Inspired by Van Gogh


     The pictures below were inspired by the famous painter Van Gogh and his painting "A Starry Night." He paints with great expression and bold colors. In class, we did a finger painting project with "Starry Night" in mind. Finger painting would be mainly for younger students, but could be used for older students if desired. We watched a video on Van Gogh's work, then were given the instructions to use the primary colors and finger paint a picture based off of, or your interpretation of "A Starry Night". We were told to show movement in our picture. My picture was a inspired by winter. I took the blue and the white and mixed it together to make a lighter blue. I also did this with the yellow. Using lighter and darker colors gave my picture definition. I put both the blues, yellows, and a white through out the sky. Using the lighter colors then adding in darker colors. I created movement by sweeping my fingers across the paint, and also swirling my fingers in a circular motion. As the sky was drying, I began to add light blue and white into the bottom half of the paper. This was going to be the snow. I did the same techniques in the snow as I did in the sky to create movement. I also tried to give it the look of snow hills. Once the sky was dry. I mixed black and white together, so get a dark brown color. I then started adding that to the left hand side of the paper to make my tree. I then preceded to add more white and some light blue to the paper to finish it off.

My winter finger painting scene inspired by "A Starry Night" by Van Gogh

   An extension activity would be to have the students finger paint a feeling. An example would be a student finger painting a summer scene. This shows something that brings them happiness. I like this idea, because it gives them some free rain on what to do, but it can be completely different from their peers.

     The next project we did was with tissue paper.We were instructed to cut out swirls and strips of tissue paper and we then used a clear glue substance like "modge podge" to paste it down to a black piece of paper. Once that step was complete and dry. We took either a silver marker or oil pastels and added more movement into the sky. We also cut out a city scene from black paper and put it onto the bottom part of the paper. Then we again put the "modge podge" substance on top of the paper to seal it all together. One it was completed, I added final touches with the silver maker, to the buildings and the sky. Then backed it with yellow paper. This project was something that could be done with older students. It is time consuming, but was worth it in the end. It used different kinds of media, and was a great activity to incorporate all of them into one piece of art work.

Tissue Paper Project

      An extension activity would be to use other forms of media but maybe do a night scene of their town or from the window of their house. I wouldn't want them to use items that can not be pasted flat down to the paper. Magazines, pages from an old book, pictures, or items like this could be used. Instead of a night scene, maybe an outline of their face using the different kinds of media.

Examples of Elements and Principles of Art

This is a picture from Venice Beach, CA. It shows us the element of space.

This is a picture of the sun rise by my apartment. It shows us the element of color.

•  The first five pictures show principle of movement. My roommate was attempting to do the worm (a dance move), and these consecutive photos show her moving across the picture.

This Pictures is from New Orleans, LA on Bourbon Street. It shows the principle of symmetrical balance. 

This is also a picture from New Orleans, LA. It shows the principle of emphasis
by the color choice of the store.

(top) Is a picture of a blanket which shows the principle of a random pattern.
(below) Is another picture of a blanket that shows the principle of a planned pattern. 

This is a picture of my favorite blanket, and shows us the element of texture.

  Footprint Project

*This project was a great activity to have your students introduce each other. It gave them room to creatively express themselves which ever way they want. Giving them some guide lines, such as you can trace both feet or just use one and you should use three forms of media, is a great way to still have a uniform idea but unique projects*
*Extension Activity: There are so many fun and effective projects we as educators can use to introduce our students and sometimes connecting it to another class. An example would be a picnic lesson. Since "get to know each other" activities tend to occur during the first days of school having a lesson talking about summer is pretty common. The first step is to provide the picnic plates that have three separate sections (normally two small and one large section) to each child along with glue and random craft supplies (paper, stickers, markers, etc.). Then give them the instructions that in each section you are looking for certain things such as favorite food, representation of favorite subject/class, and personal interests. Using all visuals is a great way for them to show their creative side. If you could easily connect this to anther class. For younger elementary, having them make different food in each section and do it as math problem is a great activity also. In one section they could put  four purple pom poms(grapes), in another section they could put two crumpled pieces of paper (strawberries), and in the large section have six items. This shows that 4 +2 =6.

*My Project : I used construction paper, makers, stickers, and ripped magazine pieces to create this project. I used music notes in this project because music keeps me sane and I also put a heart because I am very caring person and have a passion for helping people. A pencil represents my future career as an educator and the puzzle piece, a symbol for autism, represents my hope in being a special educator. The 'F' stands for my faith, family, and friends. I also have a 'GT' which is a symbol for my home town.*

Everything that is seen on my footprint has had an impact on my life tremendously.