Van Gogh Snow Day

Exploring Trees, Snow, and Vincent van Gogh: A Step-by-Step Video Art Lesson
Objective: Students will be able to create a winter landscape art piece inspired by Vincent van Gogh, incorporating trees and snow using step-by-step video instructions.
Assessment:
Students will submit their completed winter landscape artwork, demonstrating their understanding of color mixing, brush techniques, and the elements of art as inspired by Vincent van Gogh's style.
Key Points:
Vincent van Gogh's Style: Recognize the characteristics of van Gogh's artwork, including bold colors and expressive brushstrokes.
Elements of Art: Understand and apply elements such as line, shape, and color in creating their artwork.
Winter Landscapes: Explore the visual features of winter scenes, focusing on trees and snow.
Color Mixing: Learn how to mix colors to create various shades of blue and white for snow and the sky.
Brush Techniques: Practice different brush techniques to achieve texture in the trees and snow.
Opening:
Begin with a brief discussion about winter and the beauty of snowy landscapes.
Show a few images of van Gogh's winter scenes to pique interest.
Ask students, "What do you notice about the trees and snow in these paintings?"
Engage students by inviting them to share their experiences of winter and drawing their favorite winter scenes.
Introduction to New Material:
Introduce Vincent van Gogh and provide a short biography related to his artwork.
Discuss the significance of color and brush technique in his paintings.
Show a step-by-step video of creating a winter landscape, highlighting:
The use of color mixing for snow and trees.
Techniques for applying paint to create texture.
Common Misconception: Some students may think that trees in winter are only brown and white. Clarify that trees can have various colors and textures even in winter.
Guided Practice:
Model the first steps of the painting process on a whiteboard or canvas.
Have students follow along, starting with the background and then moving to the trees.
Scaffold questioning:
"What colors do you see in the trees?"
"How can we mix colors to create shadows?"
"What brush technique can we use for snow?"
Monitor performance by circulating the room, providing feedback, and assisting students as needed.
Independent Practice:
Students will complete their winter landscape paintings independently.
Set behavioral expectations for focused work time, encouraging them to ask questions if they need help.
Remind students to incorporate elements of van Gogh’s style and techniques discussed.
Closing:
Have students participate in a gallery walk, displaying their artworks.
Each student shares one thing they learned about color and technique in their paintings.
Recap the lesson by asking students how they used van Gogh’s style in their work.
Extension Activity:
For students who finish early, provide additional materials to create a second artwork featuring a different season or time of day, using the same techniques learned.
Homework:
Assign students to write a short paragraph about their favorite part of the lesson and what they learned about Vincent van Gogh’s art style.
Standards Addressed:
Tennessee Art K-12 Standard 1: Students demonstrate a range of skills and techniques in visual arts.
Tennessee Art K-12 Standard 3: Students create artworks that communicate their ideas and emotions.