Grandma Anna Mary Robertson Moses

Grandma Moses is the subject of this month's Sketch Program. Time for some fun with old-time rural folk-art. This is a great project for kids who worry about perfection and getting their art "right" - our goal is to create simple, naive looking images!

You will need to bring the following items to class:

• Tru Ray Acid Free Construction Paper - 12”x18” - 4 pieces of various colors 
• Reeves Water Soluble Wax Pastels - (if necessary you can substitute regular crayons if you do not have water soluble crayons) 
• Red ink pad - can be shared 
• Grumbacher Filbert Brush synthetic, size 8- 1 per student (or if this brush has been too big for your students, just bring several cotton swabs) 
• Wool roving - .1oz (basically, just bring any leftovers you have from our previous project) 
• 1 glue stick or bottle of glue - can be shared 
• 1 pair Scissors - need 1 per student 
• 1 extra small container with lid - need 1 per student 
• 1 everyday pencil

See you Friday at 6:30!
 

Vermeer Extension Activities

Vermeer was not a note-taker, so much of his life remains a mystery. We learn through public records that his grandfather was a convicted counterfeiter, his grandmother ran illegal lotteries, and he married a woman outside of his own faith. 

Vermeer's distinctive style makes his work easy to identify. Look closely and you will often see ladies, windows, tapestry table coverings, bowls of fruit, and pearls. Items of daily life. You might even notice that he uses the exact same item in more than one painting.

Read

A fun way to learn about the time and art of Vermeer is through the historic fiction Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett. It is artistically accurate, suspenseful, and magical.

Discover

• Learn about how enterprising graphic designers are trying to replicate a Vermeer
• Test your own attention to detail with 
  online puzzles of 2 of Vermeer’s paintings
• Look at the complete works of Vermeer, then write about what you learned using these great notebooking pages

Johannes Vermeer

This month's featured artist is Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer (c. 1632–c. 1675)

The Procuress.

Purported to be the only self-portrait of Vermeer.

1656

oil on canvas

Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister 

One of the most highly regarded Dutch artists of all time, Vermeer is best known for his paintings of the indoor life of the middle class.

Het melkmeisje

The Milkmaid 

circa 1660

oil on canvas

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam  

To complete this month's project you will need the following items:

2 sheets Tru Ray Acid Free Construction Paper (1 white, 1 any color) - 12”x18” 

Prang crayons, one 8 color set - need: 1 set per student

1  glue stick - can be shared

1 pair Scissors - need 1 per student

1 ruler (or any item with a straight edge for drawing lines. ex. book) - we will be working extensively with these, so please make sure you bring enough for your students.

1 everyday pencil (drawing pencil not needed)

See you at 6:30 on Friday March 20th!
 

Leonardo da Vinci extension activities

Hi friends!
This month's artist is featured at LibertyHillHouse.com.  There you will find books, crafts, games and more covering the amazing life of Leonardo da Vinci.

Enjoy!

Leonardo da Vinci

Self-portrait
Leonardo da Vinci
1452-1519
Florenz, Galleria degli Uffiai

The Renaissance can be summarized in just one name, Leonardo da Vinci.  He was one of the most diversely talented men of his day, and still remains well known as a painter, inventor, sculptor, architect, musician, mathematician, anatomy-scholar, and engineer.

In preparation for class we have the delight of studying one of the most famous paintings of all time, the Mona Lisa.  Please hang a copy of this image in a place where you will see it often.

What is it that makes this painting so compelling?

La Joconde (Mona Lisa)
circa. 1503-1506
oil on poplar wood
Musee du Louvre, France

Our project this month is creating graphite sketches to display at the SEE Science Museum in Manchester.  

For this project you will need:

• Tru Ray Acid Free Construction Paper (assorted colors) - 1 piece white cut to 12”x12” (or 8.5 x 8.5 if that is the largest size you have) per student 
• 3 Drawing Pencils #HB, 2B, and 4B - need 1 set per student
• (for worksheet only) Prang crayons, one 8 color set - need: 1 set per student
• 1  glue stick - can be shared
• 1 kneaded eraser - can be shared
• optional: paper towels or baby wipes to keep fingers clean

Looking forward to seeing you Friday, February 20, 2015 at 6:30!

 

Franz Marc lesson extension activities

It is interesting to think about what Franz Marc might have painted if he had lived through World War 1.  More nature?  More "flaming agony?"  

Explore:

• Deep meaning is the key hallmark of expressionism.  Enjoy stretching your own ability to consider beyond the obvious.  Read familiar fables at aesopfable.com.  What is the author trying to convey?  Next, try to match one of Franz Marc’s paintings (available at Guggenheim.org) to the tale.

Consider:

• Marc was taught about Jesus by his mother, but later decided that only animals are worthy of living in paradise.  Do you agree?  Read John 3:16.  Consider the word "believe" in this verse.  What is the one requirement for salvation?  Can animals believe?  Is this promise for all creatures on earth? (Parents - Please be intentional in patiently listening to your child's reasoning for their answers.  This is a large concept to grasp, and they may have pets that they are concerned about.)

Read:

•  The Blue Rider: The Yellow Cow Sees the World in Blue is a fun children's book that delves into the expressionist reasoning behind the use of color and shape to express deeper meanings. 

Franz Marc

Franz Marc
1880-1916
German

Expressionist and founder of Der Blaue Reiter group, Franz Marc was a key figure in the art world despite his early death in World War I at the age of only 36.

In preparation for class please spend some time enjoying the image below:

Blue Horse I
Franz Marc
1911
Oil on Canvas
Lenbachhaus, Germany

We are making torn paper animal habitat projects to surprise the volunteers who work with the NH Fish & Game Department.  You won't need much for supplies this month.  (Hooray, no last minute scramble to the craft store!) You will simply need:

• 3 sheets Tru Ray Acid Free Construction Paper (1 white, 2 color of choice) - 12”x18”
• Prang crayons, one 8 color set - need: 1 set per student
• 1  glue stick (check to make sure yours is still full, we will be using this a lot) - can be shared
• 1 pair Scissors - need 1 per student
• 1 piece of scrap paper
• everyday pencil with an eraser

See you at 6:30 on Friday, January 16th