Roy Lichtenstein Pop Portraits

Fifth Grade Art Lesson
5 class periods

Roy Lichtenstein Pop Portraits, Fifth Grade Art Lesson
 

About the Artist:
Roy Lichtenstein was born in New York in 1923.  He loved to draw, but art classes were not offerred at his school.  He kept practing art in his free time.  It was not until he went to college that he took his first art class.  He graduated with a Masters in fine arts from Ohio State University and later became a teacher for the college.

Artist Roy Lichtenstein
 

Roy was inspired by comic books.  He created his first piece of Pop Art in 1961.  It wasn't very well liked.  Many critics thought he was the worst artist to ever live.  Lichtenstein did not become discouraged.  He kept creating art for it was what he loved doing best.  Through his art work and love of what he did, his work began to become more and more popular.

Lichtenstein art pieces tend to have thick bold outlines, Benday dots (a dot technique used in printing color in newspapers and comic books) and a strong use of primary color schemes (red, yellow, blue).  The artist has also been known to place speech bubbles within his composition.

Can you see all the characteristics mentioned above?
 

Roy Lichtenstein died in 1997.  He was 74 years old.  One of his top paintings, entitled The Car sold for a record breaking $16.2 million dollars!  Not too bad for someone who was considered the worst artist to ever live.

In the Car by Roy Lichtenstein.

 

Day 1-3:

• Students drew a self-portrait.  Proper facial proportions were discussed and features were broken down into recognizable shapes for drawing purposes.

Day 4:

• Students were given a photo copy of their self-portrait.  (Students worked so hard on their portraits, that many were hesitant to color all over their hard work.  A copy allows them to keep their original and have fun creating their own Lichtenstein style).
• A You Tube clip and powerpoint were viewed to discuss the life and art of Roy Lichtenstein.  Characteristics of the artist's style were also examined.

You Tube clip shown in class.

• Students began their Roy Lichtenstein pop art portraits by creating Benday dots within the face area of their portraits.

Student adding Benday dots to their composition.

Day 5:

• Students finished their portraits by coloring with primary colors, adding bold outline and a speech bubble to their composition.

Student Examples:

 

 

 

3-D Haring Action Figures

First Grade Art Lesson
4 Class Periods

3D Haring Figures, First Grade Art Lesson, Dancing


Day 1:

• Artist Keith Haring, (from previous assignment Moving with Haring), was reviewed as a class.
• Students created a figure out of aluminum foil.
• Once the foil figure was created (proportions were reminded), students wrapped the figure in masking tape.
• Finally, the figure was  positioned in an action pose.  Students were asked to think of a verb that described the movement.

Wrapping foil figure in tape.

Day 2:

• Students covered figure in paper mache.

Student adding paper mache to figure.

 Day 3:

• Students were asked to think of a prop that would go along with their verb to help viewers understand the action pose created.  (Not all actions required a prop).
• The figure was painted in one solid color to represent a Keith Haring figure.  Students were allowed to pick any color of their choice.

Painting the figure.

Day 4:

• A piece of cardboard was selected to use as a base for the figure.  The base was decorated with markers.
• A hot glue gun was used to assemble the figure and prop to the assigned base.

Hot gluing figure and prop to base.

Student Examples:

Bridging (gymnastics)

Lifting

Defending

Hitting

Dancing

Dribbling

Skating

Kicking

Sleeping

Painting

Painting

Throwing

Dancing

Kicking

Dancing

Hunting

 

Riding

Drying

Riding

Flipping

 

Burch Cats

Third Grade Art Lesson
3 Class Periods

Burch Cats, Third Grade Art Lesson
 

About the Artist: 
Laurel Burch was born December 31, 1945 in San Fernando Valley, CA.  She supported herself by being a nanny. During her free time she would visit the junk yards and take any scrap metal she could find.  She created necklaces and earrings from the metal that she found.  It was her jewerly creations that gave her start in the art world.

Artist Laurel Burch.

Soon she found herself painting flowers, mythical animals and cats (which she is most famous for) as well as creating jewerly.

By the 1990's she licensed her designs to dozens of companies worldwide.  Today you can find her jewerly and art prints everywhere!  Her designs are printed on sweatshirts, pillows, bags, notebooks, wrapping paper and so much more!  Just keep your eyes open. You never know where you might find a Laurel Burch creation.

One of her famous feline paintings.

The artist died September 13, 2007 due to a complication from a painful bone disease (ostepetrosis) she struggled with her whole life.  Although she had many hardships with the disease she spent most of her life upbeat, positive and overall thankful that she had greatest job in the whole wide world, being an artist.  She was only 61 years old when she passed.

 

 Video clip shared in class. 

 

Day 1:

1. As a class we discussed the life and artwork of Laurel Burch.
2. Together, students drew a Laurel Burch cat through follow along demonstration.  As students drew we discussed the characteristics of a Laurel Burch cat:  eyebrow/nose swoop (continuous line), patterns and designs, bold bright colors and gold paint details.
3. After cats were drawn student placed a design within their cat body.

Cat outlined with sharpie marker.

Day 2:

1. Students used tempera paints to paint their cats.  Brushes sizes, painting techniques and craftsmanship were all discussed.

Painting cats.

Day 3:

1. On the final day of this assignment, students used gold paint to add details to their cat designs.

Student Examples: