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Grade: K-2

Age: 4-7

Activity Summary:

Media: Pastels

Time: One (30-40 minute) class period

Concept: Art History - Pastel technique

Art Element: Shape, Color

Objectives:

• To become aquainted with Vincent Van Gogh.
• To learn that pastels can be used to create a variety of lines and textural effects.
• To realize that colors can be subjective as well as objective.

1. Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) was an Impressionist painter who painted in the 1880s in Europe.
2. Vincent used bright unusual colors to paint portraits, flowers, and landscapes.
3. Colors seem brighter when drawn on dark or dull paper.
4. Bright colors and large shapes attract the viewer's attention.
5. Pastels can be used to create a variety of lines and textural effects.

Vocabulary

• Impressionist art
• Bright and dull

Motivators/Visuals:

• Laurence Anholt, Camille and the Sunflowers, ©1994

What You Need:

• pastels
• 12x18 dark, dull construction paper
• pencil
• paint shirts
• fixative (optional, and used only by teacher)

What You Do:

1. Read Camille and the Sunflowers to the class. Showing the pictures and pointing out posters/visuals of pictures hung about the room at the appropriate times. Discuss the story and the artist Vincent Van Gogh.

2. Distribute pastels and paper. Have students write their name on the back of the paper in pencil or crayon. Then roll up long sleeves, as pastels can be messy!

3. Place paper vertically on the table. First create large bright sunflowers on the top half of the paper, so as not to smear the pastels. Students choose their own favorite colors, as Vincent didn't always use the "correct" colors, either!

4. After coloring in their own bright sunflowers, have them create a vase below the flowers. This vase may also be colored in. Don't forget to add stems and leaves. Try not to rub arms across the pastels.

5. Collect finished work. Teacher must use fixative on the work, which is best done outside.

About Vincent Van Gogh

During his life, Van Gogh lived in various locations including Brussels, The Hague, Antwerp and Drenthe and in his travels, taught himself to draw and paint, in addition to taking the occasional art lesson. He moved to Paris at age 33 to live with his brother Theo (who was working in a gallery), and it was there that he came into contact with the work of the Impressionists.

Where before his work was dark in color with heavy forms and subject matter depicting peasants at work in the fields, in Paris, Van Gogh's paintings began to take on a somewhat Impressionistic feel. Flowers, portraits, self portraits and images of Paris appeared in his work. He went to Arles (later joined by fellow artist Paul Gauguin) at the age of 35 and upon arriving painted landscapes and portraits full of vivid colors and passionate feelings. In the years following 1888, he spent time in an insane asylum and eventually - at the age of 37 - took his own life. It was during the months approaching his death that Van Gogh created some of the most vibrant, expressive paintings known to man. In all, he produced an enormous volume of work - much of which was left in the care of his brother Theo's son.

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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