Georgia O'Keeffe's Flowers

For this lesson we looked at the work of Georgia O'Keeffe. We discussed how she created large paintings of flowers, as if she wanted the viewer to see their beauty through a magnifying lens. She said: "I decided that if I could paint that flower in a huge scale, you could not ignore its beauty." The students looked at pictures of her work and they were amazed with the beauty of colors and lines. 

She also said: "When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not." 

We used water colors in order to create our large-scale flowers. Students were encouraged to use a variety of brushes and colors. 

Make a Portrait of a Friend

The purpose of this project was for the Kindergarten students to make a portrait of their friend.

We discussed how a portrait is a drawing, painting, photograph or sculpture of a person.

We looked at Kasimir Malevich's self portrait and discussed his choice of colors.

We also look at  Karl Schmidt-Rottluff's Portrait of Emy. We discussed how with the use of vibrant colors  the artist expressed  his feelings about Emy. Color becomes an important aspect in the composition. 

Students sat across from each other, observing the details in each other's faces. They were also advised to illustrate in their portrait at least one thing they like about their friend.

Student comment: "He laughs really loud."

Student comment: "I love her freckles; and we both like the color green." 

Student comment: " She has big eyelashes."

Student comment: "She has curly black hair; she is sad because her mom is out of town. 

Blue is a sad color." 

Student comment: " She is always so serious, and she has crazy hair."

Student comment: "My friend is like a rainbow."

Student comment: "My friend likes the color blue."

Student comment: "He makes me laugh."

Student: "Sometimes he makes me angry; red is an angry color."

Student comment: "My friend likes the color pink."

Student comment: "I love my friend's super black hair."

Student comment: "My friend lost three teeth and he looks funny." 

Student comment: "I love her short black hair and her big brown eyes."

Student comment: "My friend has funny hair."