When one creates an artwork, the "ingredients" are the elements of art: (1) line; (2) color; (3) shape/form; (4) texture; and (5) value. How they are used makes up the principles of art: (1) balance; (2) emphasis; (3) proportion; (4) movement; (5) rhythm, repetition and pattern; (6) variety; and (7) unity. Students will gain a better understanding…

One of the fifth-grade art-curriculum objectives is to create a relief print. In this era of budget cuts, the author was looking for a way for her students to meet this objective by making colorful prints without using a lot of expensive printing ink. She knew she wanted to use a rainforest animal theme, as well as share the colorful art of Henri…

Look for ways to take students on virtual journeys to faraway places, and then connect the experience to something they can relate to on a more personal level. In this article, the author describes a block-printing unit inspired by Japanese printmaker, Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), and his series of art prints, "Thirty-six Views of Mount…

"Art history? Ugh!" is often the response of high-school visual arts students when faced with an art-history assignment. With the exception of very few students who might have an affection for the historical aspects of art, getting art history into the hearts and minds of high-school students can be a challenge. In this article, the author shares…

The author could have chosen any ancient symbolic language, such as Egyptian or Pre-Columbian, but being from Denmark, she developed a unit that would introduce American students to artwork familiar to northern Europeans. Looking at examples of ancient art from Denmark and Sweden, students were to think about the use of symbols in ancient time and…

In this article, the author presents a few of the many printmaking projects she has done over the years: (1) Op-Art prints; (2) Georgia O'Keeffe monoprints; and (3) CD etchings. When teaching printmaking, the author always ties the project into an art-history lesson or a unit the grade level is studying in their other subjects. One printmaking…

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…

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)

Describes the artwork, "In the Garden" (Romare Bearden), focusing on its content and use of color. Provides background information on Bearden. Includes activities in mathematics, earth sciences, art history, religion and language arts, visual arts, and the Internet. (CMK)

Describes an art activity used with sixth-grade students that was inspired by the work of Wassily Kandinsky and also teaches students about rock art by American Indians living in Texas. Explains that the students learn to use both contemporary and primitive art when creating their "Petroglyph People." (CMK)

Provides information on china painting, focusing on Kurt Weiser, who paints on ceramics using china paints. Discusses his techniques and describes his work titled "Woman with Mongoose." Includes accompanying projects for art history, visual arts, language arts, natural science, and science or mathematics. (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)