​SERIES 1:  Art Elements

Series 1 introduces art elements, one at a time, using master artists as examples.
Students learn new expressive skills in painting and drawing with different kinds of brushes, tissues, sketching pencils, oil and chalk pastels and markers.

Artists Include:

  • Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
  • Paul Cezanne
  • "Claude" Monet
  • Winslow Homer
  • Vincent Van Gogh
  • Pablo Picasso
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Line
The art element, line, is introduced through Lautrec's work providing creative and historical experiences. Student's engage in the technical and expressive qualities of line through use of color, composition, drawing, and brushwork.

Shape
In this unit, student's explore Cezanne's use of basic geometric shapes. Through his paintings, students learn to recognize still life, landscape, and portrait forms in art. Studio activities emphasize basic shapes drawn from landscape and still life forms. ​

Color
Monet's unforgettable images inspire follow-up classroom artwork as an opportunity to experiment with impressionist color theory and painting techniques. Student practice pages cover basic color theory, before exploring an activity with both a dry brush and loose painterly technique. 

Value
Homer's mastery of light and dark affords students the opportunity to explore the element of value. His narrative style captures student interest while offering historical integration. Students learn to recognize artistic processes such as wood block prints, etchings, oil, and watercolor paintings. 

Texture
Assembly slide programs reveal the fascinating story of Van Gogh's life within the historical context of the late 1800's in France. His use of texture and expressive brush strokes are inspiration for follow up student art activities using special oil pastel sets. 

Review
Picasso's many styles provide a review of art elements as well as a glimpse into the creative world of Picasso. Students learn to recognize abstract, classical, cubist, and realist styles. Mixed media studio art projects combine a right brain drawing technique with fine black markers and pastel staining.