Van+Gogh+Clay+Plaque

Contributing Teacher(s): Cynthia McGrail
Resources: Video-VVGogh, Scholastic Art Magazine,

Content
1.2 Compare and contrast the effective use of communication of ideas through the use of media, tools, techniques, and processes. 4.3 Analyze, describe, and demonstrate how factors of time and place influence visual characteristics that give meaning and value to a work of art. 6.1 Recognize the characteristics of works in two or more art forms that share similar subject matter, historical periods, or cultural context. 6.2 Describe ways in which the principles and subject matter of other disciplines taught in the school are interrelated with the visual arts.

ISTE Technology:

 * 1. || Creativity and Innovation ||
 * || Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students: ||
 * a. || apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes. ||
 * b. || create original works as a means of personal or group expression. ||

Introduction/Problem:
===A look at paintings by Vincent Van Gogh will guide students to define impressionism: bright, airy color choices, descriptive forms, & textures that create movement and flow within a piece of art. The lesson creates emphasis on color, line & texture as students sculpt a flat slab of clay, defining an impressionistic landscape.===

Goals/ Objectives:
TSW learn biographical information about the artist Vincent Van Gogh & his paintings. TSW evaluate his contributions to art and to history. TSW learn the characteristics & features of impressionist paintings: use & understand the application of color, line, texture, form, movement & expression in a work of art. TSW interpret the emotions conveyed by Van Gogh in his paintings and compare his choices of subject matter with those of other artists and with their own decisions. TSW sculpt a 3-dimensional piece from a flat slab, using basic carving techniques. TSW experiment with a variety of tools (linocut, pencils, etc.) to create similar textured brushstrokes used by Van Gogh. TSW observe the use of color in impressionist paintings and apply similar choices for their artwork. TSW evaluate themselves using the teachers rubric. TSW take a picture of their finished "Van Gogh Clay Plaque" using the Document Camera. TTW post the pictures on the Wiki Gallery site for the students to view.

Integration:
Art + History, Art + Literature

Vocabulary:
Impressionism, clay and slab.

Materials:
White clay or (Air dry clay- 25 lb Value Pack-1 classpack should make about 30-35 plaques- 4 x 6 or smaller), pencils, clay tools, Linocut handle and tools- Small V & Large V, wooden rolling pin, clay paints or acrylic paints, brushes, disposable palettes, toothpicks, old canvas, sandpaper, and Van Gogh Clay Plaque example.

Motivation/Process:
TTW use visuals and biographical information to begin the project. The video "Van Gogh's Van Gogh" -is an excellent introduction to the lesson. Compare and Contrast Van Gogh's style with other Impressionsists and with realistic landscapes and still lifes. (Show VVG paintings). media type="custom" key="6359179"


 * 1) TSW receive a ball of clay (baseball size). Prepare clay prior to class time using ziploc bags to store until ready to use.
 * 2) TSW flatten clay with their hands, then use a rolling pin to form a slab. (May use two thick pieces of wood on either side of clay to create an even depth of the clay slab.) Thickness should be no less than 1/4 inch-thinner slabs will be fragile.
 * 3) TSW draw a landscape design __lightly__ onto the surface of the clay with a toothpick. Errors may be corrected by smoothing clay out with finger.
 * 4) Once the design is ready, TSW create their lines & textures by __carefully__ carving into the clay with a linocut tool or pencil. (Remove pieces of clay that remain in the linocut tool by tapping out onto the tabletop.) Students __should not put their fingers on the cutting blade.__ Teacher will bore two hanging holes with toothpick, 1/2 inch from the top edge. (Remove extra clay crumbs from texture lines off of the plaque before firing in kiln.) If using air dry clay, lightly sand burrs from texture lines after it has dried for 48 hours.)
 * 5) Allow at least 1 week for drying and then fire in the kiln. (Allow 48 hours for air dry clay-make sure front & back side are are dried- clay will be dry, hard, and white.)
 * 6) After the clay has been fired in the kiln or air dried if using air dry clay, TSW select colors that they observed in Van Gogh's paintings and paint the clay plaque using a small round brush. ( Tiny brushes are great to reach into the crevices.)Each brushstroke should be laid down and left in place, not blended.
 * 7) TSW evaluate themselves using the rubric/ evaluation sheet and turn it into the teacher for a grade.
 * 8) TSW take a picture of their finished project using the document camera. TTW post the pictures on the //Wiki Gallery// for the students to view.
 * 9) To hang the finished clay plaque, strongly knot a wire or cord through the holes. Using two hanging holes will make the plaque hang evenly and provide less stress on the clay piece. Note: Plaques may be displayed on a rack or holder so that hanging holes are not needed.

Student Product/Work:
TSW present a completed "Van Gogh Clay Plaque" and evaluation sheet.

Enrichment/Reteaching:
=== TTW Connect with literacy discipllines by having students write an interpretation usng words to describe a Van Gogh painting such as "The Starry Night" or "Wheat Field with Cypress Trees". This will help students observe the art elements and design principles used in creating artwork. (TSW use: color, line and texture to discuss an artwork.) Cereal and Leggo Starry Night: [] [] ===