Art of the Orient: Chinese Scroll Painting

HOW IT WORKS
Art of the Orient: Chinese Scroll Painting is an interdisciplinary program using the Social Studies curriculum as an impetus to Fine Arts lessons. Students study the cultural background of the Orient during Social Studies periods, while working on their Chinese scroll painting in their Art class. During class discussions, students share ideas about the important cultural contributions the Chinese have made in our society. Through readings and web research, students discover that it is the Chinese who are credited with the invention of the kite and compass, and how meditation and religion influence their art. We begin with a reading comprehension assignment using the textbook Understanding Art by Mittler & Ragans. Students are introduced to scroll paintings and learn that they are long rolls of illustrated parchment that are hung or read like a book. Through further investigations,  and as homework assignments, students are asked to explore a variety of web sites, including a virtual tour of Chinese paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art:

 www.metmuseum.org/explore/chinese/html_pages/elegant3.htm.

Students begin sketching ideas for their own scrolls, using the Chinese themes of landscape, flowers, bamboo, dragons, and birds. They begin to study pictographs and practice the art of Chinese calligraphy. Using watercolor as their art medium, along with pen and ink, students creatively  design an original Oriental scroll painting illustrating a theme based on nature. Completed painted scrolls are mounted on wooden dowels and hung with string. A classroom gallery of Oriental art is displayed for final evaluation and class visits.

THE STUDENTS
Two sixth-grade major art talent classes participate in this program. The students meet in the art room four times per week, for forty-minute periods. This program can easily be adapted for other grade levels. Library visits are scheduled at the beginning of the lesson. 

THE STAFF
Lori Langsner has taught Fine Art on the junior and middle school level for the past 22 years. She has been voted Teacher of the Year and is affiliated with Teachers Network, with many of her lessons published on their web site. With Dr. Pat Shea-Bischoff, she recently completed a streaming project, Monsters and Myths, which can be seen at Teachers Network Instruction Videos.

WHAT  YOU NEED
A school library setup with a computer featuring Internet access is necessary. Students may use home-computer Internet access as well. The art room has large worktables with an art supply and storage closet. Photocopies of ‘pictographs’ are teacher-made. Required materials include 6''x 9'' white rice paper, pencils, watercolor washes, black India ink, paintbrushes, water cups, newspaper, dowels, string, wallpaper, and glue. 

OVERALL VALUE
Art of the Orient: Chinese Scroll Painting lends itself easily to many subject areas. Students are given the opportunity to explore web sites and actual museum collections. Through reading and responding to new information, and through analysis and interpretation, students are able to create their own works of art in the authentic Chinese style. They have valuable discussions and gain insight into the art of the Orient. 

Standards addressed include: Creating and Participating in the Arts, Knowing and Using Art Materials and Resources, Responding to and Analyzing Works of Art, and Understanding the Cultural Contributions of the Arts.