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Images:

Grade: all

Age: all

Activity Summary:

Objectives

• Students will be able to demonstrate an interest in and knowledge of the artists who painted (and paint) sunflowers.
• Older students will become aquainted with the use of oil paints. Younger artists will experiment with acrylic and other water-based paints or pencil crayons.
• Students will also be introduced to the style of Expressionism as they discuss and learn about the many connections between art and culture.

What You Need:

• canvas if possible (thick poster paper as an alternative)
• oil (or acrylic) paints (in primary and secondary colors)
• paintbrushes
• muffin tins for paint and for mixing paints
• clean up supplies

• poster paper
• poster paint, brushes and water or
• pencil crayons or
• crayons

• images of sunflower paintings and drawings
• a real sunflower if possible
• a field trip to a sunflower field if possible
• sunflower seeds

What You Do:

1. Teacher should discuss the sunflower works of van Gogh, Nolde, Rivera and any other artists they feel would be beneficial. Teacher should also discuss sunflowers, why do they look the way they do? how do they grow? when do they grow? Try www.sunflowers.com for loads of information.

2. Try, if possible to take a class trip to a sunflower field ... or, set up a sunflower still life in the classroom (or home).

3. Discuss expressionism and the idea of painting with a great deal of emotion, energy and color. Expressionism was influenced by the masks and other arts of native cultures in Africa. Talk about the connection between culture and art. Refer to the work of van Gogh and Emil Nolde.

4. Have the students plan out their sunflower painting or drawing. Try to use large pieces of canvas or paper (depending on availability).

5. Once the images have been planned out, its time to lay down color using either oil paint, acrylic paint or pencil crayons. (younger kinderartists may enjoy working with crayons). Refer to the support material at the bottom of this lesson for more "how-to" information.

6. Be sure to encourage the use of bold strokes of color and energetic lines. Remember, the idea is to not only express how the sunflowers look, but also how they make you feel when you see them.

7. Once the work is complete, hang it up around the room and ask your kinderartists what they have learned. What did they enjoy the most? the least? How would they do things differently next time? What other subject could be painted in the expressionistic style?

Artists to Study

Emil Nolde, (1867-1956), one of the foremost German expressionist painters, whose masklike heads, contorted brushwork, and raw, strident colors were intended to give the viewer a visual and emotional shock.

Diego Rivera, (1886-1957), Mexican painter who produced murals on social themes, and who ranks as one of his country's greatest artists.

Artist bios: Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 97 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1996 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Recommended Books:

Sunflowers
by Rebecca W. Atwater Briccetti
Page after page of gorgeous photographs profile the sunflower in all its aspects.

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