Monet's Garden---Lesson on Impressionism

Monet Garden—Sponge Painting

4^th Grade Level

Project: Students will be introduced to the art of Impressionism. Students will explore and discuss the elements of art that are displayed in Monet’s paintings. We will begin by brainstorming ideas of man-made objects in gardens (i.e. bird baths, benches, pathways, fences, gates, etc.). All student work is required to have a path and fence; the students have to choice to include extra objects if so desired. Students will draw their stencils based on proportion of the object in the scene to the size of the paper (example shown and discussed in class) and then will cut out the stencils. Students will then apply the stencils to the paper with a removable glue stick. The next step is to start sponge painting. Students will use sponges attached to clothespins to apply paint to their paper. Q-tips will be used to depict smaller objects, such as flowers and birds. Once the paint has been applied to the paper, the stencils will be removed to reveal the negative spaces. Students then may to in and add details such as flowers and birds to the garden once removed. An example will be shown in class and details such as the placement of objects and shadows will be discussed. Students will be working with blue, yellow, green and red paint. Blues will be used to create shadows in the garden, yellows to create subtle highlights, and so on once the initial painting is completed. The concept to Impressionism will be discussed with class before the beginning of the project, and continuously emphasized throughout the duration of the project. This will help students to keep from getting too distracted by how they believe things should appear, and more focused on the art concept and what this type of approach does for the artist’s work, how it affects the audience and the overall mood of the piece.

Students will be able to:

· Demonstrate skillful and appropriate use of tools and materials

· Understand and identify the illusion of depth in artwork and architecture

· Produce works of art using a rich mixture of materials and techniques

· Discuss the effect color palettes have on works of art

· Discuss and understand the concept of Impressionism and the works created by artists during this period

Aesthetics/ Concepts/ Reflection

· Identify the elements (line, shape/form, color, texture, and space) in a work of art

· Discuss the built environment in aesthetic terms

· Understand and identify the illusion of depth in art works: overlapping, placement, size, color and detail

· Know and be able to use the appropriate vocabulary

· Identify Positive and Negative space in art work

· Use repetition and contrast to create movement and/or unity

Cultural/Historical

· Identify the work of various landscape artists

Production

· Use texture, shape/form, line and color in a work of art

· Demonstrate skillful use of tools and materials

· Demonstrate knowledge and ability in the purposeful use of a variety of media and materials

Materials

· 9 x 12” Canvas paper

· Acrylic paints: red, blue, yellow, green

· Sponges

· Clothespins

· Manila paper

· 10 x 13” No-fade construction paper (variety of colors)

· Scissors

· Q-tips

· Removable glue sticks

Vocabulary

· Contrast

· Distortion

· Landscape

· Positive and Negative

· Space

· Style

· Technique

· Two-dimensional

· Art Museum

· Canvas

Procedure

Day 1: Introduction to work of Impressionists

· Power Point displaying works of Monet and other artists famous for Impressionism

· Discuss characteristics of Impressionism with students

o Compare and contrast works of Realism and Impressionism—differences in styles, techniques, moods, etc.

· Introduce new project to students

o Expectations

o Requirements

o Time line of work to be done

o Show students an example of finished product

o Discuss where materials are located

· Discuss what makes a garden

o Man-made objects in a garden

o How to make stencils/what makes a stencil--silhouettes

· Students begin to make stencils

Day 2: Students continue/finish stencils

· Apply stencils to paper before sponge painting

· Demo for students how to paint with sponges—dabbing vs. painting

o How to use colors—shadows and highlights/stencils/how to make flowers and smaller objects with Q-tips

o Start to lay out landscape with paint

· Students work

Day 3: Reiterate--foreground, background, how to achieve depth

· Students work on landscape paintings

· Clean-up: Paintings on drying racks/paint brushes washed out/ materials put away in designated areas

Day 3: Students finish up paintings

· Show students how to finish their final product

o Matting on paper that compliments their painting

o Names

o Tags on art work

Day 4: Extra day to finish if needed

Resources

1. http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/elem/Pam-monet.htm

2. http://www.huntfor.com/arthistory/c19th/impressionism.htm

3. http://hubpages.com/slide/Impressionism/3946572

4. http://www.gettingtoknow.com/MonetAct.htm

5. http://www.gettingtoknow.com/videos.htm