Amelia Pelaez Still Life

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Amelia Pelaez Still Life using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use line types (continuous, contour, outline), shape variation (geometric, organic, free form), and color schemes (analogous, complementary, secondary) inspired by Cuban Painter (1896-1968) Amelia Pelaez
• Use painting methods (double loading, overlapping, layering) and design principles (composition, variation, balance) based on Avant-Garde Art
• Define Still Life (a work of art depicting inanimate objects as subject matter)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Tray With Fruits (Watermelon) (1941) Amelia Pelaez

2. Read Amelia Pelaez: The Craft Of Modernity" by Rene Morales & Ingrid Elliot

3. Discussion Questions "Why did the artist choose to use fruits, fish, and women in cost settings taken from the artist's surroundings? Would you consider her artwork part of cubism, primitivism, or surrealism movements? What art is Cuba known for? What influenced Cuba art? Who are other famous Cuban artists? What type of art is Cuba known for? How did Cuban ceramics influence her two dimensional works of art? How do they differ from one another? What elements hover over the scene? How do they relate to the figures? What do you think this symbolizes?"

Lesson Activities 

1. Choose 12" X 15" Painting Paper 

2. Add three dimensional shapes (cylinder, pyramid, sphere) to the composition of the arranged objects (fruits, plates, fabric) for the fruit still life paintings

3. Add an horizon line in the negative space (background) to separate the folded drapery, objects, and wallpaper of the Amelia Pelaez Still Life

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Amelia Pelaez Still Life for Assigned Tables

2. Still Life with Pineapple (1964) Amelia Pelaez

3. Discussion Questions "What is a still life? Still Life- a simple painting or drawing of objects. Is it different from other forms of figurative work in the sense that it cannot move? Can you guess how many times of still life there are for three merits? How can you create a still life effectively? What was the inspiration for your artwork? When did you learn about a famous artist, a culture, a place, or time in history? What materials did you use? What techniques did you try? What are you proud of in art? What style is it? Were you using your imagination, memories, or observing from real life?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use cool colors (blue green purple) to fill in the positive space (foreground) of the fruit still life paintings

2. Use warm colors (red orange yellow) to fill in the negative space (background) of the fruit still life paintings

3. Use shape stamps to add patterns (floral, silk, wood) to the positive space (foreground) of the Amelia Pelaez Still Life

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Amelia Pelaez Still Life for Assigned Tables

2. Set Up Studio Area (tempera paint, oil pastels, paintbrushes)

Lesson Activities

1. Add highlights (reflective light, light source) to subject matter (fruit bowl, glassware) of fruit still life paintings

2. Add shadows (cast shadow, shadow) to negative space (wallpaper, table, background) of fruit still life paintings

3. Outline details (patterns, objects, fruit) to positive space (fruit bowl, glassware) of Amelia Pelaez Still Life

Artist Examples

Student Examples

 Cuban Conga Drums

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Cuban Conga Drum using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal), shape variation (geometric organic), and space (positive negative) inspired by American Artist (1954-Present) Valeria Vescovi
• Understand collage techniques (overlapping, layering, cropping) and design principles (composition repetition variation) based on Cuban Art
• Define Whip Stitch (simple stitch with the needle based inside and outside of the fabric edge)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Muy Caliente (2021) Valerie Vescobi

2. Read Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music by Margarita Engle

3. Discussion Questions "What music style uses conga drums? Who invented the conga drums? What sound does a conga drum make? What country does the conga drum come from? What is a drum? What was. the conga drum originally made from? What part of the western world made the conga popular? Does the conga have a hole on the top and bottom of the drum? What is the sound a conga makes? What material is the barrel of the conga made from? How do conga drums make different sounds? Where di the conga drum originate? What are the three types of conga drums?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use three geometric shapes (circle, oval, square) to create a three dimensional cylinder for the drum drawings

2. Use line variation (thick, thin) to show drum types (lead drum, middle drum, low drum) for the drum drawings

3. Use complementary colors (red green; orange blue; purple yellow) to fill in the positive space (drum) of the Cuban Conga Drums

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Cuban Conga Drums for Assigned Table

2. Havana Nights (2021) Valeria Vescobi

3. Discussion Questions "What types of lines are being used in this artwork? How did the artist use space? How does your eye move through this artwork? What elements of this artwork seem real? What adjectives would you use to describe this artwork? What verbs would you use to describe this artwork? What do you we know about the artist after viewing this artwork? If you could ask the artist a question, what would you ask him? What do you think this artwork was created for? How do you think this artwork was made? Why do you think the artist created this work? What do you think the artist is trying to say in this work? what is the meaning or message?" 

Lesson Activities

1. Use complementary colors (red green; blue orange; yellow purple) to fill in the negative space (background) of the drum drawings

2. Add patterns (dots, stripes, waves) for the positive space (foreground) of the Cuban Conga Drums

3. Use neutral colors (white grey black) to fill in the highlight (reflective light, light source) of the Cuban Conga Drums

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Cuban Conga Drums for Assigned Tables

2. Set Up Studio Area (water bucket, paint brushes, watercolor)

Lesson Activities

1. Use neutral colors (white grey black) to fill in the shadows (reflective shadow, cast shadow) of the drum drawings 

2. Add tints (reflective light, light source) to the subject matter (drums) of the Cuban Conga Drums

3. Use drawing tools (pencils, oil pastels, chalk) to add details (weaving, patterns, stripes) to the positive space (foreground) of the Cuban Conga Drums

Artist Examples

Student Examples