CREATING CUBISM – Shape, Colour, Harmony

Students use acrylic paint to create a cubist style painting. 

Required Time

180 Minutes

Grade Level

Grade 7 to Grade 10

Subject

Visual Arts

Vocabulary

analogous colours contour drawing cool colours cubism overlapping pattern unity variety warm colours

Materials

Tracing Paper Crayola Acrylic Paint Still Life Objects Drawing Pencils HB, 6B Water Containers White Paper

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Steps

CREATING CUBISM – Shape, Colour, Harmony - Step One

Step One

Make contour drawings of three still life objects on white paper with an HB pencil.

CREATING CUBISM – Shape, Colour, Harmony - Step Two

Step Two

Trace the three objects on a piece of tracing paper.

CREATING CUBISM – Shape, Colour, Harmony - Step Three

Step Three

Move the tracing paper over the objects to create new lines and shapes.

CREATING CUBISM – Shape, Colour, Harmony - Step Four

Step Four

Fill the tracing paper with lines and shapes.

CREATING CUBISM – Shape, Colour, Harmony - Step Five

Step Five

Turn the tracing paper over and draw over all the lines with a 6B pencil.

CREATING CUBISM – Shape, Colour, Harmony - Step Six

Step Six

Tape the corners of the tracing paper to watercolour paper. Be sure the 6B pencil lines are against the watercolour paper. Draw over all the lines to copy the drawing onto the watercolour paper.

 

CREATING CUBISM – Shape, Colour, Harmony - Step Seven

Step Seven

Check periodically to see that the lines are transferring to the watercolour paper.

CREATING CUBISM – Shape, Colour, Harmony - Step Eight

Step Eight

Begin filling the shapes with acrylic paint.

CREATING CUBISM – Shape, Colour, Harmony - Step Nine

Step Nine

Finish the artwork by outlining the lines with a marker. 

Learning Goals

     Students will be able to:

  1. Identify the characteristics of Cubism;
  2. Create a Cubist style painting using contour drawings and acrylic paint;
  3. Use colour and line to create harmony in a design;
  4. Repeat and overlap shapes to create a balanced design;
  5. Demonstrate technical accomplishment and creative thinking; and
  6. Support their ideas with evidence found in the works.

Extensions

  1. Have students practice still life drawing using a light source. Include a variety of drawing techniques such as contour, gesture and scumbling. 
  2. Have students create a colour wheel using the lesson available on this website. 
    Colour Wheel

Prepare

  1. Prior to this lesson provide time for students to practice contour drawing.
  2. Gather and display books about cubism, for example, Cubism: The Leonard A. Lauder Collection, by Emily Braun, Cubism, by Anne Ganteführer-Trier, Cubism: Odysseys in Art, by Shannon Robinson
  3. Gather a variety of objects of different heights and shapes. 
  4. Download images and information from the Internet,                         
    MET 
    TATE
    Guggenheim
  5. Preview the video about modern art available on the Internet.
    Video - Modern Art

Introduction

  1. View the video introducing modern art with the class. Discuss the ideas and issues that were important at the time. Compare those ideas with what is happening in the lives of students today.
  2. Highlight key ideas of the Cubist movement in art.
  3. Display several Cubist paintings.
  4. Create a list of objects students see within the paintings.
  5. List the characteristics of Cubism.
  6. Analyse a Cubist painting.
  7. Introduce the Challenge.

Activities

The Challenge

  1. Identify the characteristics of Cubism.
  2. Create a Cubist style painting using contour drawings of 3 still life objects and acrylic paint.
  3. Use colour and line to create harmony in your design.
  4. Repeat and overlap shapes to create a balanced design.
  5. Demonstrate technical accomplishment and creative thinking. 
  6. Support your ideas with evidence found in the works.

The Process

  1. Make sure everyone understands the challenge.
  2. Guide students through the steps outlined in this lesson plan.
    - Demonstrate how to make contour drawings of three objects.
    - Demonstrate moving the tracing paper around the drawing to create new lines and shapes.
    - Encourage students to continue moving the tracing paper until the paper is filled with lines and shapes.
    - Remind students to eliminate lines that have created an area that is too complex or to add lines if a space is too empty.
  3. Observe students as they work.
  4. Remind students to stop and view their work from a distance so they can see it with fresh eyes. 
  5. Provide individual assistance and encouragement.

Sharing

  1. Have students create a 'Cubism' gallery with their art works.
  2. Ask students to view the works on display and discuss which aspect of a work is most successful and why. Encourage them to support their ideas with evidence they find in the works. Remind them to think about what they have learned about the Cubist style and make connections.
  3. Ask students to think about and discuss their own creative process and how they worked through this project.

Assessment

  1. Observe students as they work  – thoughtful focus, discriminating, seeking more information, elaborating, experimenting
  2. Observe students as they discuss the art works – active listening, insightful contributions, supporting ideas with evidence found in the artwork and from personal experience.
  3. Use a checklist to track progress. (Download - CUBISM_tracking.pdf)
  4. Have students use the self-assessment form to evaluate their work. (Download - CUBISM_self-assessment.pdf)

Downloads

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