Magritte Dove Collages

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Magritte Dove Collages using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use color combinations (warm colors, cool colors, analogous colors), shape variation (geoemtroic, organic, free form), and texture (actual, implied, visual) inspired by Surrealist Artist (1898-1967) Rene Magritte 
• Use collage techniques (assemblage, arrangement, mixed media) and design principles (emphasis, repetition, proportion) based on Surrealism
• Define Composition (the way different elements of an artwork are combined or arranged together

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. The Big Family (1963) Rene Magritte 

2. Read Magritte's Imagination by Susan Goldman Rubin

3. Discussion Questions "Who is the artist? What is the name of the artwork? when was it painting? Is there a subject? What is it? What kinds of shapes do you see? What are the materials used? How are the colors used? What effect do they have on the artwork? How has the artist used shadows? What is the artist trying to say? What is going on in the paining? What do the different elements mean? Do you think it is a good piece of artwork? Do you like the artwork? Why or why not? What is your least favorite thing about the painting? What is your favorite ting about the painting? Is there symmetry in this painting? What type of symmetry do you see in the painting?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 12" X 15" Drawing Paper 

2. Use graphite paper to outline three dimensional shapes (dove, cylinder, cone) for positive space (foreground) of the dove collages

3. Use graphite pencil to add texture (clouds, treetops, sand) to the positive space (foreground) of the Magritte Dove Collages 

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Magritte Dove Collages for Assigned Table 

2. The Return (1940) Rene Magritte

3. Discussion Questions "How would you describe this scene? what are some of the items you see and what do you think they mean? Is this a realistic painting? Which images are realistic? What makes it look surreal (dreamlike imaginary)? Where do you see examples of texture? Where do you see examples of replacement and juxtaposition? Why do you think the artist gave this artwork a title? How does this painting make you feel? Do you like it? Why or why not? Where were these objects placed in his artwork? What do you know about Surrealism, or the Surrealism movement? What do you think is the focal point of this painting? What is the background? Do the objects in the painting seem to be moving or still?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use cool colors (blue, green, purple) to fill in the positive space (foreground) of the dove collages

2. Use warm colors (red, orange, yellow) to fill in the negative space (background) of the dove collages

3. Use neutral colors (brown, grey, black) to add contrast to the positive space (foreground) of the Magritte Dove Collages

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Magritte Dove Collages for Assigned Table

2. Set Up Studio Area (paint brushes, water buckets, oil pastels)

Lesson Activities

1. Use neutral colors (black, grey, white) to add highlights (reflective light, light source) to the positive space (foreground) of the dove collages 

2. Use neutral colors (black, grey, white) to add shadows (reflective shadow, cast shadow) to the negative space (background) of the dove collages

3. Fill in the positive space (foreground) and negative space (background) to remove any white space from the Magritte Dove Collages

Artist Examples

Student Examples

 Surrealist Apples

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Surrealist Apples using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal), shape variation (geometric, organic, free form), and texture (clouds, sand, treetops) inspired by Surrealist Artist (1898-1967) Rene Magritte
• Use collage techniques (overlapping, layering mixed media) and design principles (movement, proportion, composition) based on Surrealism
• Define Art Movement (a group of artists agree on a certain style of art with a specific common philosophy or goal)

Lesson One,
Day One, Art Start

1. The Listening Room (1952) Rene Magritte 

2.  Read Magritte's Apple by Klaas Verplancke

3. Discussion Questions "How would you describe this scene? What are some of the items you see and what do you think they mean? Is this a realistic painting? Which images are realistic? What makes it look surreal (dreamlike imagery)? Where do you see examples of texture? Where do you see examples of replacement and juxtaposition? Why do you think the artist gave this artwork a title? How does this painting make you feel? Do you like it? Why or why not? Where were these objets placed in his artwork?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 12" X 15" Drawing Paper

2. Use graphite pencil to outline three dimensional shapes (apples) onto positive space (apple) for fruit collages

3. Use graphite pencil to add texture (clouds, treetops, sand) to the negative space (background) of the Surrealist Apples 

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Surrealist Apples for Assigned Table

2. The Hesitation Waltz (1950) Rene Magritte

3. Discussion Questions "Do you know what I mean when I say a "movement" in art? What do you know about Surrealism, or the Surrealism movement? What room do you think this is? What makes you think this? What do you think is the focal point of this painting? What is in the background? What is out of place? What kind of lines are used in the picture? Are the lines straight or curved? Do you see different textures? What are they? Is the painting full or empty? What takes most of the space? Do the objects in the painting seem to be moving or still? Is the image serious or lighthearted? Why do you think the Artis was thinking when he painted this? How do you feel when you look at this painting? Why? Do you like this painting? Why or why not? Does everything in this picture make sense?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use analogous colors (red, blue, purple) to fill in the positive space (apple) of the fruit collages

2. Use analogous colors (red, blue purple) to fill in the negative space (background) of the fruit collages

3. Use neutral colors (brown, grey, black) to add contrast to the positive space (apples) of the Surrealist Apples

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Surrealist Apples for Assigned Table

2. Set Up Studio Area (paint brushes, water buckets, oil pastels)

Lesson Activities

1. Use neutral colors (black, grey, white) to add highlights (reflective light, light source) to the positive space (fruit) of the fruit collages

2. Use neutral colors (black, grey, white) to add shadows (reflective shadow, cast shadow) to the negative space (background) of the fruit collages

3. Fill in the positive space (fruit) and negative space (background) to remove any white space from the Surrealist Apples

Artist Examples

Student Examples

 Magritte's Eye 

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Magritte's Eye using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal), shape variation (geometric, organic, free form) and space (positive, negative) inspired by Surrealist Artist (1898-1967) Rene Magritte
• Use drawing techniques (gesture, figure, contour) and design principles (composition, balance, proportion) based on Surrealism
• Define Juxtaposition (two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effects)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. The False Mirror (1928) Rene Magritte

2. Read Magritte's Imagination by Susan Goodman Rubin 

3. Discussion Questions "What kinds of objects did Rene Magritte include in his artwork? Where were these objects placed in his artwork? What is the point of this artwork? Why are the clouds in the reflection of the eyes? What might have happened in this painting if three more were added? What is dream like about this artwork? Which painting did Rene Magritte see that sent his art in a new direction? In what category of art is Rene Magritte's work classified? What common household items is featured in Rene Magritte's paintings? What new style of painting did Rene Magritte adopt? Which eye-confusing artistic concept is being used in this painting?" 

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 12" by 15" Drawing Paper

2. Use pencil to draw shape variation (geometric, organic, free form) of face parts (nose, forehead, cheek) of eye drawing

3. Use pencil to draw shape variation (geometric, organic, free form) of eye parts (iris, pupil, eyelid, treat duck) of eye drawing

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Magritte's Eye for Assigned Table

2. Eye Color (1946) M.C. Escher

3. Discussion Questions "What makes these art pieces fit surrealism? What images seem dreamlike, fantasy, or relate to your own life? Who is the artist we are learning about? What do you think Rene Magritte was thinking when he painted The False Mirror? What do you think the title, The False Mirror, is supposed to tell us? Is the sky a reflection of what the eye is seeing? Is the eye in fact an opening into another reality? Are we looking at an inner vision or something else entirely? Did the artist draw the parts of the eye? What is surrealism? How can surrealism be incorporated into these drawings? What does that mean? How can we make the ordinary look extraordinary?" 

Lesson Activities

1. Use neutral colors (black, brown, grey) to fill in the positive space (eye) of the eye drawings 

2. Use neutral colors (black, brown, grey) to fill in the negative space (facial feature) of the eye drawings

3. Use line types (horizontal, diagonal, vertical) to fill in the positive space (eye) with dreamlike imagery for Magritte's Eyes

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Magritte's Eyes for Assigned Table

2. Set Up Studio Area (colored pencils, sharpeners, erasers)

Lesson Activities

1. Add highlights (light source, reflective light) to positive space (eye) of ones eye drawings

2. Add shadows (cast shadow, shadow) to negative space (background) of ones eye drawings

3. Use stop motion program (iMotion, FlipaClip, Stop Motion) to add an animation to ones Magritte's Eyes

Artist Examples

Student Examples