Lesson Overview:

Students create a modern artist's painting in the style of Spanish artist Joan Miró (1893-1983). Students explore how horizontal, vertical and curved lines can be combined with basic geometric and natural shapes to create an original painting.

Length of Lesson:

Two 45-minute class periods

Instructional Objectives:

Students will:

• learn about Joan Miró's painting style and technique.
• understand the use of line, pattern and color in Miró's work.
• create a work of visual art in the style of Miró.
• critique each other's work.

Supplies:

• 3/4" drafting tape for border on edge of paper (1-2 rolls, 60 yds.)
• 8-1/2" x 11" white exact vellum bristol or 11" x 14" piece of brown paper bag
• Mat board cut into small squares and rectangles, with widths of 1/2" to 2" and lengths of 5" to 7"
• Small shallow tray for each color of tempera paint - black, blue-violet, light green, red, chocolate brown, and yellow. (Use additional trays and colors of paint for larger groups --10" x 13" trays of paint covered with newspaper work fine.)
• Various size paint brushes for inking of cardboard squares and shapes
• Colored pencils (selection, to add details to painting when it is dry)

Instructional Plan:

Optional - Tape the edges of the paper before start of activity. Carefully and slowly "untape" after the work is dry to create a white border.

Show students a color copy of the Miró painting The Beautiful Bird Revealing the Unknown to a Pair of Lovers. Point out Miró's use of vertical, diagonal and horizontal lines. Have students look for repeated lines and shapes, and for representational elements in the painting. (In particular, direct students' attention to the tiger face in the bottom right hand corner.) Also mention that shadows and planes created by light had an influence on Miró's paintings. Have students identify the colors in the painting. Have students brainstorm words that describe the theme or idea behind the painting.

Tell students that art made after 1940 is commonly considered contemporary or modern art. Contemporary art is characterized by experimentation and diversity. Explain that Miro is considered one of the most important artists of the Surrealist movement. Have students explore the Miro Interactive.

Pass out the 11" x 14" brown paper or 8-1/2" x 11" white vellum. Divide the class into groups of 4 to 5 students. Give each group a different color of tempera paint and approximately 20 cut-up pieces of mat board. Remind students that while they are sharing materials in groups, they should work independently on their own piece of artwork.

Demonstrate dipping the edge of the mat board in the paint and printing straight lines. Tell students to pretend they are famous contemporary artists. Have them print an original pattern or design, making sure to repeat patterns. Demonstrate how to twist the cardboard to create bow shapes and squares.

Play music that will inspire repeated shapes and lines to be created, e.g., classical, jazz or world music. Tell students to work slowly and intently. (It took Miró three months to complete The Beautiful Bird Revealing the Unknown to a Pair of Lovers.) Tell students they will be given colored pencils to draw curved lines, detailed images and shapes. Ask students to find a theme or picture in the patterns they are creating. Remind them of when they were younger and looked at the clouds in the sky and found objects and pictures in them. Tell them to squint their eyes; this sometimes helps to make the patterns more apparent.

Give each group a tray of paint. Allow students to work for about five minutes, and then rotate the trays. After the students have used all colors, give each group approximately 12 colored pencils (an assortment of colors).

Continue to play the music. Tell the students they may draw representation images or abstract patterns.

Display work and have students explain how they created the artwork, the similarities to Miro's work, and how they found a theme in the work.

Assessment:

Students should be assessed on the following:

• understanding of Miro's art and technique
• understanding of modern or contemporary art from the 1940's
• creation of the piece from lines and shapes
• use of color
• presentation and explanation of the piece
• ability to find a pattern or picture in abstraction

Extensions:

Have students visit the Artcyclopedia.com site. Allow students to explore the various types of modern art, and choose one artist that they find interesting. After they have had an opportunity to view several of the artist’s works, they should create a piece of artwork in his or her style.

Authors:

• Kathy Sederquist
  Namaste Art Center
  ,