Unique interpretations of trees.I always tell my students that art is one of their most important subjects, because art allows us to become involved in creative thinking and problem solving problem solving Process involved in finding a solution to a problem. Many animals routinely solve problems of locomotion, food finding, and shelter through trial and error. . A case in point is the opportunity we had to produce our unique interpretations of trees. This lesson is designed for fifth grade, although it has potential application for higher grade levels. The experience that precedes our lesson is an academic study of a group of trees, observing how the trunk evolves into limbs, then smaller branches, finally tapering off into twigs. We also observe how the branches of neighboring trees overlap each other. I write a bit of poetry, and a line from one of my poems expresses this idea, "The entwining branches of the trees make patterns of lace against the sky." Goals and Objectives The goal of this lesson is to create an abstract design derived from observations of trees. We also look for inspiration in the early artworks and ideas of Piet Mondrian. Our objectives are to show a unique blending of the geometric with the organic and to discover the design potential in trees by going beyond depicting trees in a representational way. Looking to Art On his way to developing the style and theory of Neoplasticism and the rectangular grids for which he is most famous, Mondrian created trees and landscapes that were inspired by various art movements
This is a list of art movements. These terms, helpful for curricula or anthologies, evolved over time to group artists who are often loosely related. . Being Dutch by birth, he learned to paint trees, barns, and windmills in a naturalistic way at the Hague School The Hague School is the name given to a group of artists who lived and worked in The Hague between 1860 and 1890. Their work was heavily influenced by the realist painters of the French Barbizon school. . Through the influence of Fauvism fauvism (fō`vĭzəm) [Fr. fauve=wild beast], name derisively hurled at and cheerfully adopted by a group of French painters, including Matisse, Rouault, Derain, Vlaminck, Friesz, Marquet, van Dongen, Braque, and Dufy. , he adopted the idea that the artist's emotional reaction to the subject is more important than objective representation. The Fauves also influenced him to use bold color and strong, linear pattern. Expressionism expressionism, term used to describe works of art and literature in which the representation of reality is distorted to communicate an inner vision. The expressionist transforms nature rather than imitates it. exposed him to the concept that the subject matter is secondary in importance to vigorous and expressive brushwork brush·work n. 1. Work done with a brush. 2. The manner in which a painter applies paint with a brush. brushwork Noun in bold, arbitrary color. Mondrian concluded that nature could not be produced on canvas, and that painting had to find a new way to express the beauty of nature. His favorite subject was the leafless tree and the way it expressed line and plane. Making Our Own Art We begin by stylizing the branches, making adaptations to their structure such as transforming them into curved, angular, loose and sweeping, or tight and curling forms. Bold, linear pattern is used to represent the bark of the tree. Colored pencil is our medium of choice, because it allows for fine detail and vivid color. Many students do not, at this age, have the fine motor skills to get this same result with a paintbrush (graphics, tool) Paintbrush - A Microsoft Windows tool for creating bitmap graphics. . For older students, however, tempera tempera (tĕm`pərə), painting method in which finely ground pigment is mixed with a solidifying base such as albumen, fig sap, or thin glue. or acrylic would be very suitable media for this lesson. Evaluation--Meeting Objectives As for evaluative criteria, the results almost speak for themselves. What I consider a job well done is a carefully rendered and well-thought-out example of student work which satisfies our objective: that every student will find his or her own way to express the beauty of a tree by departing from nature and creating a very personal and unique statement. Resources Fauchereau, Serge. Mondrian. New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , NY: Rizzoli International Publications, Inc., 1994. Gardner, Helen. Art through the Ages. New York, NY: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., 1991. WEB LINKS www.kazanskaya.com/page.html? grtrees pages.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/~sheelagh/ personal/reps/mond/ NATIONAL STANDARD Students use visual structures and functions of art to communicate ideas. Joan M. Markovich is an elementary art teacher at Sporting Hill Elementary School, Cumberland Valley School District Cumberland Valley School District is located in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States; it encompasses the townships of Hampden, Monroe, Middlesex, and Silver Spring. , Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. |
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