Magnification inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe

My grade 6 art class began the year with magnification. I started with the concept of still life drawings by displaying a single flower in a glass jar. Other than the fantastic opportunities to teach drawing techniques and perception (such as showing reflection, how the stem appears through the glass, recognising curved and straight lines, etc), it is great introduction into magnification.

Students then selected an area that they wanted to magnify...

Presenting Georgia O'Keeffe's beautiful paintings is good at this point. Students are fascinated with how her paintings can be interpreted in a variety of ways....we know that they are generally flowers but could they be an erupting volcano or a mysterious forest, etc.

 'Music - Pink and Blue II' Georgia O'Keeffe

Many students at this age level are started to beleive they can't do art, they are not good a painting or drawing, so I only give one simple instruction for their painting project.

1. Show gradients in your painting - a variety of hues of the same colour. Why? It gives depth and reminds the students about mixing and blending colours well.

 Grade 6 art work

 Grade 6 art work

Together the paintings were bright, cheerful and examples of simple abstractions. Very effective introduction into the year!!

More paintings...