Students learn about the life and art of William H. Johnson and understand how the Harlem Renaissance influenced art and American culture. Students create a painting in the style of William H. Johnson and incorporate pattern and movement in their piece.
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THE PLAN
Students learn about the life and art of William H. Johnson and understand how the Harlem Renaissance influenced art and American culture.
Students create a painting in the style of Johnson and incorporate pattern and movement in their piece.
1. Introduce the life and art of William H. Johnson using a teacher-made PowerPoint, posters of his work, slides, or smart board technology. There are several web quests available online if time allows...check out a few of them in the resources section. I allow students to take notes in their sketchbooks.
2. Get in the mood! Play some music from that time period that will get the students feet moving and allow students to dance. You may choose to play a video first of a couple dancing the jitterbug so they may see what it looks like first. I let students choose whether or not they would like to dance alone or with a partner. As the students are dancing the teacher should walk around the room and take pictures of the students dancing. Print the pictures for the students to use the following week.
3. Students should study their photograph to observe the lines of their body and how movement and expression is created. Look at where the arms and legs are, feet, facial expression, movement of the clothing and hair, etc... Students will draw what they see in their sketchbooks to practice. At this point I remind students that Johnson did not draw realistically so if their body parts look cartoonish it is alright.
4. Demonstrate painting techniques by layering paint colors first and adding pattern, texture, and detail later.
5. Students begin to draw on the tag board and when ready may start to paint.
6. When finished students may present their work in class critique and/or art show.
Did the student draw their portrait using a photograph? Did the student add movement in their drawing and can you tell if the person is dancing? Did the student add repetition and pattern? Is the student able to identify a William H. Johnson painting and tell some background information about his life?
The book, Li'L Sis and Uncle Willie: A Story Based on the Life and Paintings of William H. Johnson by Gwen Everett
Here are some more examples from my students...http://www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?exhibit=60668
Discussion questions:
1, Did history, culture, and the visual arts influence South Carolina artist William H. Johnson?
2. What impact did the Harlem Renaissance have on African Americans?
3.What is the significance of this period in African American history?
4. Look at one of Johnson's paintings...describe the elements you see in the work (i.e., line movement, light, space, repetition...).
followup activities:
Students may learn about other artists of that time such as Romare Bearden and Jacob Lawrence.
Connect art, music, dance, and poetry/literature in a cross-curriculum production. Art teachers can collaborate with the students' class room teacher, music, dance/P.E. teacher to produce literature, poetry, music, and dance of the Harlem Renaissance in a school production.
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