Louise Nevelson (1899-1988) was one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century. Born in Russia, she emigrated with her family to the United States in 1905. Her unique artistic style was influenced by the cubist movement, co-founded by Pablo Picasso, and the found object sculptures of Marcel Duchamp. Calling herself “the original recycler”, Nevelson is … [Read more...]
Search Results for: Picasso
Mona Lisa – Fact or Fiction? 50 Fantastic Things to Know!
My students became experts on all things Mona Lisa the year we ‘adopted’ the Mona Lisa as our Art Class Mascot! For generations, the Mona Lisa has captivated the imaginations of young and old alike. Her mysterious smile hints that there is much we don't know about this painting, and the woman in it. But there is also a lot we do know... or at least we think we know! I was … [Read more...]
New! Artist Birthdays Calendar
Kids love to celebrate birthdays, so what better time to introduce a new artist than on that artist's birthday? I've created a new page on my site to help you plan your artist birthday celebrations! Just click on the "Artist Birthdays" link on my menu bar for a list of birthdays by month, complete with links to lesson plans and wikipedia pages for more helpful info. (Artists … [Read more...]
Artist Birthdays
JANUARY 12 - John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) 19 - Paul Cezanne (1839-1906) Lessons inspired by Paul Cezanne on Teach Kids Art 23 - Edouard Manet (1832-1883) 28 - Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) Lessons inspired by Jackson Pollock on Teach Kids Art FEBRUARY 2 - Jose Guadalupe Posada (1852-1913) Lessons inspired by Jose Guadalupe Posada on Teach Kids Art 3 - Norman Rockwell … [Read more...]
Rules to Live By – Both In and Out of the Art Room
I don't have a lot of special rules for my students to remember during Art time.... their classroom teachers do a great job of "laying down the law" for expected behavior no matter where they are on campus. But I do have three special "Art Rules" that I teach them on day one, and remind them of throughout the year as needed. These rules are unique in that they all involve … [Read more...]
Art Rules!
The beginning of a new school year is a great time to review the rules we follow during Art class! In addition to the usual rules that students have in their classrooms (no hitting, raise your hand, etc.), we have three special rules we follow in the Art Room, and they each involve something you "say"....Rule #1 - Say only things that are kind and encouraging about another … [Read more...]
Learn to See Like an Artist with Blind Contour Drawing
"Blind Contour Drawing" of a student in my workshop! I love this quote by Kathryn Temple, author of Art for Kids: Drawing.... "Drawing has more to do with seeing than it does with holding a pencil in your hand." So true!! In my teacher workshop last weekend ("Teaching Drawing to Kids") we focused on how to help kids unleash the power of the right side of the brain to … [Read more...]
And He Thought the World Didn’t Make Sense Then!
"Sylvette" by Pablo Picasso"The world today doesn't make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do?" ~Pablo PicassoBy the way, this painting sold a few months ago in Sydney, Australia for 6.9 million.... Maybe when it comes to art, making sense is not the point???! … [Read more...]
What Is Art??
So what is Art, anyway?? Not to get all philosophical or anything, but you have to admit that's a good question! If you ask 100 people, you're likely to get 100 different answers. I recently attended an exhibit at the Denver Art Museum titled, "What is Art?". This question was posed to exhibit viewers who responded on sticky notes that covered an entire wall. Reading … [Read more...]
Every Child is an Artist
"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." ~ Pablo Picasso Art Phobia....many adults have it, but it doesn't seem to be something we're born with. Have you ever seen a three year old intimidated by a big piece of white paper and a huge brush loaded with gloppy paint??? Art Phobia appears to be an acquired deficiency, … [Read more...]