Van Gogh Sunflowers

While studying Vincent Van Gogh, second graders created their own unique versions of Van Gogh's famous sunflower paintings.  We read the book "Camille and the Sunflowers" to get a better picture of Van Gogh's life. Here is a video of the book!

We used a technique called scumbling (controlled scribbling) to show texture in our artwork.  Then we added watercolor paint to fill in the white spaces!

I got the idea for this project from Mrs. Bandstra the art teacher over at Alward Elementary. Here is a link to her blog! She does cool projects with the kids!

Learning Goals: I can...
- Create my own unique version of Van Gogh's sunflowers
- Use scumbling to show texture
- Tell about Van Gogh

Van Gogh Leaves

Second graders learned to create leaf prints using these neat rubber leaf stamps!  This is the kind of cool art supply that is purchased with Square 1 Art  fundraiser money!  This project just isn't the same without these stamps!

We used warm colors to paint the leaves with tempera paint. Then the kids carefully turned the stamps over before gently lowering them onto their papers and pressing firmly.  After the paint dried, kids learned the math word "perimeter" and outlined the leaves around their perimeter.

Next we learned about Vincent Van Gogh and how great he was at showing movement in his artwork. We watched this video which helped us notice all the movement in his artwork.

We used broken curving oil pastel lines to create the illusion of movement in our artwork much like Van Gogh did in his famous painting "Starry Night."

Lastly, we layered light blue, dark blue and purple watercolor paint to fill in the sky!

Learning Goals: I can...

- Tell about Vincent Van Gogh

- Use broken spiral lines to create movement in my artwork

- Create a print using a stamp

- Blend warm colors

- Explain what the perimeter of a shape is

- Layer watercolor colors

Starry Night

Second graders learned about Vincent Van Gogh and his most famous work of art, “Starry Night.”  They used oil pastels to create the impressionist brushstrokes of this famous swirling night sky.  

Learning Goals: I Can...

• Use oil pastel to create impressionist marks
• Use line to show movement
• Use value to show form 

Postman

Each year our second graders learn about Vincent van Gogh. We started by reading the book Camille and the Sunflowers by Laurence Anholt.  This book gave the kids a little taste of how van Gogh lived.  The postman was often painted by van Gogh.  The kids learned about some of van Gogh's favorite subjects: people, landscapes, sunflowers and his bedroom.  This was one of those projects that I noticed in a frame when I first came to Forest Grove.  When I saw the neat spirals in the beard I knew I just had to try it sometime!

Learning Goals: I can...
- Tell about van Gogh's favorite subjects (people, landscapes, sunflowers and his bedroom).
- Show texture in paint (by drawing spirals into wet paint)
- Paint smooth sides (by loading the brush with plenty of thick paint)