What the heck is that artist up to?
(In conjunction with Building an Art History Timeline)
Grades 7-12

Materials:

• Pencil
• Printing paper (standard and glossy photo), scratch paper
• Word (or other document software)

Resources:

• Computer with Internet access and color printer
• Handouts: example of short biography with bibliography  (student handout)
• Optional: books and digital camera or scanner

Vocabulary:

• Search engines - Internet programs to search by keywords for relevant sites
• Keyword - descriptive words to use with search engines (e.g., "+art +picasso +images")
• Jpeg, GIF - formats of graphic images on web sites
• Biography - life history of a person
• Bibliography - list of sources for research paper
• Expressionism - art style that portrays emotions or elicits an emotional (Frankenthaler, 
   Pollock, Joan Mitchell )
• Surrealism - art style where the objects are distorted or in odd juxtapositions to each 
   other (Dali, de Chirico, Magritte)
• Naturalistic representation - object in artwork looks like object being represented
• Abstract art - Mondrian, Rothko, O'Keefe)
• Pop art - art style that uses and "glorifies" images from popular culture (Warhol, 
   Lichtenstein, Johns)
• Marginalized art - art that has traditionally not been accepted by the mainstream art 
   culture (Chicago, Kahlo, folk art, art of people with disabilities, African and/or Asian art)
• Copyright - Fair Use Guidelines

Overview:

Each student will look up an artist on the Internet and choose an artwork (medium of artwork depends on the art-making assignment) to print and talk about. Each student will write a short biography (with a bibliography) of the artist. (Biography and print will be placed on the timeline.)

INTRODUCTION

Objectives (Arkansas Dept. of Education Art Standards):

• Identify different styles used for artwork, including non-traditional artistic styles (1.1.8, 
  1.2.10)
• Use the search engines on the Internet to research an artist (1.3.8)
• Write a short biography of artist and the culture, including bibliography (1.2.10, 1.3.12
• Identify artwork and print out hard copy - save information about image - learn about 
  copyright and fair use of images
• Present to class an artist and artist's use of techniques in artwork

Introduction:

• Describe the process and the objectives of the assignment
• Show reproductions of art work of different "schools" of thought, including non-traditional 
   artistic styles
• Discuss the relation of the styles to the impact of the work
• Discuss biographies and purpose of bibliography
• Biography will include dates and place of birth and death, significant events in the artist's life (e.g., schooling, friends, economic situation, health), social and political events (e.g., war, scientific and geographic discoveries, attitude of culture), and a brief critique of artist's artistic influences and stylistic growth

Demonstration:

• Demonstrate use of search engine, downloading and printing images, saving
  bibliography information

STUDENT ACTIVITY

Research and report (See student handout):
• Search on Internet for artist and artwork to report on
• Gather information and write, using word processor, a one page biography with attached
   bibliography
• Give oral report to class on artist and how he or she used pencil or lines in their drawing (or whatever element/principle you are discussing).
• Place in correct spot of timeline - include image documentation on the artist's work.

Critique:

• Discuss the artists on the timeline in relation to each other

Critique questions:

• What problems did you have with searching for artists and/or using the Internet?
• Why did you choose the artist that you did? What would you ask the artist if you had a  
   chance to meet?
• What differences and similarities do you see between the artists?
• What did you learn? What was the reason for this assignment?
• How else could you use the Internet for finding out information?
• Why is copyright important? What is Fair Use? Why should we respect an artist's or 
   institutions copyright?