line, perspective, photorealism, scientific, silhouette) and design principles (proportion, movement, emphasis) based on National Art
- Define Aboriginal (the spiritual and symbolic carvings, paintings, or depictions of nature created by indigenous people)
Lesson One
Day One, Art Start
1. Sturt's Desert Pea (1930) Margaret Preston
2. Read Margaret Preston: The Art Of Constant Rearrangement by Elizabeth Butel
3. Discussion Questions "What role did Margaret Preston play in modern art? Do you think Margaret Preston's idea for a national identity- which led to the adoption of Aboriginal-styled designs and motifs- was progressive or misguided? Do you think countries have a national visual identity? Why should artists look at Preston's work now and have conversations about their own artwork? If you were sitting with Margaret Preston, what would you like to ask her? What qualities do you notice in her artwork? How has she used color, line, and shape within the artwork? What do you notice that is different about the composition? What can you see in the foreground, middle ground, and background? Which colors are predominant, and where are they used?"
Lesson Activities
1. Choose 12" X 15" Drawing Paper
2. Use line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) to fill in the positive space (foreground) of the flower drawings
3. Use color combinations (analogous, complementary, secondary) to fill in the positive space (foreground) of the Margaret Preston Inspired Flowers
Day Two, Art Start
1. Retrieve Margaret Preston Inspired Flowers for Assigned Tables
2. Sturt's Pea (1944) Margaret Preston
3. Discussion Questions "How does her use of color draw your eyes to the floral arrangements? Do you think Margaret Preston has used color in a realistic way, or do you think she has exaggerated or enhanced the colors of the flowers? Why do you think she chose to use such bold lines and borders? How does this affect the way we view the subject matter? Why do you think she chose to create this area of pattern? How does it enhance the artwork? What can we learn about Margaret Preston's feelings about Australian flora by looking at her artwork? What might these characteristics and properties symbolize? What species of flora did you choose? What did you find out about it during your research? What symbolic characteristics did you assign to your chosen plant and why? Which part of the process did you find the most challenging, and which was the most rewarding? Why?"
Lesson Activities
1. Add shape variation (geometric, organic, free form) to the negative space (background) of the flower drawings
2. Use patterns (swirls, zigzags, stripes) to add designs to the negative space (background) of the flower drawings
3. Use chalk to blend patterns (swirls, zig zags, stripes) for the negative space (background) of the Margaret Preston Inspired Flowers
Day Three, Art Start
1. Retrieve Margaret Preston Inspired Flowers for Assigned Tables
2. Set Up Studio Area (oil pastels, chalk, erasers, pencils, charcoal)
Lesson Activities
1. Use color combinations (analogous, complementary, secondary) to fill in the positive space (flower) of the flower drawings
2. Add highlights (light source, reflective light) to the positive space (flower) of the flower drawings
3. Add illusion of depth by adding details (petals, vase, leaves, glitter) to the positive space (flower) of the Margaret Preston Inspired Flowers
Artist Examples
Student Examples
Posts
