Enjoyment of Art: Hands-On Art History

Discoveries in the Renaissance World

A 4-Mat Unit Plan

Grade Level: 9 - 12

Materials:

Quadrant One: Integrating Experience with the Self

Quadrant One - Step One - The Right Mode

Objectives:

The students will identify art techniques of the Renaissance period of art. (2AV-P5, PO 1)

Activity:

The class will go on a field trip to an art museum to view art that demonstrates art techniques developed and used during Renaissance, focusing on scientific perspective and oil painting. The teacher will show examples of the Triptych Project. (Alternate to field trip: provide visual aids of comparable artwork.)

Assessment:

The teacher will observe the students as they view the artwork and take note of individual interests.

Quadrant One - Step Two - The Left Mode

Objectives:

The students will analyze and interpret how elements of time and place influence the visual characteristics, content, purpose and message of works of art. (2AV-P1)

Activity:

The teacher will lead a discussion of art techniques and related current events that influenced artists' choices of expression for each art style.

Assessment:

The students will actively participate in the discussion.

Quadrant Two: Concept Formulation #1

Quadrant Two - Step Three - The Right Mode

Objectives:

The students will identify principles of art that define scientific perspective. (2AV-P5, PO 1)

Activity:

The teacher will display examples of scientific perspective.

Assessment:

The teacher will observe the students as they view the artwork and take note of individual interests.

Quadrant Two - Step Four - The Left Mode

Objectives:

The students will analyze and interpret how elements of time and place influence the visual characteristics, content, purpose and message of works of art using scientific perspective. (2AV-P1)

Activity:

The teacher will discuss aspects of scientific perspective.

Assessment:

The students will actively participate in the discussion.

Quadrant Three: Practice and Personalization #1

Quadrant Three - Step Five - The Left Mode

Objectives:

The students will explain the skills and techniques necessary to create the illusion of perspective. (1AV-P2)

Activity: Scientific Perspective, Part One

The teacher will demonstrate the atmospheric and linear perspective techniques in a drawing and cut-and-paste exercise:

  1. On white drawing paper, draw a series of cubes in one- and two-point perspective in a variety of sizes, sketching first in pencil and then re-tracing with black pen.
  2. Dip one end of a drinking straw into the dry powder paint, catching a small amount inside the straw.
  3. Cut some amorphous shapes from black construction paper in a variety of sizes.
  4. Glue some of the smallest shapes onto the drawing paper.
  5. Glue a sheet of tracing paper over the drawing.
  6. Re-trace all but the smallest cubes
  7. Glue medium-sized shapes onto the tracing paper.
  8. Glue another sheet of tracing paper over the first.
  9. Re-trace only the largest cubes and glue the largest shapes onto the second sheet of tracing paper.

Assessment:

The students' notes on this procedure and their technique examples will be included in their Daily Art Journals and reviewed by the teacher.

Quadrant Three - Step Six - The Right Mode

Objectives:

The students will apply media, techniques and processes with demonstrated skill, craftsmanship and a sensitivity to the Scientific Perspective technique. (1AV-P1, PO 1 and PO 2)

Activity: Scientific Perspective, Part Two

The students will create a Scientific Perspective picture as demonstrated by the teacher.

Assessment:

The teacher will use a rubric to analyze the degree of the student's attainment of the concept as demonstrated in his/her artwork.

Quadrant Two: Concept Formulation #2

Quadrant Two - Step Three - The Right Mode

Objectives:

The students will identify characteristics of the oil painting media. (2AV-P5, PO 1)

Activity:

The teacher will display examples of Oil Painting.

Assessment:

The teacher will observe the students as they view the artwork and take note of individual interests.

Quadrant Two - Step Four - The Left Mode

Objectives:

The students will analyze and interpret how elements of time and place influence the visual characteristics, content, purpose and message of works of art in Oil Painting. (2AV-P1)

Activity:

The teacher will discuss aspects of Oil Painting.

Assessment:

The students will actively participate in the discussion.

Quadrant Three: Practice and Personalization #2

Quadrant Three - Step Five - The Left Mode

Objectives:

The students will explain the skills and techniques necessary to create an Oil Painting. (1AV-P2)

Activity: Oil Painting, Part One

The teacher will set up a simple still-life and demonstrate the oil painting technique of glazing used by da Vinci and other Renaissance artists:

  1. Lightly sketch the still-life onto the paper canvas. Include all elements or focus on one section, but fill the entire paper so that very little background is empty.
  2. Mix a small amount of oil paint into some Liquin to create a glaze.
  3. 3. Paint a thin layer of the appropriate color over the entire space of one object, leaving highlighted areas unpainted.
  4. 4. Allow the paint to dry and paint another layer, leaving lighter areas with only one coat.
  5. 5. Continue layering glazes until the darkest (most color saturated) areas are as dark as desired, making sure that each layer dries thoroughly before adding the next layer.

Assessment:

The students' notes on this procedure will be included in their Daily Art Journals and reviewed by the teacher

Quadrant Three - Step Six - The Right Mode

Objectives:

The students will apply media, techniques and processes with demonstrated skill, craftsmanship and a sensitivity to the glazing technique of Oil Painting. (1AV-P1, PO 1 and PO 2)

Activity: Oil Painting, Part Two

The students will create an Oil Painting as demonstrated by the teacher.

Assessment:

The teacher will use a rubric to analyze the degree of the student's attainment of the concept as demonstrated in his/her artwork.

Quadrant Four: Integrating Application and Experience

Quadrant Four - Step Seven - The Left Mode

Objectives:

The students will explain the skills and techniques necessary to complete a Triptych Project and reflect on and articulate reasons for artistic decisions. (1AV-P2, 1AV-P3)

Activity: Triptych Project, Part One

The teacher will show slides and prints of triptychs and other multiple-panel art, and demonstrate triptych panel construction:

  1. Measure and cut two pieces of corrugated cardboard to 15"x22". Cut one piece straight down the middle to make the two narrow side panels, 7 1/2"x22".
  2. With the two side panels on either side of the center panel, use masking tape to join them. Close the two side panels over the center and tape the edges.
  3. Open the panels and, using spray adhesive, glue a sheet of 22"x30" watercolor paper onto the three joined surfaces. Fold the triptych closed again and glue a sheet of watercolor paper (7 1/2"x22") to each outer panel surface.
  4. Use boxcutter knife to cut a rounded top to the triptych.

    The students will construct their triptych panels and plan a design on newsprint, incorporating scientific perspective concepts.

    Assessment:

    The students will write a summary of their plans for the Triptych Project.

    Student Checklist (written summary):

    1. Which technique of Scientific Perspective (atmospheric, linear) dominates the design?
    2. Which elements and principles of design are evident?
    3. What are the main ideas the student will communicate through this artwork?
    4. Compare experiences with scientific perspective, oil painting glaze technique and triptych to styles and techniques used in art today.
    5. Use vocabulary words learned in this unit in context.

    Quadrant Four - Step Eight - The Right Mode

    Objectives:

    The students will create original works of art based on methods and styles used by Renaissance artists. (1AV-P1)

    Activity: Triptych Project, Part Two

    The students will transfer their sketched designs to their triptych panels, sketching lightly with pencil. The students will paint their tryptychs with watercolor media, applying oil painting glaze technique.

    Assessment:

    The students will present their projects to the class.

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