Sunflower Sunsets
Learning Targets
I can...
- Create an original Sunflower Sunsets using drawing techniques learned in class
- Use color combinations (warm colors, earth tones, analogous colors), line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal), and shape variation (geometric organic, free form) inspired by Post Impressionist Painter (1853-1890) Vincent Van Gogh
- Understand painting techniques (overlapping, cropping, layering) and design principles (composition, movement, repetition) based on Post Impressionism
- Define Brushstrokes (the mark, trace, or configuration left on a surface by a single application of a paintbrush)
Lesson One
Day One, Art Start
1. Sunflowers (1889) Vincent Van Gogh
2. Read Camille and the Sunflowers: A Story About Vincent Van Gogh by Laurence Anholt
3. Discussion Questions "Did you know Vincent Van Gogh created seven distinct versions of sunflowers within his series of sunflower paintings? Did you know Van Gogh saw sunflowers as a metaphor for the cycle of life? Did you know his bold use of yellow became a hallmark of his style? Did you know sunflowers are the national flower and an important symbol in Ukraine? Did you know Van Gogh saw sunflowers as a symbol of gratitude and decorated his friend Paul Gaughin's guest room with them? What do you notice about the way the paint has been applied to the painting? How does scientific information inform art? Did you know his sunflower paintings are dispalyed in museums all around the world from Tokyo to Amsterdam? Did you know one of his sunflowers painting was lost during World War II? How do artists use perspective, along with different shapes and colors, to add dimension to paintings? What kinds of lines did Van Gogh use to paint those sunflowers? What do you think Van Gogh used concentric circles to paint them? How can you infuse your own thoughts, emotions, and memories into your paintings?"
Lesson Activities
1. Divide the painting paper into three parts (foreground, middle ground, background) of the Sunflower Sunsets
2. Use observational drawing techniques (contour, gesture, outline) to add shape variation (geometric, organic, free form) to Sunflower Sunsets
3. Add directional lines (diagonal, vertical, horizontal) to remember the highlights (light source, reflective light, cast light) of the Sunflower Sunsets
Day Two, Art Start
1. Retrieve Sunflower Sunsets for Assigned Tables
2. Still Life Vase With Fourteen Sunflowers (1889) Vincent Van Gogh
3. Discussion Question "Who was Vincent Van Gogh? Did you know who he really was? Would you like a painting of sunflowers in your room? Why did Vincent Van Gogh become so famous? What did Vincent Van Gogh like to paint? How can we paint the sky like Vincent Van Gogh? Where do you think Van Gogh was when he painted this picture? What colors did Van Gogh use in this painting? What kind of place do you think this was? How can we create the same feeling of movement in the sky to tell our own story? Where did Van Gogh get his inspiration? Do you think Van Gogh was inspired by the harvest work? What is happening in this picture?"
Lesson Activities
1. Use warm colors (red yellow orange) to fill in the positive space (foreground, middle ground, sunflowers) of the Sunflower Sunsets
2. Use warm colors (red yellow orange) to fill in the negative space (background) of the Sunflower Sunsets
3. Use different mark making techniques (dashes, scratches, loose lines) to add designs to the positive space (foreground, middle ground, sunflowers) of the Sunflower Sunsets
Day Three, Art Start
1. Retrieve Sunflower Sunsets for Assigned Tables
2. Set Up Studio Area (tempera paint, paint brushes, oil pastels, erasers)
Lesson Activities
1. Add patterns (stripes, swirls, dots, waves) to the positive space (foreground, middle ground, sunflowers) of the Sunflower Sunsets
2. Add highlights (reflective light, light source, cast light) and shadows (cast shadow, reflective shadow, shadow) to the Sunflower Sunsets
3. Add patterns (stripes, swirls, dots, waves) to the negative space (background) of the Sunflower Sunsets
Artist Examples
Student Examples
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