Submitted by: Ken Schwab,
formerly of Leigh
High School, San Jose CA
Unit: Painting/Collage - Robert Rauschenberg
Lesson Plan: Abstract Expressionism
Grade Level: High school 9 thru 12
Ken's Web Site: http://www.artteacherplans.com/
Objectives: Students will
1. Gain an understanding and appreciation of abstract expressionism -
Learn how an artist works/gets ideas.
2. Combine collage with painting techniques to create a composition
around a selected theme.
3. Integrate technology - use Internet to locate images.
4. Employ elements and principles of design in creation of abstract
composition.
Materials:
Canvas
(Stretched Canvas
/ stretcher
strips or Canvas Board)
Acrylic Paint
Collage items, photos, printouts
Pencils
Brushes- assorted sizes flats and round (brights)
White Glue (or Acrylic gloss medium
)
Scissors
Resources:
Robert
Rauschenberg Online Pop
Art Abstract
Expressionism
Jasper Johns - http://www.whitney.org/Collection/JasperJohns
This work is somewhat autobiographical. Close-up of Racing Thoughts http://www.artchive.com/artchive/J/johns/racing.jpg.html
DVD: Robert Rauschenberg - Man at Work
DVD: Robert Rauschenberg - Inventive Genius
Books
Rauschenberg: Art and Life
- This revised edition of the classic biography of the artist, first published in 1994, adds 36 new pages to cover the significant moments in the last ten years of his career, including his monumental career retrospective at the Guggenheim in 1997.
Robert Rauschenberg (Moma Artist Series)
- This new volume in the MoMA Artist Series, which explores important artists and favorite works in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art, guides readers through a dozen of the artist's most memorable achievements.
Instruction/Motivation:
1. Present work of Robert Rauschenberg (through slides or Power Point).
Discuss/critique art
prints.
2. Show video of Rauschenberg at work
(if available).
3. Present the idea of "theme". Instruct students to look for
photographs and found objects from
home.
4. Give students time on the Internet to locate images. Students who do
not need images may do
research on Rauschenberg
5. Demonstrate collage technique (transfers may also be made as
indicated on Liquitex
Site).
Review painting techniques.
Procedures:
1. Look at the work of
Robert Rauschenberg. Study
the use of large painted areas with collage of pictures and found items.
The use of vertical horizontal movement and the quick loose brush
strokes. Find a theme or
concept to paint. Collect
pictures and/or real items to use in the collage. If you are using the Internet, the printers today do not all
use waterproof inks so these will blur, but who cares! It is expressionistic and this is ok to blur.
2. Plan out the placement
of the pictures to have an area of emphasis and to create directional
movement and rhythm. Remove
these and start with some quick brush strokes to set the paintings
movement and direction. Follow
this with the lamination of the photos and printouts, using white glue and
a big brush. Layer the glue
and water over and under the photos quickly so as not to blur them.
(Gloss acrylic medium may also be used. Apply a thin layer of medium to
canvas - smooth on image and allow to dry. When dry - brush medium over
the images - this limits blurring the printer ink. Students may want to
try the method
explained by Liquitex). Student who do not want their images to blur
may have them printed on a laser printer or color photocopier (as these
inks will not blur as much). Collage elements could be added from
magazines or old books.
3. After these dry begin
to paint into the pictures and outside of them to tie these together.
Balancing of values, colors and shapes will help pull it al together.
Keep loose and free acrylic will cover itself and it is only
finished when you decide.
4. Adding of real objects
and things can be done with a hot glue gun.
Remember to have fun and think of compositional rules.
Take a look at Rauschenberg examples often to point out good design
and composition as well as his technique.
Evaluation:
1. Did students show an understanding of the work of Robert
Rauschenberg - Were they able to
critique selected works and see how the elements and
principles of design apply?
2. Did students employ the elements and principles of design to create
an abstract composition
around a selected theme combining collage with painting?
