Three Machines

First Grade Art Lesson
2 Class Periods

Three Machines, First Grade Art Lesson

About the Artist:
Wayne Thiebaud was born in 1920, in Mesa Arizona.  He began his art career as a cartoonist working for Walt Disney.  He later, became an art teacher and taught students for nearly 20 years.



Artist Wayne Thiebaud

Thiebaud is a POP ARTIST.  He is best known for his delicious pastry paintings of cakes and pies.

Cakes by Wayne Thiebaud.

Thiebaud's paintings are often described as being "frosted" due to his use of thick paint.  His paintings also tend to use exaggerated colors and well defined shadows that use complementary color schemes to make them vibrate within the composition.

The piece that we used for our inspiration is called the Three Machines.

Three Machines by Wayne Thiebaud.

Thiebaud is still alive today and is living in Sacramento, CA.


Day 1:

• Students learned about the life and artwork of Wayne Thiebaud.
• As a class we discussed complementary color schemes (red and green, blue and orange, yellow and violet). Each student had to choose the complementary color scheme they wanted to use for this assignment.
• Together we constructed the machine parts through follow along demonstration.
• Pieces were glued onto the paper.  The placement of the machines and the use of space within the composition was discussed.

Day 2:

• The three characteristics of Wayne Thiebaud's artwork were reviewed.
• Students were asked to incorporate shadows within the composition by using color crayons in the complementary color scheme they selected the class period before.
• Students were given the remainder of the hour to incorporate, cut, and glue "gumball" pieces out of construction paper for each machine.

Examples of Student Work:

Japanese Footbridge

Kindergarten Art Lesson
3 Class Periods

Japanese Footbridge, Kindergarten Art Lesson

About the Artist:
Claude Monet was an Impressionist painter born November 14, 1840 in Paris, France.  Claude Monet loved to paint outside.  He is recognized by his big bushy beard and the fact that he is usually photographed wearing a hat. 

Claude Monet

As a class we examined numerous paintings by Claude Monet.  Students noticed that Monet painted the same subject matter over and over again, however the paintings did not look identical.

We discussed how Monet was fascinated with light. The color of the paintings all depending on what time of day Claude Monet went outside to paint.

We, also discussed that the more you practice something the better you become at it.  The paintings we looked at in detail are Haystacks, Water Lily, and The Japanese Footbridge. 

Haystacks by Claude Monet.

Water Lily by Claude Monet.

 

The Japanese Footbridge by Claude Monet.

Can you find Monet on the Japanese Footbridge?

Day 1:

• Students viewed a power point presentation on Claude Monet. Numerous examples were looked at and discussed.
• A photograph of each child was taken, printed and saved for day 3 of this lesson.

Day 2:

• Together as a class we painted the background landscape for our Japanese Footbridge compositions.
• Students were only allowed to use the colors: white, blue, yellow and red.
• Brushes were not used for this step.  Student could only use their fingers.  We discussed proper finger painting techniques.
• Colors were mixed only on the paper using a swipe or tapping motion with our fingers.  The idea was to capture an Impressionist (up close paintings appear messy and fuzzy, but when viewed from afar the pieces become more focused) feel to mimic the style of the artist.

Student finger painting background for composition.

• Paintings were set aside to dry.

Day 3:

• Students created a frame out of construction paper to place around the painting.
• Photographs were handed back and student bubble cut around their image and glued it to the center of their lily pond.
• A brown bridge was painted on top to make it appear as if the child was standing on the Japanese Footbridge just like Claude Monet!

Examples of Student Work:

 

Abstract Bowls

Sixth Grade Art Lesson
4 Class Periods

Abstract Bowls, Sixth Grade Art Lesson

Day 1:

• Students identified Abstract Design.
• Color, line, shape and technique were discussed in various abstract painting examples.  Here are a few of the pieces we examined in class:

  

  Artist Bruce Gray.

Artist Piet Mondrian.

Artist Jackson  Pollock.

• Students used the rest of the class period brainstorming ideas and planning color schemes. 

Day 2:

• A small demonstration was given on how to roll a slab and how to use the slump/drape method to create the bowl.  Craftsmanship and proper clay techniques were stressed.
• Bowls were set out to dry.

Day 3:

• Students were given back their bisque fired bowls.
• Glaze techniques were discussed and demonstrated.
• Students used the rest of the class period to glaze their bowls.

Day 4:

• Students continue to finish glazing bowls.
• Projects were then fired a second time.

Student Examples: