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? In this class, you will get ALL of the tea on famous artists! 

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 to a plethora of 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. 

After my presentation, which lasts about 25 minutes, 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 also create an example of what they can do and I show it for the learners to get an idea. This is a social class, so students are free to talk to each other while they create! I also like to play classical music while the students create their work! 

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 at the end of class! Of course, if the learner would like to create work based on my exemplar, I will perform a demonstration of how I created my exemplar during class. 

During class, I will ask each learner their opinion about the artist and their work: Do you like the art? What do you like abut the art? What don't you like about the art? 

At about 5 minutes before the class ends, I ask the students to share their creations! If the student has not finished their work, they are encouraged to complete their piece and share the finished product by uploading a photo to the classroom or to me via Outschool email! :)

This is a popular class and very fun! This class is completely interactive. I encourage the students to participate, to have fun and to create! I also bring a lot of positive encouragement to the classroom! I am humorous, casual and friendly, too!  

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

No experience required. 

*Please note: If a learner is 10 or more minutes late for class, the learner will not be permitted into the classroom. The learner can watch the class recording.

*Please note: As per Outschool policy, I do not refund if I receive notice under 24 hours if a learner will miss class - regardless of reason. The learner can refer to the class recording. 

Week of June 24, 2024: Claude Monet

Week of July 1: Yayoi Kusama

Week of July 8: KAWS

Week of July 15: Joan Miro

Week of July 22: Jeff Koons

Week of July 29: Wassily Kandinsky

Week of August 5: Paul Cezanne

Week of August 12: Piet Mondrian

Week of September 2: Natalie Frank

Week of September 9: Banksy

Week of September 16: Futura 2000

Week of September 23: Caravaggio

Week of September 30: Marcel Duchamp

Week of October 7: Georges Pierre Seurat

Week of October 14: Wendy Red Star

Week of October 21: Edward Hopper

Week of October 28: Takashi Murakami

Week of November 4: Xenobia Bailey

Week of November 11: Jasper Johns

Week of November 18: Pop Art

Week of November 25: Francis Bacon

Week of December 2: Lee Krasner

Week of December 9: Kara Walker

Week of December 16: Rembrandt

Week of December 23: Edouard Manet

Week of December 30: Jennifer Bartlett

Week of January 6, 2025: Bingyi

Week of January 13: Helen Frankenthaler

Week of January 20: Pierre-August Renoir

Week of January 27: Chuck Close

Week of February 3: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Week of February 10: Christo

Week of February 17: Louise Nevelson

Week of February 24: Chaim Soutine

Week of March 3: Camille Pissarro

Week of March 10: Leonardo da Vinci

Week of March 17: Robert Rauschenberg

Week of March 24: Marc Chagall

Week of March 31: Sol LeWitt

Week of April 7: Wangechi Mutu

Week of April 14: Claes Oldenburg

Week of April 21: Raphael

Week of April 28: Berthe Morisot

Week of May 5: Chuck Close

Week of May 12: Henry Ossawa Tanner

Week of May 19: Elaine de Kooning 

Week of May 26: Henry Ossawa Tanner

** More artists will be added **