Planning a Lesson

Pick your artist or art style and begin your research. Find a library book or do a keyword search on the internet. Pick up interesting biographical notes. Tell the children the name of the genre (impressionist, expressionist, post-modern, etc.) and how this artist fits into the genre. Was he first to work in a certain way? What was important to this artist? Color? Light? Line? Emotion? Meredith Essex, our Artist in Residence, has taught lessons on line, color, pattern, shape and texture, so many of the children should be able to begin recognizing these elements in the art they see. Bring examples of the work so they can see what is the same and what is different. Ask the children questions as you show the examples. It is also helpful to bring an example of something completely opposite of what you’re studying; seeing the contrast will help them understand what was distinct about the artist’s style.