MiSs Rs ArT RoOm

Maneki Neko Cats

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Maneki Neko Cats using drawing techniques learned in class 
• Use shape variation (geometric, organic, free form), line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal)< and color combinations (metallic colors, warm colors, neutral colors) inspired by Japanese Printmaker (1798-1861) Utagawa Kuniyoshi 
• Use printmaking techniques (monotype, repetition, balance) and design principles (composition, repetition, balance) based on Edo Period
• Define Maneki Neko (called "lucky cat" or "beckoning cat" is Japan's most recognizable symbols of good fortune)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Scene of Bustling Prosperity (1852) Utagawa Hiroshige

2. Read "The Beckoning Cat: Based on Japanese Folklore" by Koko Nishizuka

3. Discussion Questions "What is a Maneki Neko? What is the golden thing that the Maneki Neko is holding? Did you know traditional white brings general good luck, black wards off evil, red promotes health, and gold ensures wealth? Did you know the Imado Shrine Tale is considered the orign story of the Maneki Neko's association with prosperity and good luck? Did you know the Maneki Neko figurines originated from the Japan's Edo and Meiji period to invite good fortune, customers, or wealth? Did you know eastern versions of the Maneki Neko have the cat beckoning with the palm facing down and the western versions have the cat with the palms up and fingers curled toward the viewer? Did you know the familiar figurine is first documented in nineteenth century market scenes? Why do the cat figurines at Gotokuji have empty paws? Where does the calico tradition come from?" 

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 12" X 15" Drawing Paper

2. Use basic shapes (semi circle, triangle, square) to to draw the positive space (foreground, middle ground, cats) of the Maneki Neko Cats

3. Add feline parts (claws, teeth, whiskers, nose) to the positive space (foreground, middle ground, cat) of the Maneki Neko Cats

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Maneki Neko Cats for Assigned Tables

2. Cat To Keep Mice Away (Nezumiyoke No Neko) (1848) Utagawa Kuniyoshi

3. Discussion Questions "What type of cat did the artist portray? What do artists use as motivation? What do you like about this artwork? How would you describe this artwork to someone? What mood could be described in this artwork? Do you want your cat to raise its right paw to invite money and good luck, or its left paw to invite friends and customers? Do you want your cat to hold up both paws for double the luck and total protection? Would you rather use traditional calico patches or invent your own wild, colorful design? If your cat is holding a shiny coin, what big number or wish is printed on it? Is your cat holding a lucky fish, coin, magic hammer, or shiny bell? Where is the cat sitting, at the front door of a busy ramen shop, in a cozy bedroom, or a magical cloud?"

Lesson Activities

1. Add patterns (stripes, swirls, dots, lines) to the positive space (foreground, middle ground, cat) of the Maneki Neko Cats

2. Use color combinations (metallic colors, warm colors, neutral colors) to fill in the positive space (foreground, middle ground, cat) of the Maneki Neko Cats

3. Use color combinations (metallic colors, warm colors, neutral colors) to fill in the negative space (background) of the Maneki Neko Cats

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Maneki Neko Cats for Assigned Tables

2. Set Up Studio Area (paintbrushes, scissors, glue sticks, colored pencils)

Lesson Activities

1. Add highlights (reflective light, light source) to the positive space (foreground, middle ground, cat) of the Maneki Neko Cats

2. Add shadows (reflective shadow, cast shadow, shadow) to the negative space (background) of the Maneki Neko Cats 

3. Add patterns (stripes, swirls, dots, zig zags) to the negative space (background) of the Maneki Neko Cats

Artist Examples

Student Examples

Printmaking Sheep

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Printmaking Sheep using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use color combinations (analogous, complementary, intermediate), shape variation (geometric, organic, free form), and texture (actual, visual, implied) inspired by American Artist (1976-Present) Eli Halpin
• Use intermediate colors (yellow/green, blue/green, blue/violet, red/orange) and design principles (composition, balance, movement) based on American Art
• Define Intermediate Colors (hues created by mixing a primary color with an adjacent secondary color on the color wheel)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Sheep (2017) Eli Halpin

2. Read Sheep In A Shop by Nancy E. Shaw 

3. Discussion Questions "What is the name of your sheep? What kind of personality does this sheep have? Where would your sheep like to live? If you could touch your sheep's wool in the ring, what would it feel like- is it soft, bumpy, or fuzzy? Did you include any fun details like the rectangle pupils sheep have for a wide field of vision? Why did you choose certain shapes, like ovals for the body or rectangles for the legs? How many prints did you make from your plate, and does each one look the same? Did you need to reapply more ink to keep the wool looking bright and white? What is your favorite part of your artwork- the foreground, middle ground, or background? What was the most challenging part of making your sheep? If your sheep were going to party, would it wear its wool natural or would it dye it bright rainbow color?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 12" X 15" Drawing Paper

2. Draw three thumbnail sketches of sheep using observational drawing skills (contour, outline, continuous) for the Printmaking Sheep

3. Add details (reflective light, light source, cast shadow) to the negative space (background) of the Printmaking Sheep

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Printmaking Sheep for Assigned Tables 

2.  Sheep Duo (2025) Eli Halpin

3. Discussion Questions "What did you use to make the sheep's wool have texture? Why did you choose these colors for your sheep? What was the hardest part about pressing your sheep onto the paper? What is the name of your sheep? What is the sheep's favorite snack- grass or chocolate chip cookies? What was the trickiest part getting the right amount of ink or making sure the sheep had all four legs? If you were to make a whole flock of these, would you change anything about the second one? If you were teaching a friend how to make a sheep print, what would be the top secret top you would give them? Does the shape of your sheep remind you of a cloud you have seen in the sky? What kind of sweater do you think your sheep would want to wear?" 

Lesson Activities

1. Use drawing techniques (contour, outline, continuous) to add basic shapes (circle, rectangle, oval) to the Printmaking Sheep

2. Use design principles (composition, gradation, repetition) to fill in the positive space (foreground, sheep) of the Printmaking Sheep

3. Use drawing techniques (contour, outline, continuous) to add patterns (swirls, loops, waves) to the positive space (foreground, sheep) of the Printmaking Sheep

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Printmaking Sheep for Assigned Tables

2. Set Up Studio Area (bubble wrap, rollers, speed ball ink)

Lesson Activities

1. Use intermediate colors (yellow/green, blue/green, blue/violet, red/orange) to fill in the positive space (foreground, sheep) of the Printmaking Sheep

2. Use intermediate colors (yellow/green, blue/green, blue/violet, red/orange) to fill in the negative space (background) of the Printmaking Sheep

3. Add design details (shadows, reflective light, cast shadow) to the negative space (background) of the Printmaking Sheep

Artist Examples

Student Examples 

 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 

 Matisse Inspired Still Life Collages

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Matisse Inspired Still Life Collages using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal), shape variation (geometric, organic, free form), and texture (actual, visual, implied) inspired by French Artist (1869-1954) Henri Matisse
• Use collage techniques (photomontage, assemblage, decoupage, mixed media) and design principles (composition, repetition, balance) based on Modernism
• Define Symmetry (when two or more parts are identical after a flip, slide, or turn)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Vase With Two Handles (A Bunch Of Flowers) (1907) Henri Matisse

2. Read Matisse: The King Of Color by Laurence Anholt

3. Discussion Questions "How does the effect of the collage change when layering multiple shapes on top of each other? Can you create your own Matisse inspired artwork with a collage of cut outs? How does Henri Matisse's artwork make you feel? How would this picture make you feel if bright or dark colors were used instead? Who is Henri Matisse? Do you like this painting? How many colors do you see? Do you think what you see is exactly how the room looked when he painted it, with all those colors and patterns going every which way? How many different patterns do you see? How many of the patterns are variations on the bold vertical stripes? Do his pictures make you feel happy?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 12" X 15" Painting Paper 

2. Use ruler to draw three line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) for the interior (window, wallpaper, background) of the still life collage

3.  Use oil pastels to add patterns (swirls, dots, stripes) to the negative space (background) of the Matisse Inspired Still Life Collages

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Matisse Inspired Still Life Collages for Assigned Tables

2. Flowers And Fruit (1909) Henri Matisse

3. Discussion Questions "Where did Henri Matisse grow up? What process or techniques did Matisse use to create his artwork? What materials did Matisse you to create his artwork? What is an art element? Who can share some examples of elements? What is a principle? Who can share some examples of principles?Can you use a book to find information about Henri Matisse? How would you describe his artwork? What are some key features of his artwork? How could you describe the construction of this artwork? What do you think Matisse is trying to say with this artwork? Do you like or dislike his artwork?"

Lesson Activities

1. Add details (fruit, vegetables, cloth, plants) to the negative space (background) of the still life collages

2. Add details (fruit, vegetables, patterns, ribbon) to the positive space (flowers, vases) of the still life collages

3. Use collage materials (fabric, construction paper, scrapbook paper) to add details (tablecloth, curtains, towel) for the Matisse Inspired Still Life Collages

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Matisse Inspired Still Life Collages for Assigned Tables

2. Set Up Studio Area (oil pastels, scissors, glue sticks, watercolor)

Lesson Activities

1. Use tissue paper to add plants (leaves, flowers, lilacs) within the negative space (background) of the still life collages

2. Use complementary colors (red, green; blue, orange; yellow, purple) too fill in the positive space (foreground) of the still life collages 

3. Use complementary colors (red, green; blue, orange; yellow, purple) to fill in the negative space (background) of the Matisse Inspired Still Life Collages

Artist Examples

Student Examples

 Mixed Media Alligators

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Mixed Media Alligator using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal), shape variation (geometric, organic, free form), and value (lightness, darkness) inspired by American Artist (1903-1965) Walter Inglis Anderson
• Use printmaking techniques (engraving, woodcut, etching, lithograph) and design principles (movement, rhythm, harmony) based on American Art
• Define Dynamic Symmetry (a composition style created from a series of diagonal, horizontal, and vertical lines)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Alligator (1994) Walter Inglis Anderson

2. Read The Secret World Of Walter Anderson by Hester Bass

3. Discussion Questions "Was Walter Inglis Anderson unique in his quest for the perfect subset matter of for his drawings (rowing to Horn Island, searching for animals, drawing in a journal)? What might Walter have done if he could not find any animals to draw on Horn Island that day? Would you row all the way out to Horn Island on a rainy day? What might happen to the art supplies? What could you use for art supplies on a rainy day? What is the setting of this book? What does it tell you about his secret world? Where do you think is he going? What problems might he face on his journey? Why do you think Walter wanted to make art? Why do you think he does nature as his subject matter? What different viewpoints do you notice that Walter is approaching his subject from?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 12 X 15 Drawing Paper

2. Use line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) to add the positive space (alligator) of the alligator prints

3. Use line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) to add the negative space (background) of the Mixed Media Alligators 

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Mixed Media Alligators for Assigned Tables 

2. Alligator In A Bulrush Pond (1959) Walter Inglis Anderson 

3. Discussion Questions "What was the author's purpose? Was she trying to persuade, inform, or entertain you? What are some of the scary things that happened to Walter on the island? What was the name of his favorite island? Looking at the cover of this book, what do you think this book is about? Is this block print seen through the grass, from on top of a pine tree, or underwater? Do you agree that Walter Ingles Anderson is considered the South's greatest artists? Where could you visit to see alligators? What is folk art? How can artists influence a community?" 

Lesson Activities

1. Use wooden stylus to use line types (contour, continuous, outline) of the positive space (alligator) of the alligator prints

2. Use color combinations (analogous, complementary, secondary) to fill in the positive space (alligator) of the alligator prints

3. Use color combinations (analogous, complementary, secondary) to fill in the negative space (background) of the Mixed Media Alligators

 Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Mixed Media Alligators for Assigned Tables

2. Set Up Studio Area (rollers, brayers, foam plates, speedball ink)

Lesson Activities

1. Use neutral colors (black, grey, white) to fill in the negative space (background) of the alligator prints

2. Use highlights (lightness, reflective light) to fill in the positive space (alligator) of the alligator prints

3. Use shadows (darkness, cast shadow, reflective shadow) to fill in the negative space (background) of the Mixed Media Alligators

Artist Examples

Student Examples