Tuesday, August 26, 2025
ELEMENTS OF ART COLLAGES
Elements Of Art Collages
Learning Targets
I can...
- Create an original Elements Of Art Collages using drawing techniques learned in class
- Use shape variation (geometric, organic, free form), color combinations (analogous, complementary, neutral), and form (two dimensional, three dimensional) inspired by American Art Educator (1857-1922) Arthur Wesley Dow
- Use art elements (line color shape form space value texture) and design principles (movement balance emphasis) based on American Art
- Define Elements Of Art (fundamental building blocks artists use to create a work of art (line shape form space color value texture))
Lesson One
Day One, Art Start
1. The Artist In His Studio (1629) Rembrandt
2. Read Liang And The Magic Paint Brush by Reading Rainbow Books
3. Discussion Questions "What color are the lines? where are they going? How would you feel if you stood directly in front of the work so that the painting is all you can see? What kind of memories or emotions do you think of when looking at this work? What are some other tools you could paint with? How do different materials feel in your hand? Do these materials feel soft, rough, smooth, or hard? Do these paintbrushes look similar or different? Do you paint different from farther away? What feelings or emotions do you have when looking at your own artwork? What connections does art develop through mediation and positive thinking? How can art help someone? How do you think a person feels after producing an art piece or during the artist process? How do you make your own choices even when there are some limitations? How does artwork create happiness?"
Lesson Activities
1. Use graphic pencil to draw paintbrush types (round flat bright filbert fan angle detail round) for the positive space (foreground) of the paintbrush collages
2. Use graphite pencil to draw in the negative space (background, shadows, zentangles) of the paintbrush collages
3. Use graphic pencil to add the details (metal handle, geometric shapes) of the paintbrush types (round flat bright filbert fan angle detail round) of the paintbrush collages
Day Two, Art Start
1. Retrieve Elements Of Art Collages for Assigned Tables
2. Self Portrait (1548) Catharina Van Hemessen
3. Discussion Questions "How does the artist do her work? What role do artists have in society? What is integral to the work of an artist? What was your first reaction to this artwork? Why do you think you had that reaction? Does your opinion about the artwork change the longer you look at it? What lines and colors do you see in this artwork? Which area of the artwork is emphasized by the artist? Which area of the artwork is the most important? How did the artist use space? How did the artist use balance? How did the artist use proportion? How does your eye move throughout the artwork?"
Lesson Activities
1. Add line types (horizontal vertical diagonal) to the negative space (background, paintbrushes) of the paintbrush collages
2. Add line types (horizontal vertical diagonal) to the positive space (foreground, paintbrushes) of the paintbrush collages
3. Add line types (horizontal vertical diagonal) to the positive space (foreground, paintbrush) of the Elements Of Art Collages
Day Three, Art Start
1. Retrieve Elements Of Art Collages for Assigned Tables
2. Set Up Studio Area (sharpie markers, glue sticks, watercolor, scissors)
Lesson Activities
1. Use rainbow order colors (red orange yellow green blue purple) to paint the negative space (background, paint splash) of the paintbrush collages
2. Use rainbow order colors (red orange yellow green blue purple) to paint the positive space (foreground, paint brush) of the paintbrush collages
3. Use neutral colors (black brown grey white) to paint in the negative space (background, paint splash) of the Elements Of Art Collages
Artist Examples 
Student Examples 
Thursday, January 12, 2023
REMBRANDT ROYAL PORTRAITS
Rembrandt Royal Portraits
Learning Targets
I can...
- Create an original Rembrandt Royal Portraits using drawing techniques learned in class
- Use line types (contour, outline, continuous), shape variation (geometric, organic, free form), and color combinations (analogous, complementary, secondary) inspired by Dutch Golden Age Painter (1606-1669) Rembrandt
- Use observational drawing techniques (capturing expression, developing likeness, facial placement) and design principles (balance, proportion, contrast) based on Baroque Painting
- Define Self Portrait (a picture of an artist made by an artist)
Lesson One
Day One, Art Start
1. Edward, Prince Of Wales (King Edward VI) (1538) Hans Holbein The Younger
2. A Princess, A Pirate, And One Wild Brother by Cornelia Funke
3. Discussion Questions "What do you notice about the painting? How would you describe the clothing? What do you think the boy's clothing tells us about him? How would you describe the posture and expression? How old do you think the boy in this painting is? What the clues do you notice about the boy? Who might the young boy in the painting be? are these two poses different? How? why do you think the artist chose to pose this toddler as he did? Who might the young boy in this painting be? How do toddlers who are fourteen months normally act? What kinds of clothes would they typically be wearing? What kinds of clothes would you wear? What kind of pose would make you look royal? Would you face forward or sit in profile? Would your hands have a certain gesture? What kind of expression would you have on your face? What would the background look like?"
Lesson Activities
1. Choose 12" X 15" Drawing Paper
2. Use graphite pencil to draw the line types (contour, outline, continuous) of the facial proportions (head, face, shoulders) of the royal portraits
3. Use graphite pencil to add facial features (eyes, nose, mouth, eyebrows) to the positive space (portrait) of the Rembrandt Royal Portraits
Day Two, Art Start
1. Retrieve Rembrandt Royal Portraits for Assigned Table
2. A Young Boy With A Dog (1629-1679) Hendrick Berckman
3. Discussion Questions "Do you think your meanings are going to be the same for someone living at the time this was painted? What symbols do we see around us in everyday life? Where do we see nature symbols used in everyday life? If you had to create a modern royal portrait to convey a public image, which symbols would you include? Are these paintings sympathetic to their subjects? How has the significance of these paintings changed over time? How do these paintings change the way you think about artistic period? What messages do you think are missing? How could those messages be added in these paintings in the form of nature symbols? Why may only showing public image be bad for people's well-being? Why is it important to know who you really are? What could these symbols mean?"
Lesson Activities
1. Add adornments (piercings, hairstyles, wigs) to the positive space (portrait) of the royal portraits
2. Add costumes (jewelry, clothing, make up) to the positive space (portrait) of the royal portraits
3. Use black sharpie marker to outline the facial features (eyes, nose, mouth, eyebrows) and facial proportions (head, face, shoulders) of the Rembrandt Royal Portraits
Day Three, Art Start
1. Retrieve Rembrandt Royal Portraits for Assigned Tables
2. Set Up Studio Area (tempera paint, metallic paint, paint brushes)
Lesson Activities
1. Use primary colors (red yellow blue) to fill in the positive space (clothing, jewelry, facial features) of the royal portraits
2. Use primary colors (red yellow blue) to fill in the negative space (background) of the royal portraits
3. Use value (lightness, darkness) to add shadow (reflective shadow, cast shadow) and highlights (reflective light, light source) of the Rembrandt Royal Portraits
Artist Examples
Student Examples
Tuesday, July 20, 2021
MOONLIT MOLENS
Moonlit Molens
Learning Targets
I can...
- Create an original Moonlit Molens using drawing techniques learned in class
- Use line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal), color schemes (monochromatic, analogous, neutral), and value (tints, shades, hues) inspired by Dutch Painter (1606-1669) Rembrandt
- Use printmaking techniques (dry point, intaglio, etching) and design principles (composition gradation repetition) based on Dutch Golden Age
- Define Intaglio (type of printmaking where the image is scratched into the surface of a piece of soft metal like copper or plastic)
Lesson One
Day One, Art Start
1. The Mill (1645) Rembrandt
2. Read Katie The Windmill Cat by Gretchen Moelfle
3. Discussion Questions "Who was Rembrandt? Have you ever heard of Night Watch? Did you know that Rembrandt was the famous artist that created that masterpiece? Why were his portraits famous? What was Rembrandt's most famous painting? What significance does the name Rembrandt have to the man? Where did Rembrandt attend college? Which was one of his most prominent genres he dabbled in? What is one of Rembrandt's most prominent themes in his artwork, as many of his most famous paintings show? What was it that some scholars have determined Rembrandt being victim too?"
Lesson Activities
1. Choose windmill reference photograph for drawings of Moonlit Molens
2. Use line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) to add positive space (windmill) of windmill drawings
3. Use line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) to add negative space (windmill) of windmill drawings
Day Two, Art Start
1. Retrieve Moonlit Molens for Assigned Tables
2. The Windmill (1641) Rembrandt
3. Discussion Questions "What is a stylus? How do artists use a writing stylus? What do you like about windmills? What do you dislike about windmills? Have you ever seen a windmill? How would you describe a windmill to someone? What would you do if you had your own windmill? What do you like about Rembrandt's work? What do you dislike about Rembrandt's work? What would you change about Rembrandt's work? What does Rembrandt's work remind you of?"
Lesson Activities
1. Draw a light outline of the selected windmill reference onto ones scratchboards
2. Use graphic techniques (engraving, carving, scratching) with a stylus to add highlights (light source, reflective light) to windmill drawings
3. Use graphic techniques (engraving, carving, scratching) with a stylus to add shadows (cast shadow, reflective shadow) to Moonlit Molens
Day Three, Art Start
1. Retrieve Moonlit Molens for Assigned Table
2. Set Up Studio Area (stylus, Indian ink, colored pencil)
Lesson Activities
1. Use graphic techniques (engraving, carving, scratching) with a stylus to finish adding details (blades, wooden beams, scenery) to the windmill drawings
2. Add value (lightness, darkness) to the positive space (windmill) of the windmill drawings
3. Add details (wooden beams, scenery, water) using illustrative techniques (hatching, stippling, cross hatching) to final Moonlit Molens
Artist Examples
Student Examples
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