Instructional Materials: Reproductions of works by Klimt, especially those that are highly embellished and ornamental.  Caution - Klimt's images should be chosen carefully as they are often of the female form. Handouts on Klimt and Art Nouveau The Grammar of Ornament by Owen James Student Examples Supplies: Gold Scratchboard (board not paper) Scratch knives and holders Magazines Glue (regular UHU glue sticks work)

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9.1.B Recognize, know, use and demonstrate a variety of appropriate art elements and principles to produce original works in the arts.

9.1.H Demonstrate and maintain materials, equipment and tools safely.

9.2.C Relate works in the arts to varying styles and genre and to the periods in which they were created.

Lesson Summary:  

This is one of Kris's  favorite middle school lessons that involves lines, textures, gold scratchboard and the Austrian artist, Gustav Klimt.  I titled my workshop, Elegant Art Nouveau.

Students  create an elegant drawing in the ornamental, decorative and luxurious style of Klimt.  In preparation for this lesson, Kris created handouts to be given to each student/table.  One handout dealt with the art history, both of Klimt and Art Nouveau.  This information was readily available on the Internet.  Another excellent source was Helen Hume's book, Art History and Appreciation Activities Kit.  She included a student worksheet on Descriptive Line, that gave examples of different types of line, such as, diagonal, horizontal, vertical and zigzag.

Introduction/Motivation:

1. Present PowerPoint of work by Gustav Klimt. Provide handout of biography and short notes on Art Nouveau. Present a few other examples of Art Nouveau art. Show example of Art Nouveau patterns and motifs.
2. Instruct student to create several patterns and experiment with patterns on scrap scratchboards. 
3. Demonstrate proper use of scratch tools.

• From a magazine cut out the head and hands of a human figure, this can be a man, woman or child. Glue these pieces to the gold scratchboard (Note: Self portrait digital images could be used.) Boys may be motivated to select sports heroes or rock stars.
• Begin by scratching out an organic shape that
  suggests a garment. This garment dos not need to be realistic...
• After you draw the garment you will have two areas to fill...the garment and the background around the garment. See Detail
• One of these areas must be densely and richly patterned using lines and textures.   The other area will be covered less densely.  This will emphasize one area more than the other.
• Keep the unscratched area of the scratchboard covered with a clean sheet of paper to prevent oils from your fingers transferring to the surface of the board.
• Begin to fill one of the two areas with patterns, lines, textures and shapes.   Refer to the Descriptive Line worksheet for ideas and also the book, The Grammar of Ornament, for inspiration.
• Fill the other area.
• Check to see if the two areas are distinctly different.  Does one stand out more than another?  If they are too similar, go back and add more details to the dense shape.

NOTE: Jeannie Sandoval's students created some stunning self portraits using this lesson. They began with digital images of themselves.

Submitted by Mike Sacco, Paul J. Gelinas Junior High Mr. Sacco's 8th grade class looked to Austrian Art Nouveau painter Gustave Klimt for inspiration in creating these scratchboard and collage portraits. Line, shape, pattern, and the design principle known as Emphasis were the focus of this lesson. Utilizing Klimt's trademark gold color and intricate pattern work, students had to create designs where their figure was the focal point in their design. This was accomplished by establishing contrast between the pattern work in the figure and in the background. Students used scratch knives to carefully scratch away the black ink that is applied to the gold board.

Gustav Klimt [Austrian Art Nouveau Painter, 1862-1918] - Artcyclopedia:
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/klimt_gustav.html

Gustav Klimt - Web Museum:
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/klimt/

Expo-Klimt - Online Museum:
http://www.expo-klimt.com/

Gustav Klimt - Artchive - essay and links to images:
http://www.artchive.com/artchive/K/klimt.html

Gustav Klimt Art Gallery - personal web site - has biography - and 114
images of his work - View images for suitability:
http://vortex1.no-ip.com/klimt/1klimt.htm or
http://www.magma.ca/~alexxi/klimt/1klimt.htm

Gustav Klimt Landscapes - from Clark Art Institute
http://www.clarkart.edu/klimt/klimt/