The complete site for art teachers, art students, artists, and parents. The Incredible Art Department | incredibleart.org  
Incredible Art Lessons
..lessons Art Stuff Teacher Toolbox Resources Art Jobs Cartoons Art News Art Rooms Community Pet Peeves Art Supplies
      Join   |   Contact   |   History   |   Submit a Lesson

Menu

Lessons Home

Lessons by Grade Level

Early Childhood Lessons

Elementary Lessons

Jr High/Middle School

High School Lessons

Undergraduate Lessons

Elementary Substitute

Middle School - Substitute

Lesson Idea Pages

Drama and Art

Art Test

Art Games

More Lessons

Files for Sharing







Figure Drawing

MonaLesson Plan Submitted by Madeline Buonagurio
Elementary teacher at Roosevelt/Washington/Jefferson Schools in North Arlington, NJ.
Grades: 2nd grade


Materials:

  • 12x18 white drawing paper
  • pencil
  • permanent black marker
  • watercolor markers

Comments:

This is a culminating activity for a figure drawing unit. The children have already created gesture and contour drawings. They enjoy taking turns modeling for the class. The results can be exceptional.

matisse purple robe painting
 
Henri Matisse, The Purple Robe. Click on the image for larger size.  

Discussion

  1. Display Henri Matisse's Purple Robe.
  2. Discuss the repetition of a color throughout the picture.
  3. Show how the color repetition makes your eye follow that color through the picture.
  4. Discuss the patterns used in the various areas of the picture: foreground, background, dress, robe, and vase.
  5. Point out how Matisse used only two colors for each pattern.

Procedure:

  1. Choose a student to model for the class. Stand the student model on a desk in front of the classroom.
  2. Draw a contour drawing of the model. The drawing should touch the top and bottom of the paper.
  3. Outline the contour drawing with black marker.
  4. Draw a line separating the floor and the wall with the black marker.
  5. Add patterns to the figure drawing, the floor and the wall with the black marker.
  6. Color each pattern in two colors using watercolor markers. Choose contrasting colors for the figure, foreground and background.
Vocabulary:

  • figure
  • contour
  • pattern
  • repetition
  • foreground
  • background
  • contrast
  • Henri Matisse

Links

Henri Matisse- Web Museum's site.

Hanri Matisse Gallery- These are high resolution pictures of his work.

Add to or Comment on this Lesson



IAD is sponsored by Princeton Online

Copyright The Incredible Art Department / Ken Rohrer © 2010 | About