Van Gogh's Sunflowers

2nd Grade's 

Van Gogh's Sunflowers

In second grade we have been studying the artwork of Vincent Van Gogh.  More specifically for this project we have been looking at his paintings of sunflowers.  We began with a class discussion on the different colors and shapes we saw in his paintings. The list our classes came up with is below.  

Yellow             Circles

Red                  Rectangles 

Orange            Squares

Green              Ovals

Brown             Triangles

                        Crescent or Moon Shapes

Once we determined what shapes were needed to create our flowers, the students began to participate in a directed drawing.  

We started out by using our hand to get us the size and shape needed for the centers of our sunflowers.  The students were to have two sunflowers on our drawings (1 full flower and half a sunflower).  They were then to use triangles, crescents, ovals, and circles to create the petals for their sunflowers.  Then they used a long skinny rectangles to create the stems for their sunflowers.

The students were able to get such vibrate colors and great texture!!!

Art 2's and Art 3's Collaboration Art

Starry Night Collaboration

At the beginning of the year I like to do a collaboration artwork that allows me to asses each students' skill level, their ability to follow directions, and how well the students work together to create a large scale work of art.

For this collaboration art project each student worked on reproducing 4 small 1 inch squares, of a famous work of art, on a larger 6 inch square.

They went from one small square with a lot detail and imagery,
to a blank square that was 6 times larger than what they started with!!!

Their guidelines: Draw the 1 inch square as you see it.
Use correct proportion as you recreate it.
Color with only the colors you see in your square.

The students were given oil pastels and a short demonstration on how to use this new material before they got to work.

It took roughly 3 1/2 classes for the students to finish all their required pieces.

As some students were finishing up their squares, others quickly got to work at assembling it all together.

Some worked on the student created image,
while a few others work to reassemble the original photo.

Once it was completed and fully assembled the students were shocked at how different everyone's pieces looked together.  It surprised them that even though they were all looking at the same picture, each student perceived the Van Gogh's style and colors differently.
My advice to them was to embrace that each student is a unique and individual artist, strive to create the best works of art you are capable of, and don't compare your artwork to others', everyone's is suppose to be different and use their own style.

Their Finished Starry Night Collaboration!!!