An Art History Lesson with the help of Vincent van Gogh's Cat

We devoted three sessions studying the work of famous artists.

The book Vincent van Gogh's Cat was used as an inspiration for this mini art history lesson.

This book was illustrated by the Second Grade Students of East Washington Academy in Muncie, Indiana.

The adventurous cat in the book is exploring the paintings of famous artists as he travels from one famous painting to another.

The students chose their favorite work from the book and did a mini research on the artist. 

The chosen works were: "Four Cut Sunflowers" 1887; Vincent van Gogh. "Waterlilies" 1908; Claude Monet.

"Exotic Landscape" 1908; Henri Rousseau. "Hermitage" 1918; Paul Klee. "Tree of Life" 1905-1909; Gustav Klimt. "Woman in Front of the Sun" 1950; Joan Miro. "Green Dancer" 1880; Edgar Degas. "Three Musicians" 1921; Pablo Picasso. "The starry Night" 1889; Vincent van Gogh.

We made copies of the chosen works, and every student had the opportunity to discuss the different elements found in the work. We looked for details, discussed colors, inspiration, and brushstroke. We looked for similarities and differences among the different artworks. We finally discussed what elements contributed to the "mood" of each artwork. 

Each student created a template for her/his cat.

We used black sharpies, markers, oil pastels and water colors.

The Starry Night Vincent van Gogh

Tree of Life Gustav Klimt

Waterlilies Claude Monet 

Exotic Landscape Henri Rousseau 

Green Dancer Edgar Degas

Three Musicians Pablo Picasso

Hermitage Paul Klee

Four Cut Flowers Vincent van Gogh 

Woman in Front of the Sun Joan Miro

(KG) Exploring the work of Yayoi Kusama

The students looked at images of Yayoi Kusama's work, and they loved how she used dots in her paintings and sculptures. We learned that, when she was ten, her mother took away her brushes and canvases because it was not culturally acceptable for a young Japanese girl to paint. However, she was determined to become an artist and her dream brought her to New York. She relates: "When I first arrived in New York, I went to the top of the Empire State Building. Seeing this big city, I promised myself that one day I would conquer New York and make my name in the world with my passion for the arts and mountains of creative energy stored inside myself."

When examining her body of work, we learned that she worked in a wide variety of mediums; including painting, sculpture, collage, and environmental installations. She used vibrant colors with an emphasis in repetition and pattern. Needless to say, the students loved her dots and her beautiful colors.

 We discussed how she created interesting patterns by combining a variety of colors with different sizes of dots. 

The artist Yayoi Kusama

Yayoi Kusama

My dot examples

Some students decided to use their initials to create their dot composition. 

We used color pencils for the letters and oil pastels for the background. 

We discussed how we had to leave a space in between the dots.

This was not an easy task. 

Understanding how to use different sizes dots.

Learning that making dots is not as easy as it looks.

Some students felt more comfortable using markers.

Using our fingers to create the dot background.

It was interesting to listen to students advising each other that the dots had to look like circles and not ovals.

After viewing this video, we discussed how Yayoi Kusama used installations to exhibit her thematic interest
in dots, colors, patterns, and scale.

Yayoi Kusama

Interpreting Kusama's sculptural flower using finger painting.

The student drew a flower with color pencils, and added the dots following the lines.

Student comment: "I have no space left, and so I have to place my dots on top of other dots."

Learning how things that are closer to us are bigger and smaller when they are further away.

Choosing a picture out of a magazine in order to create a dot composition. 

Using both markers and finger painting to complete this artwork.

This student tried so hard to create the different sizes of dots. 

Yayoi Kusama

I had two pair of shoes, one for tap dancing and the other one for ballet donated last year.

I knew we would find a way to use these two pairs of shoes in a project one day. 

When we looked at Yayoi Kusama's shoes, we knew the day had come for these shoes to be used.

 Using one tap shoe to create "the pink and yellow dot tap shoe." 

Carefully working to have space between the dots. 

This student completed the other shoe of the tap shoe pair.

We glued the "yellow and red tap shoe" on the dot-decorated tile.

Working on decorating a ballet shoe.

We attached the shoe on a wooden surface.