Making the Small Monumental

Fifth Grade Art Lesson
3 Class Periods

Making the Small Monumental, Fifth Grade Art Lesson

Day 1:

• As a class we discussed several artists (Georgia O'Keeffe, Jim Dine, Claes Oldenburg) that took their subject matter and made it larger than life to show the importance of it.   Students were instructed that they would be creating a drawing that showed this "monumental" feeling for an object within their composition.

Apple Core by Claes Oldenburg, 1992.

Seashell by Georgia O'Keeffe, 1938.

1.  Students picked an object to draw from observation.  I had various items for them to choose from:  various tools, nails, buttons, shells, glasses, markers, brushes, various art supplies, tooth brushes, combs, etc.  They were also allowed to bring in their own objects.
2. Student drew the object as large as they could on their paper.  Students were reminded to look at the object for reference and not rely on what they knew the object to look like.  Attention was paid to details within the object.

Student working on details to object.

3.  Next, students were asked to create a background for their object.  The object could be anywhere as long as it made the object appear larger than life.

Day 2 and 3:

1.  The compositions were outlined with black sharpie marker.
2.  Students colored their compositions using markers, crayons or colored pencils. Craftsmanship was stressed.

Student Examples: