Lesson Plan #4:  The Studio Palette:  Constructing a Three-Dimensional Chair

 Instructional Objectives:

 1. Students will construct a 3-dimensional cardboard chair reflecting the style of a “modern artist”.

2. Students will creatively paint, using tempera and acrylic, and design their chairs using the color palettes, patterns and brushstrokes of their artist.

3. Students will exhibit their work and “guess” the modern artist “Who’s Been Sitting in My Chair?”

Time Required:  Day 9 –25. (See Timeline)  40 minute periods

Materials: assorted cardboards, paper towel rolls, oak tag, scissors, masking and scotch tapes, hot glue gun and glue sticks, tempera/acrylic paints, brushes, water cups, newspaper, pencils

Motivation: Classroom posters of Impressionist – Modern artists.

Vocabulary:  sculpture, construction, 3-dimensional, architecture

Procedure:  (Play CDs  “A Walk in the Garden,” “Watching the Night Fall,” and” Jackson Pollock Jazz” as background music, while students are building their chairs.) (see Resource List)

  1. Using posters for reference and after teacher demonstration of chair construction, students will begin their 3-dimensional chairs, noting the variation in shapes, size and color.

2. Students will be asked:

 “How can your chair reflect the artist’s style?” They will respond by determining what characteristics are unique to the artist they have chosen, by reviewing their chair design color sketches and noting what is easily recognizable. For example:

	Van Gogh – thick swirls of color
	Mondrian – large flat geometric shapes
	Pollock – splattered paint

“How can the shape of the chair remind you of that artist?”
(a heart, or an artist’s palette for a Monet waterlily, expressive leaves of a Van Gogh sunflower, or a clock face for a Dali…)

 “How is van Gogh’s sunflower different from a real sunflower?”
(his is more expressive and fiery; he uses his trademark of thick, swirling, brush strokes)

“What architectural elements are important to your design?"
 (chair cabriole legs vs. straight leg, arched or round back, arm rest or no rest)

Working individually, students will design, construct, and assemble a 3- dimensional sculptural chair based on student observation and sketchpad design. (See Timeline Day 9-16)

3. Upon completion of a 3-dimensional cardboard chair, students are now able to use tempera paint to further reflect the style of a modern artist. Proper painting procedures will be reviewed.

4. As the teacher walks around the classroom, she reviews students’ sketches and makes recommendations as to how to best use color and brushstroke to reflect their individual artist’s style. Students will creatively paint, using tempera and acrylic, and design their chairs using the color palettes, patterns, and brushstrokes of their artist.

5. Based upon the teacher review and recommendation, students continue working on capturing the “essence of the artist” through creative use of paint. The art of Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Surrealism, Pop Art and Modern Art styles will all be explored through these chairs.

 Evaluation Strategy: The chairs are now displayed in front of the classroom for purposes of both teacher and peer evaluation and discussion.  Students will exhibit their work and “guess” the modern artist “Who’s Been Sitting in My Chair?”

Steps:  Teacher-made questions are written on board for students to copy an answer for the first half of one class period.

1. What similarities and differences do you find in the work of van Gogh and Gauguin?
 (Van Gogh is more concerned with his expressive and powerful use of color as he applied heavy, thick swirls of color to his subject matter. Gauguin painted with flatter, more decorative color and used unexpected angles.)

2. How do you feel about painting, now that you’ve “sat in a modern art chair”? Explain.   
(Students will now be able to interpret and appreciate the unique painting style of their chosen artist.)

3. How did the relationship between van Gogh and Gauguin play an important part of art history? 
(Their relationship brought in a period of artistic interaction.  They used new materials and mediums to create their work. These glorious painters were now compelled to be more creative.)

4. How did your visits to The Art Institute of Chicago and the van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam help you with this project?
(Students are now given the opportunity to experience paintings and become more familiar with these artists.)

-          “I like the “Apricot Trees in Blossom” by van Gogh.  They look so peaceful, even though he had problems. I can kind of relate to the painting.”  -Regina

-           “ Gauguin’s paintings were very colorful.  He drew his pictures with his imagination.  I liked it because he drew his face in an unusual way.” - Eric                    

 5. Which chairs do you like best? Why?              

Students exchange papers. Class review and discussion follow.  Chairs are now ready for display in our class showcase and at our annual Spring Art Fair.