Meet the Masters :: Joan Miró

"I try to apply colors like words that shape poems, 
like notes that shape music." ~ Joan Miró

Joan Miró is the third artist featured in Track C. We initially skipped over him and moved ahead to study Rembrandt, but ended up going back to complete this unit study last month as well. 

We used the lesson for ages 10-Adult, and only my oldest four completed this particular unit study, while the youngest three continued reading a book they had been enjoying.

Before I get back to the older kids art project, here is one more picture from later that afternoon, after they had finished watering the garden. The Making of a Knight was one of Snuggles' favorites from this past school year.  Rose pulled out one of her favorite pop-up books and Bud pulled out one of their knight costumes and his sword. ♥

.: Master Artist Introduction :. 

Joan Miró ("Juan" mee-ROE)

Spanish Painter (1893-1983)

Anything is possible in the dreamlike, imaginative world of Surrealist Miro! For this Spanish artist, feelings were more important than realism. His imagination gave him a magician's touch of changing the nature, size, and meaning of whatever he came across in real life.

Art Activity Emphasis: Abstract, Surrealistic Shapes

Media: Paper Cutouts and Markers

Vocabulary: Surrealism, Mood, Abstract, Shape, Overlap, Squiggle, Line, Foreground, Background, Contours, Still Life

.: Art Supplies :.

One 12"x18" sheet of newsprint (placemat)
Three 6" x 9" pieces of construction paper in the following colors: 1 red, 1 blue, 1 yellow

One 12" x 18" sheet of white construction paper
Paper towel
Black Markers (extra-fine pointed tip) 
Red or Blue (we used Blue or Yellow) powdered tempera paint and Cotton balls (Sprinkle 3 small shakes on each sheet of newsprint at the appropriate time during the lesson.)
Pencil
Scissors

Glue

.: Practice Technique - Abstract Shapes, Overlapping Shapes and Lines, and Abstract Drawing  :.

.: Art Project - Surrealistic Artwork :.

"Would you like to use your imagination even more and think up a title for your artwork?" 

Charlie Brown Garage Sale by Captain

Stargazer - "A Mixture of Confusion and Madness" - by Ranger

In the Clouds by Twinkle Toes

Catch of the Day - "Peaceful and Exciting" - by Chiquita

You can scroll through all of our completed Meet the Masters unit studies here
or listed by tracks and units here.

Meet the Masters :: Rembrandt van Rijn

"Practice what you know, 

and it will help to make clear what now you do not know." 

~ Rembrandt

It's been quite awhile since I've shared pictures from any of our "Meet the Masters" unit studies and art projects. The kids look so much younger in that last post on Claude Monet! I'm sure I will think the same thing when I look back at this post in a couple years... I have pictures to share eventually from the past seven or eight artists we've studied, but I'm going to start with our most recent which focused on highlights and shadows inspired by Rembrandt. 

Rembrant is the fourth artist featured in Track C. We used the lesson for ages 10-Adult, which worked well for all but our littlest ones. I ended up helping Rose with her art. So fun! 

.: Master Artist Introduction :. 

Rembrandt van Rign (REM-brant)

Dutch Painter (1606-1669)

Rembrandt developed a painting style using light and dark that is unlike that of any other artist. This "Rembrandt Lighting" creates beautiful contrasts in his etching and painting. He painted more self-portraits than any artist in history - a visual autobiography of his life in 17th Century Holland.

Art Activity Emphasis: Highlights and Shadows

Media: White Chalk, Black Oil Pastel, White Oil Pastel

Vocabulary: Light, Dark, Highlight, Detail, Portrait, Self-Portrait, Background, Shadow, Composition, Etching, Profile, Luminous

.: Art Supplies :.

One 12"x18" sheet of newsprint (placemat)

One 12"x15" sheet of black construction paper
White Dustless Chalk

Black Oil Pastels

White Oil Pastels
Q-tips

Glue

.: Practice Technique - Shadows, Highlights & Rooftops :.

.: Art Project - The Mill :.

.: Additional Reading :. 

Rembrandt and the Boy Who Drew Dogs

Chiquita also pulled out her Rembrandt card from her set of Usborne Famous Paintings

(The cards are currently overpriced at Amazon but you can order them directly from one of my current sponsors who is an independent consultant here if you are interested.) 

You can scroll through all of our completed Meet the Masters unit studies here.

Meet the Masters :: Claude Monet

"People discuss my art and pretend to understand as if it were necessary to understand, when it's simply necessary to love. "

~ Claude Monet

Our unit study on Claude Monet was the perfect way to wrap up Track A and was unanimously the most loved art project from the year! The children were all so amazed at what they could create with just three colors of paint. We are looking forward to meeting new artists this upcoming school year as we move on to Track B in Meet the Masters.

.: Master Artist Introduction :. 

Claude Monet (moe-NAY)

French Painter  (1840-1926)

Monet earned the title, "Father of Impressionism" by leading innovative artists to break with tradition and see the world with a fresh eye where light and color reigned. The techniques of Impressionism were discovered through viewing the masterpieces created by Monet.

Art Activity Emphasis: Impressionistic Painting, Color, Theory, Color Wheel

Media: Tempera Paint, Q-tips

Vocabulary: Impressionist, Warm/ Cool Colors, Palette, Canvas, Complementary, Critique, Analogous, Water Landscapes, Reflection

.: Art Supplies :. 

One Paper Plate
One 9"x12" sheet of light blue construction paper
One 12"x18" sheet of newsprint (placemat)
Four Q-tips (plus lots of extras!)
Paintbrush
Paper Towel
Red, Yellow and Blue Tempera Paint

.: Practice Technique - Monet's Colors :. 

The Color Wheel: We learned all about the color wheel, how the primary colors (red, blue and yellow) are the only colors necessary to make a secondary color (orange, green or violet), and practiced creating secondary colors with primary crayons.

Color Feeling: The kids also used colors and shapes to illustrate feelings. 

Color Relationship: We learned that colors which are close together on the color wheel are called Analogous colors.

.: Art Project - The River :. 

by Rose (age 4)

Somehow Snuggles' tree caught on fire! You know, with the thunderstorm outside and it being fire season and all... 

I couldn't resist joining the fun too... We are ALL learning so much about art and all the Master Artists! 

Top Row: Ranger and Rose
Middle Row: Chiquita, Captain and Snuggles
Bottom Row: Mom and Twink

.: Additional Reading :. 

Linnea in Monet's Garden

The Magical Garden of Claude Monet

A Picnic with Monet (Mini Masters)

Katie and the Waterlily Pond: A Magical Journey Through Five Monet Masterpieces

Katie Meets the Impressionists

From our local library:

Monet: Getting to Know the World's Artists (not pictured)

Who was Claude Monet? (not pictured) 

Claude Monet: The Painter Who Stopped the Trains

Since the children enjoyed studying this artist from Track A of Meet the Masters the most, I ordered Twelve Monet Bookmarks to give them as a special little gift on the first day of school next week.  I'll probably slip one or two into each of their Back-to-School Schultütes.

You can scroll through all of our completed Meet the Masters unit studies here.