AUTHOR CONNECTIONS:
Fired
when she was a teenager from her library job for "reading too much, "Kathleen
Krull went on to become a highly successful children's book editor, reviewer,
and author. Her curiosity about subjects that passionately interest her-music,
people, nightmares, and American history are just a few-led her to create the "Lives of" books, as well as other notable children's books. Do you know
the following tidbit about Kathleen Krull?: She married her next-door neighbor
and they presently live in San Diego, California. Krull may be reached by e-mail
at kkrull1@san.rr.com or visit
her website kathleenkrull.com
ARTISTS INCLUDED: Da
Vinci 
Michelangelo
Bruegel
Anguissola
Rembrandt
Hokusai
Cassatt
Van Gogh
Kollwitz
Matisse
Picasso
Chagall Duchamp
O'Keeffe
Johnson
Dali
Noguchi Rivera & Kahlo
Warhol
CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS:
 Invite
a local portrait painter to lecture to the students about a typical day of work
in his or her profession. Have the artist explain the techniques that Leonardo
da Vinci himself discovered: chiaroscuro and contrapposto. Provide
class time to research the Mona Lisa; share findings in a written report;
have students speculate as to who the figure in Mona Lisa really was. To
culminate this unit of study, arrange for a field trip to a nearby fine arts gallery
or art museum.
Have
the students imagine they are Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel in Rome.
They must then lie on their backs to create pencil or pen-and-ink drawings overhead.
If possible, display artwork on classroom ceiling for patrons to look up and admire.
What
is Impressionism and who were the significant artists of this period? Divide students
into small groups to research this topic; assign each group a notable artist to
learn about as well as uncovering information about this period of art and what
comprised it. All students will create individual watercolors after reviewing
samples of art by famous Impressionists. Group reports might include the life,
times, and work of individuals such as Manet, Monet, Cassatt, and Renoir.
Georgia
O'Keeffe rendered paintings of the simplest of objects found in nature: Flowers,
bones, rocks, hills, clouds, and deserts were among her favorite inspirations
to paint. Have students bring in a collection of assorted dried flowers, bones,
and rocks. Experiment with a variety of arrangements of these items of nature;
have students capture them in watercolor paintings using a palette reminiscent
of O'Keeffe's.
During
his lifetime, Diego Rivera painted over two and one-half miles of murals! Have
the entire school create a wall mural painting that covers and connects all of
the corridor walls. Divide the space evenly by the number of classes in the school,
allotting each class equal footage. Complete by December 8, the date Rivera was
born on in 1886. On that date, celebrate the anniversary of this world-famous
muralist's birthday by inviting parents and caregivers to come and view the all-school
mural.
INTERNET CONNECTIONS:
 Mary
Cassatt
http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/cassatt/html/index.html
Created by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this lovely site shares information
about the life, times, and work of one of America's most famous Impressionist
artists.
Creating a Classroom Museum
http://educate.si.edu/resources/lessons/collect/crecla/crecla01.htm
This stellar Web site - built by the Smithsonian Institute - provides detailed
guidelines for students to create their own classroom museum, replete with a particular
theme and carefully chosen objects for the exhibition. Students will also be able
to write their own accompanying interpretive material for their museum exhibit.
MoMA The Museum of Modern Art
http://www.moma.org/
This incredible site
offers myriad things to see and do, with present and past exhibits online. Located
in New York City, the museum began with eight prints and one drawing; it presently
has more than 100,000 objects of art housed within. Especially fun for those who
have never visited in person.
FOR
FURTHER LISTENING AND READING:
 The
Boy Who Loved to Draw: Benjamin West (Houghton Mifflin, 1999) by Barbara Brenner;
Illustrated by Olivier Dunrea
In
Flight with David McPhail: A Creative Autobiography (Heinemann, 1996) by David
McPhail
Leonardo
Da Vinci (Morrow, 1996) by Diane Stanley
My
Name Is Georgia: A Portrait (Harcourt Brace & Company, 1998) by Jeanette Winter
Talking
with Artists: Volumes One, Two, and Three (All Clarion Books, 1992, 1995, & 1999); Compiled & Edited by Pat Cummings
|
