Did you know that Vincent van Gogh removed his ear one cold, December night? How about when Frida Kahlo spent the night in jail for a crime that she didn't commit? Or, the multiple times that graffiti artist, Keith Haring was arrested for creating artwork on public property? How about when Jean-Michel Basquiat pied a principal?

This class is part lecture, part activity. It's an art history class and activity class combined! I will present the students with a presentation of the artist/art movement in the form of a Power Point presentation. I will talk about the life of the artist then show photos of the artist and their work. I will talk about what inspired the artist, their technique, their style, AND about some of the details of their life that we don't necessarily hear about!

Learners will be introduced many vocabulary words such as (but not limited to): "Pointillism", "chiaroscuro", "complimentary colors", "Impressionism", "printmaking", "abstract", "Cubism", "perspective", "linear", "silkscreen", "composition", "color theory", "Harlem Renaissance", "Surrealism", "commission work", "mural", "realism", "Abstract Expressionism", "installation", "mixed media", etc. In some presentations, I will show videos of the artist working or how the artist created their work. I will also show videos of some of the techniques used by the artist, i.e., printmaking (woodcut, linocut, etc.), silkscreening, etc.

During class, I will explain to the students that they will create their very own artwork based on what they had just seen. They can be inspired by the artist's technique, subject matter, line work, colors, etc.! I will show an example of art that I made to inspire the students. 

* PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A GUIDED ART CLASS * 
The goal of this class is for the learners to create artwork on their own based on what they see during the presentation. The purpose of this concept is to allow room for creativity and to "think outside of the box"! Learners will be inspired by the artist while also adding their own spin on the art. Everyone's art will be completely different!

Students can use whatever medium that they choose to work with: acrylic, pencils, markers, pastels, etc. 

Each week, we will talk about the life and artwork of different artists then create our own art inspired by that artist's work!