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Painting Poetry With Watercolors: Four Fabulous Female Poets

Create a beautiful portfolio of art and poetry while learning about four fantastic female poets!
Astrid Turner
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(878)
Rising Star
Class
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What's included

4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks
of teacher support
1 year access
to the content
Homework
1 hour per week. Each week, students will add the assigned poem to their journals by painting a scene or background, then copying the poem by hand. They can copy the entire poem or choose an excerpt. There are activities and discussion prompts posted throughout the week to provide interaction between the learners and instructor.

Class Experience

Do you know about the fabulous Gwendolyn Bennet, a female poet, writer, journalist and activist during the Harlem Renaissance? Did you know that Elizabeth Barrett Browning was the first woman to be nominated for Poet Laureate (although it was 159 more years before the first woman was elected)? Maybe you would enjoy learning about some contemporary poets of today, such as Amanda Gorman, the first African-American National Youth Poet Laureate.

In this class we will combine art and poetry by compiling our very own journal of paintings, sketches and poems. During the course, a pre-recorded video will be posted weekly to discuss a poem, its writer and any pertinent background information. In the video, I will also demonstrate my painting and offer ideas, suggestions and various techniques, but your learner may choose to paint whatever they like to represent the poem of the week. They will be encouraged to copy the poem as well, which will result in their very own journal of poetry and art. 

After watching the video and completing their own paintings, students are asked to share it by posting a picture in the classroom for us to admire! They will also be asked to reflect on the poem and answer 3 questions about the subject. The questions can be printed out and submitted as an attachment, or students can type out their answers and attach the photo of their painting to the comment. The questions are simple and reflective; there are no wrong answers, and the focus will be on how the poem made them feel, what they liked or disliked about it, and what their perspective is on the subject. 

Students will also be asked to participate in a "scavenger hunt" to find another poem by the same poet and recommend it for fellow students to read. This is a great opportunity to do more research on the poet and discuss some of their other works with your fellow classmates.

This course is a great way to introduce young learners to poetry and fine arts. Students who have taken classes in my Painting Poetry series may be familiar with the process of reading a poem and painting a scene inspired by the poem. This course is a self-paced version that will allow each student to progress alongside fellow classmates every week and to begin a portfolio of art.

My art classes focus on self-expression rather than solely technique and painting skills. A large emphasis is made on the design and concept of the piece, and the process of creation, rather that the finished product only. Because of this, artists of all skill levels can feel confident creating their artwork. Learners are welcome to follow along with my art tutorial, but they are also encouraged to edit, adjust or create something completely different and unique!
Learning Goals
Our paintings will focus on being inspired by the poem, so it is possible that every student's painting will be unique. At the end of this course, your student will have a portfolio of beautiful paintings and well-known works of literature.
learning goal

Syllabus

4 Lessons
over 4 Weeks
Lesson 1:
Fantasy, by Gwendolyn Bennett
 This poem is one of Bennet's most popular and well-known poems, emphasizing the racial pride of African-American women, but also of women in general. Bennet's works contributed greatly to the Harlem Renaissance and we will study her work along with art styles of the 1920's by African-American artists. 
1 assignment
Lesson 2:
Sonnet 43, by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
 Learn about this fantastic Victorian poet, whose life story was even made into a play and a movie! Together we will study her works and Victorian art styles for inspiration. 
1 assignment
Lesson 3:
A Picture, Olivia Ward Bush-Banks
 An American author, poet and journalist of African-American and Montaukett Native American heritage, Ward celebrated both of her heritages in her poetry and writing. For this week we paint a seascape with our watercolors and discuss how the poet explored her own cultural identity. 
1 assignment
Lesson 4:
An American Lyric, by Amanda Gorman
 This female contemporary poet and activist is known for her focus on issues of oppression, feminism, race, and marginalization, as well as the African diaspora. Gorman was the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate. Our painting is inspired by the vision of harmony, peace and embracing diversity. 
1 assignment

Other Details

Supply List
- Art journal with watercolor or mixed media paper. Journal can be any size. Spiral-bound journals are typically easier to paint in. An example can be seen here: https://smile.amazon.com/Strathmore-Visual-Watercolor-Journal-Sheets/dp/B003YJ36AA/ref=mp_s_a_1_25?keywords=art+journal+watercolor&qid=1571582103&sprefix=art+journal+wa&sr=8-25 - Watercolor paints (any brand will work, but you may want to choose a set with several colors). - Various paintbrushes in assorted sizes - Water, newspaper and paper towels on hand - Binder clips (optional) to help keep the pages straight
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined October, 2017
4.9
878reviews
Rising Star
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Teacher expertise and credentials
My Painting Poetry with Watercolors classes have been so successful on Outschool that I have decided to compile them into a flex course for those who would like to complete a portfolio of their artwork on their own schedule. I enjoy teaching watercolor techniques to children, and love combining my love of poetry with my passion for fine art. As a professional artist and textile designer I have attended local and online professional development training seminars on cultural representation, appropriation and non-biased instruction in the art world, including some specifically on Afrofuturism and Native American art history (Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art seminars for Educators). I am passionate about helping young ones to see and appreciate the diverse world around them as they draw inspiration from the beauty of our global community.

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Self-Paced Course
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$12

weekly or $48 for all content
4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks of teacher support
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1 year of access to the content

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