When artists are inspired to travel in Europe to study art and history of the Western world, Italy is a good place to start. With its ancient architecture, rich cultural heritage, and superb works of art, Italy has been the quintessential center of Western art history for centuries. It was the good fortune of Alabama-based artist and teacher…

Many artists visit national parks to draw, paint and take photographs of some of the most amazing scenery on earth. Raw nature is one of the greatest inspirations to an artist, and artists can be credited for helping inspire the government to create the National Park System. This article features Thomas Moran (1837-1926), one of the artists who…

Rick Beck works in cast glass; his large-scale work ranges in scale from 15 inches to around 7 feet tall. His medium--glass--makes the scale of Beck's pieces very impressive. He is probably best-known for his oversized cast glass sculptures of common hardware: nuts, bolts, screws, measuring spoons, saws, eating utensils, eye hooks, wing nuts and…

Summarizes the victories and hardships in the life of Charles White, an African-American artist who overcame racism in a time embedded with it. Provides a copy of White's drawing "Children Games # 1" along with six lesson plans for grades ranging from 2 through 12. Includes subjects such as visual arts and social studies. (CMK)

Provides background information on the life and career of artist Faith Ringgold. Focuses on her work of art "Under a Blood Red Sky" and includes information on its subject matter. Includes lessons in visual arts, social studies, language arts, and music. (CMK)

Provides background information on the career of the artist, Allan Clark. Focuses on his sculpture titled "The King's Temptress" that was influenced by his visit to the Angkor Wat (Cambodia). Includes activities in visual arts, language arts, history, and social studies. (CMK)

Provides information on papermaking and discusses two methods that students can use. States that papermaking can be a multidisciplinary project, including history and social studies, and a way to teach about recycling. (CMK)

Provides a description of the artwork entitled "Genesis" while also discussing the life and career of artist, William Zorach. Includes activities in subject areas, such as language arts, science, and social studies, and offers Internet resources. (CMK)

Describes a thematic, interdisciplinary unit for seventh grade that unites social studies and art. Focuses on the history of Native American art in Arizona, especially Navajo weaving. Discusses the weaving project. (CMK)

Focuses on the painting done by John Sloan called "Grand Central Station" and provides background information on the subject matter and the artist. Includes projects in social studies, language arts, mathematics, and visual arts appropriate for upper-elementary through high school students. (CMK)

Describes the work of art titled "Aftermath" by Michael Olszewski, who has described it as the aftermath of intense anger. Includes background information on Olszewski. Includes activities in science and chemistry, art history, social studies/psychology, mathematics, visual arts, and language arts. (CMK)

Presents background information on the life and career of George Luks. Describes one of his paintings called "Tea Party" that pokes fun at the upper classes while paying homage to humanity. Includes activities in literature, social studies, science, mathematics, history, and visual arts. (CMK)