How to Recognize Artists' Styles and Movements

What makes an artist stand out from his/her contemporaries? Does the art from one art movement look the same as another? Of course not! So, how do you know a Picasso from a van Gogh? Check it out right here!

                     

We are going to figure it out! Once we answer some of these questions we will let your students choose an artist to study and then design a room in the artists' style! HERE WE GO!!!

What is an ART MOVEMENT?

Well, let's find out! Here in this video is a brief overview of some of the movements in the history of art. This will be the first step in teaching students how to pick out a particular movement and styles of a group of artists.

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How to Recognize a Particular ARTISTS' STYLE?

Learn to look at various parts of the artwork to pick out key elements that make the artwork different from other artists' work. 

• Do they use BOLD colors? Muted colors? Pastel colors?
• What is the subject? Is it religious? Is it a landscape?
• What message was he trying to convey?

Watch this video that takes you through the steps of how to recognize contemporary artist Aaron Douglas' artwork.

Now it's time to apply some of this new knowledge about artists' styles and art movements!

Researching An Artist - Artists' Room With Style Lesson

As a middle school teacher, I found numerous ways to have my students research an artist. But none were ever as successful as this lesson! THIS WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!

Below, I have some pictures that illustrate the process and the end result. This is a lesson I sell on TPT and you are of course welcome to go purchase it to get all the great handouts, but you are welcome to use this idea to create your own lesson!

I called this lesson Artists' Room With Style.  Students worked in groups of 3 or 4. Each group chose or was given, the name of an artist.  The group had to research and complete a handout about the artist. Information such as titles of a few key artworks and impressions about the artist was included on the handout. Then the group had to plan a ROOM of their choice (living room, bathroom, garage, etc) in the style of the artist they received.

Oh!!! The excitement was phenomenal! And the ideas they had blew me away each and every time we did it! We could have spent a month on this and it was very hard to limit their time!

Here is a photo of how I cut the rooms out of  poster board (because our school was given a ton by some wonderful person) and made them foldable and easy to store.

 All groups had a set of handouts that had to be filled out before they could begin their room. They had to research the artist they were using and study what really stood out about their style.  Then, decide as a group, what room they were going to do.

Things that had to be included in this project:

• 2-D and 3-D Objects
• A floor covering
• Wall Coverings
• A certain number of pictures/poster
• Window and Door
• A minimum number of furniture

Here are some pictures of a project during the making process:

Of course, I had students and teachers bring in small boxes and bottles from home to use to make the decorations and furniture for the room. 

I hope this gives you some ideas! 

The students loved this project and ALWAYS went above and beyond what was required! When I used my grading rubric, it was very easy. because no one ever did too little!

If you want to see this lesson in its entirety (handouts of furniture, rubric, etc) follow this link:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Art-Lesson-Art-Appreciation-2337663