Born to Be WILD Fauvist Landscapes in Acrylics and Oil Pastel This lesson combines an art history lesson on the Fauvist movement and exploration in acrylics and oil pastel. Students will be introduced to the wild child of the Parisian art scene of the late 1800s- The Fauves. Inspired by Post-Impressionists Van Gogh and Gauguin, the Fauves developed a genre all their own, one of landscapes filled with bold, unusually flat color. After their wild colors scared the “putti’s” (Italianmade porcelain cherubs) at the legendary Paris Salon, the artists came to be called “les fauves”, or “wild beasties”. Their movement was short lived, but their work influenced the Expressionist movement that followed. Today, Wolf Kahn’s artwork echoes the colorful landscape technique of the Fauves. Students will also conduct a class critique of the paintings, encompassing vocabulary dealing with the elements of art. Grade Level: 6-8, Middle School Time Required:
4-5 hours
Materials:
canvas boards pencils oil pastels brushes acrylic paints water containers paint palettes
Vocabulary: Fauvism:
a movement in painting influenced by Van Gogh and Gauguin and characterized by vivid colors, free treatment of form, and a resulting vibrant landscape
Landscape:
a picture representing natural scenery, landforms, etc.
“Les Fauves”:
“The wild beasties”, i.e. ‘look at les fauves, scaring those little putti’s (Italian cherubs)’
Useful Text:
Wolf Kahn Pastels by Wolf Kahn
Objectives: • Students will create a Fauvist landscape in acrylic paint • Students will employ oil pastels to enhance their paintings • Students will be introduced to the art history of the Fauvist Movement