Cezanne's Apples

Paul Cézanne (French pronunciation: [pɔl seˈzan]; 19 January 1839 – 22 October 1906) was a French artist and Post-Impressionist painter whose work laid the foundations of the transition from the 19th century conception of artistic endeavour to a new and radically different world of art in the 20th century. Cézanne can be said to form the bridge between late 19th century Impressionism and the early 20th century's new line of artistic enquiry, Cubism. The line attributed to both Matisse and Picasso that Cézanne "is the father of us all" cannot be easily dismissed.

We learned all about Paul Cezanne, and his artwork. We also learned about highlights and shadows and still life's. We drew our apples with oil pastels and shaded them in.










Materials needed:
oil pastels from the art room. Pre-separate them into....
3 colors of red( light medium and dark. Orange may be used)
3 colors of green ( light medium and dark)
2 or 3 colors shades of yellow
Brown. And white
Each child will have a set.
There will be samples of the steps to show kids in a baggie in the art room
Black 12x18 paper for background.
Cut light brown 12x18 sulfite paper into rectangles.

Show the kids the art talk presentation on Cezannes. You can also display some Cezannes posters from the art closet. Here is the link to the PDF.

Cezannes slideshow

Art project:
Hand out three sheets of brown paper to each child.
Hand out pastels. A great way to do it is separate reds, yellows and greens in snack baggies, then each row in the classroom will do a different color and then switch for all three colored apples. This way you will have enough of the good pastels to go around.

Show them a step, then guide them through it.
1.Draw a good size circle using the darkest shade of the three.
2. Talk a bit about which side the light will be shining on.
3. They will use the lightest color and draw a half moon on the side of the apple where the light is shining.
4. Then, use the darkest color to draw a half moon side on the shaded side of apple.
5. Then, use the medium color to color in remaining mid-section. Don't leave any spaces! Keep blending with medium color into the dark and light so it is fully covered.
6. Take your white and make a little shiny crescent spot on one side of your apple. You can also make a few highlights with the white according to the picture.
7. Make a small smiley face with the brown, and a green or brown stem.
8. If you think they are able or if you have time, they can shade very lightly under the shady side of the apple with the side of a brown pastel. Very lightly.

They are done! Make sure their names are on each one.
Glue stick them to the black paper, put a sticker on the back stating the name, date, teacher and artist. Take a photo of each one for artsonia. Send me the photos. Great job!








Links:Wikipedia
Olga's gallery
Artsonia

The Art of Paper Marbling

The beautiful art of paper marbling is a really fun and messy project for the class. You can pretty much work it to almost any theme. Marbleize the paper and cut it out in the shape of choice! There are endless possibilities.

Update: I did this project with 5th graders to make beautiful marbled stationary as a gift for Christmas. I'll post the updated photos of the process.  The materials and instructions are following...

          Materials:

• Pad of watercolor paper. Heavy stock so it won't bend too much
• A few cans of cheap shaving cream- foam type.
• 3 or 4 cookie sheets with sides. And a few that have no sides.
• An abundance of bottles of paint, the large washable tempura. Metallics look beautiful.
• Squeegees at least the width of the paper.
• Pad of Scrapbook paper for background
• Circle punches
• Pencils or Popsicle sticks etc to stir foam and paint.
• Artist smocks from the art room- this can be messy!
• throw away plastic tablecloths
• plenty of adult helpers.

Show the kids a great video on Turkish Ebru. less than 5 minutes long. http://www.5min.com/Video/The-Art-of-Ebru-315086138

Then show them this slidetalk-  Art of Paper Marbling

Early Prep. 

• Make a few samples to show kids
• If you are doing butterflies, then trace a butterfly on each watercolor sheet in advance for project for children.
• Using used file folders are great for a stencil, just bend in half and draw half a butterfly, unfold!
• If you want to have antennae, then slice a few up in advance from a sample, a paper shredder works too.
• Also, if you want then to decorate their butterflies with a few contrasting circles of marbled paper, then punch a few in advance, and from leftover scraps while the project is in full swing, assign a mom to punch out more!

demonstrating making the paint patterns

push the paper down!

Demonstrate the steps in front of the kids, wait for the ooohs and aahs!


 Spray a even layer of foam on a cookie sheet with sides. 

The kids choose 3 colors for their marbling,  generally at least one dark and one light for contrast.


Evenly pour the paints back and forth over the foam- (the kids do this part too)

The messier the better the results!

     Take a pencil or stick and with straight lines, go side to side and then up and down a few passes each time.  make sure the stick touches the sides each pass! Also, make sure to use the pointy part of a stick/pencil. The paint will be spread around, but not mixed together. 


Have them place their paper, tracing side up, onto the foam.  Press down until the foam squishes out the sides,  you don't want any bare spots!

sweet London

Before its squeegeed

Have an adult pick it up from the end, it will be beautiful, but messy!

Station an adult near the cookie sheets, and their job is to squeegee the paint in one sweep off of the paper.  If there is still any foam left on, make sure to wipe the squeegee first, or it will deposit paint!

one good swipe of a squeegee

The paper will not be wet, since it was just foam used.

Cut out the butterflies, and bodies,  let the kids pick out coordinating backgrounds, and using glue sticks, mount them.

This project makes a great gift from the kids, hint, hint... Mothers Day!  Make sure to take those Artsonia photos!  It's the gift that keeps on giving.

Van Gogh's Sunflowers

Vincent Van Gogh 1853-1890 Dutch painter. He is best known for his post-Impressionist work. His most famous works include several studies of sunflowers and A Starry Night (1889)

The kids will learn about Van Gogh, as an artist, and his series of sunflower paintings. Then they will make their own little Van Gogh's!

Materials needed:

12 x 18 Acrylic paper or drawing paper.

Tempura paint- (in the art room)- Yellow, green, brown & red

Pencils, Medium paint brushes

Disposable plates or plastic palettes for mixing paints.

A vase with real or fake sunflowers

Images of sunflower paintings

What You Do:

First, introduce the students to Van Gogh. Show them the Slide show, and trying to get them enthused and ask questions about what they see, or are interested in. Take time to discuss the different elements that they notice in each painting that they are to imitate, as well as the principles of art. We discuss the use of color and techniques we might use to paint certain aspects of each work of art. Ask them what they think Van Gogh's favorite color was (yellow!) Talk about and show them real sunflowers, how they grow, show how they droop a little in the vase sometimes. Try www.sunflowers.com for loads of information.

Explain and show students how lots of yellow and a tiny drop of red mix to make an orangey-yellow. Have a helper pass out a paper towel, paintbrush and set up the paint palettes. The plate should have lots of yellow, tiny bit of red, brown (for pot, or center of flowers) and green (for stems)

Have the students write their name on the back of the paper, then they can sketch a vase with their pencil. Not the flowers, they are freehand. If it is kindergarten then you might pre-trace vases on the paper. Then the students are left to paint their unique versions of the famous masterpiece. They will need lots of encouragement, and with different levels of motor skills and artistic ability, sometimes lots of help. Make sure to ask other moms for help on the big day.

http://www.vangoghgallery.com/

Link to Van Gogh Sunflower slideshow