Lesson Plan and Artwork By Phyllis M. Annett,

Art Consultant, New Jersey

www.saxarts.com | Phone: 1-800-558-6696 | Fax: 1-888-388-6344

Grades 9-12Cross- Curricular - Art, Science and Art History

Lesson Plan and Artwork

Description: Artists throughout history have depicted the landscape around them in various times of day to create a unique quality of light in their work. During the mid nineteenth century the Hudson River School of painters achieved great effects of light in their work by depicting various atmospheric conditions. Learning from these artists, students will achieve atmospheric illusion in a collaborative mural landscape on black canvas.

Objective:Students will collaborate, study and create an atmospheric landscape mural by observing the works of others and their own surroundings. Students will recognize that Earth Science, and Art History are very much a part of the Visual Arts.

Directions:Gather photos or posters of the Hudson River School of Art Artists depicting their ‘Luminism’ style of painting which emphasizes a unique quality of light. The Hudson River School of Artists include: Thomas Cole, Frederic Edwin Church, Albert Bierstadt, Asher B. Durand, and Frederick Kensett, who painted in the Hudson River Valley, Catskills, Adirondack and White Mountains of Eastern New York.

Black Mural Canvas

Atmospheric Landscapes

Inspire. Create. Imagine. Grow.

A Member of the

www.saxarts.com call toll free 1-800-558-6696 or fax 1-888-388-6344

10606 5/12

n

orks of others and their own surroundings

10606 Black Mural Canvas Lesson Plan 051512.indd 110606 Black Mural Canvas Lesson Plan 051512.indd 1 5/16/12 6:50 AM5/16/12 6:50 AM

With the Student:Show pictures of the Hudson River School of Art’s ‘Luminism’ Style of landscape painting which were painted during the mid nineteenth century. Tell the students that many of these painting were started with very dark surfaces. They focused on a central radiance, darkening its surroundings and created refl ected light on the middle distance, leaving the foreground for more sharp detail. Pick paintings that would show the effects of light on the earth in various times of day or atmospheric conditions such as: sunsets, night skies, mist, turbulent clouds, rain, dusk, and dawn.

Tell the students that they will be using Metallic Acrylic Paint, Gel Medium and Metallic Inks over Black Mural Canvas to create an Atmospheric Landscape. Stress the fact that they can achieve this goal by emphasizing more atmospheric illusion, rather than depicting extreme detail.

Explain and demonstrate how a black canvas will affect the color of paint that is used.

Talk about ‘Mural’ Art work and how it will involve cooperation and collaboration of a group of artist to achieve a particular goal. Give examples of murals in the area, such as those on the outside of buildings that transform a space into something very interesting.

Review the basic landscape structure of background, middle group and foreground. Tell students that their Mural can be a cityscape or that of a pastoral setting.

Divide the class into ‘Mural Teams’. Each team will be responsible for a particular section of the landscape such as background, middle ground, and foreground.

Have the students plan and sketch ideas for an Atmospheric Landscape. Have the groups discuss what subjects are in a landscape depending what the scene is about.

Have students think about how trees and mountains and foliage are affected in different lighting according to atmospheric conditions.

Demonstrate the use of Gel Mediums to enhance the paintings. These will give an illusion of depths and an ethereal mood to the work, as colors are overlaid. Layers of gloss and heavy gel can be applied to give a more effective illusion of depth and light. Show the students how to fl oat layers of color with the permanent inks to give another kind of atmosphere in their work.

Remind the students to keep referring to the Hudson River paintings to guide them along.

Use large brushes to lay down the basic colors and smaller ones to suggest detail. Don’t get bogged down in tiny detail.

Show students different brush techniques to give shadow and form to their work.

Stress that the murals are to be a collaborative project recognizing the contribution of each member of the mural team.

When all are completed, lead the students into a discussion of each work and how the atmospheric illusions were achieved.

National Standards:Content Standard 1: Understanding and applying media, techniques and processes.

Content Standard 2: Using knowledge of structures and functions.

Content Standard 3: Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols and ideas.

Content Standard 5: Refl ecting upon and assessing the characteristic and merits of their work and the work of others.

Content Standard 6: Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines.

MaterialsSax® Black Mural Canvas

1428721 Individual Size

1428720 Classroom Size

409187 Sargent Art® Liquid Metal™ Acrylics, 4 oz. Set of 6

405594 Sargent Art® Liquid Metal™ Acrylics, 8 oz. Set of 6

1398009 Liquitex® Professional Acrylic Ink , Metallic Set of 6

1290947 Golden Heavy Gel Medium (Gloss), 8 oz.

1290955 Golden Polymer Medium (Gloss), 8 oz.

409376 Reeves™ Painting Knives, Set of 6

404637 Sax® Optimum Golden Taklon Brushes, 72 Canister Set

Sax® Bristilina White Konex Brushes

445022 Size 8 Flat, Each

445043 Size 8 Round, Each

445028 Size 12 Flat, Each

445049 Size 12 Round, Each

1294786 Grey Matters™ Paper Palettes, 9" x 12", 50 Sheets

10606 Black Mural Canvas Lesson Plan 051512.indd 210606 Black Mural Canvas Lesson Plan 051512.indd 2 5/16/12 6:50 AM5/16/12 6:50 AM