Moving with Haring

First Grade Art Lesson
4 Class Periods

Moving with Haring, First Grade Art Lesson

About the Artist:

Keith Haring was born May 4, 1958 in Kutztown, Pennsylvania.  He is known as a Pop/Graffiti Artist.  Keith had his first public art show when he was only 19 years old!  He decided to move to New York and try to make it as an artist. 

Artist Keith Haring.
 

While living in New York he traveled by subway.  It was here that Keith became famous.  He thought the subway needed something to brighten it up, so using chalk he started to draw pictures on the walls.  People noticed his work and before he knew it, Keith's art was on TV and in the newspaper.  By 1981, he had people wanting to buy his work.

Untitled Piece by Keith Haring.
 

Haring's work became very expensive.  Keith opened a store called the POP SHOP.  In this store you could buy numerous things with Keith's art on it, ranging from keychains to posters, all at affordable prices.  It was important to Keith that everyone could have a chance to buy his artwork, not just the rich.

In 1988, Haring got very sick.  There was no cure for his illness (AIDS).  He started to create artwork about his illness.  All the money he received for his artwork he donated to the hospital to help search for a cure.  Keith died February 16, 1990.  He was only 31 years old.

Keith had one wish for the world.  He wanted everyone to be able to create art, especially children.

Want to learn more about the artist? 

Check out this fun site to explore more about Keith Haring.

Keith Haring: Activities and Games for Kids

 

Day 1:

• Students learned about artist Keith Haring and the artwork he created during his life.
• Using Keith Haring character stencils, students planned out a composition on 12 x 18 inch paper.

Students using stencils to plan out composition.

Day 2: 

• Figures within the composition were colored in with a solid marker.
• Students were instructed not to place clothing or faces on the stencil drawings.  This is important in Haring's work.  Haring wanted the figures in his paintings to be able to represent anyone that the viewer wanted them to; his figures could be your grandma, your little brother or yourself! 

Day 3:

• Motion lines were incorporated around the figures within the composition.  Haring liked to show movement within his compositions.
• Students started to incorporate different types of lines within their composition by using a black sharpie marker.  Different types of lines were discussed: curvy, zigzag, thick, thin, dotted, etc.

Student adding lines to background of composition.

Day 4:

• Students finished adding lines within the background.
• Graffiti was discussed.  Students incorporated small graffiti designs within the background of the composition using a black sharpie marker.
• The figures were re-outlined with a thick black marker to allow them to pop out from the composition.

 

Student Examples: